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Where to walk on winters day when the snow is fresh and unconsolodated, and the weather is sunny in the morning but high winds forecast for later in the afternoon. We decided to take a trip to Torridon and aim for Rhuadh-stac Beag. An enjoyable outing even though we missed the summit by a Knats whisker, as views of the North face of Beinn Eighe made it well well worth the time and effort.
- The Route
We started out at 08:00 from the visitors centre and walked a short distance down the road to pick up the path. It was initially a vehicle track narrowing to a footpath through the woods. The number of marked trails for the nature reserve proved a little confusing
., especially as they were not marked on the map but were far more obvious on the ground than the path we were trying to follow. but after just one significant diversion we happily on route heading for the open hillside with the woods behind us
.
- Morning sun over Kinlochewe as we head for the hills
- First views of Beinn Eighe
- Looking Across to Slioch
- Leathad Buidhe, the East End of Beinn Eighe
The mountains were looking splendid in their winter coats with the snow line staring at about 200m. Fortunately the path was still easily identifiable despite the snow and even as we gained heights footsteps marked the route, only occasionally straying into the heather. At about 450m altitude, between the streams, we lost the path and the footprints and the going became more onerous trampling through the snow lying on top of heather. The footbridge marked on the map no longer exists but fortunately all of the streams were easy enough to boulder hop across.
- Crossing the Altt Dearg after we lost the path.
Ahead of us was one fine solitary snowy peak, that the caught the eye and for quite some time we thought it was Rhuadh Stac Beag! It was only after taking numerous pictures we realised it was in fact Meall a' Ghiuthais. A fine looking hill and one we certainly will be returning for!
- Meall a'Ghiuthais
Our planned route skirted around Beinn Eighe keeping on the left had side of Allt Toll a' Ghiubhais. .
- Skirting around the side of Creag Dhub
- Rhuadh-stac Beag across the burn
- Looking down the glen to bealach between Beinn Eighe and Ruadh-Stac Beag
It was hard work making our way along the glen, with the soft snow lying over rough ground, boulders and bogs. We were weaving up and down aiming for the firmest ground and trying to avoid holes and snow drifts.
- Wading through soft snow
but some post holing was unavoidable.
At 11:00 and still a way to go it was looking very unlikely that we would make the summit but we decided to plod on and see how far we could get.
The black carls looked imposing from below although it was difficult to capture this on camera.
- Black Carls
We worked out way towards the bealach, crossing over the Allt Toll a' Ghiubhais and at 12:00 we had reached the base of Rhuadh-Stac Beag. To reach the end ridge meant further ploughing through soft snow so we decided to head up the side.
- Our route up the side
We initially thought we would walk up the boulders but it soon became clear that the snow would be less onerous, so with ice axes out we ploughed relentlessly upwards. The top was steep and we wondered whether to cut across too the side but decided to keep on straight up.
- Donning crampons for Final steep climb
- The snow has me on my knees again!
As we reached the top of slope there were some large snow formations with rocks peeking out between them, I was concerned that it was either a cornice or a deep drift. It turned out to be snow lying over boulders. At this point we joined the ridge running up the nose of the mountain. It was rocky, icy , with thin patchy snow and the wind was howling. Sheltering under an overhanging rock we conferred on next steps. We decided to head for the summit but if it semed like it would take more than half an hour to reach we would turn back. Crampons were a huge nusiance. slowing our progress on the rocky terrain, but we didn't want to waste time taking them of as we would need them for the descent. After about twenty minutes we could see a rocky tower in front of us, initially hoping this may be the summit, but it wasn't
. Scrambling in crampons would be a pain and we were being buffetted by the wind. If we continued we faced the real possibility that we would be stumbling around the snow fields in the dark. Whilst navigating by torchlight didn't worry us, trying to route find through the snow drifts and bogs did. Reluctantly we turned back. Stopping only briefly to admire the views.
- Looking across at Ston Ban
- and again
- The undignified backward crawl
- Going down
- At least I am now upright!
There were some fairly strong gusts of wind as we were making our descent, but fortunately the snow was a bit wet to be blown around so at least we didn't have blizzards to contend with. Down in the glen it was strangley calm and we back tracked on our footprints making the going much easier, We would have liked to stop for a brew but time was pressing and it was almost dusk before we reached the path.
- We managed to find our footsteps to follow back
- One last look at our route
- Watching out for footsteps on the way back interupted admiring the views.
- Watching out for footsteps on the way back interupted admiring the views.
We were back at the visitors centre at 17:30. A good day out although disappointing not to reach the summit. On route we spotted an interesting looking scramble on the north face of Rhuadh Stac Beag for the summer and Meall a' Ghiuthais is another good reason we will be returning to this area.