Stob Ban Grey Corries in unseasonably warm February

[kleighton]

The weather suddenly warmed up in early February so after retreating to sub 2000s, Grahams and Corbetts over the winter I was delighted to be able to climb my first munro of 2019. Stob Ban in the Grey Corries had been on my to do list for sometime and it seemed like a straightforward outing for this time of year.
After negotiating the rough track from Corriechoille in my small car without mishap, I parked near the fence to the forestry in a small carpark. The weather was clear and sunny and there was little wind. I was off walking by 7.30am.
The Wee Minister was standing fairly near the start. I didn't stop to admire him till my return. The track climbed up through the trees until I reached the gate to the open moorland then along and down to the Alt Leachdach bridge. As I continued along the track to the Lairig Leacach bothy, I admired the views of the two Corbetts on my left and wondered when I would be back to climb them. However my priority, if the weather remains good, would be to finish the Grey Corries munros on a longer day.
Once past the bothy it was easy to ford the Allt a'Chuil Choirean and find the path to Stob Ban. The cairn is up the track beyond where you catch sight of the dilapidated bridge. At first things became rather boggy then steep then a gentler ascent till the final steeper path. The path was clear all the way to the summit. I met a pair of walkers on the early part of the path and stopped to let them past. I think they headed off to climb all the peaks because I did not see them again later. The summit was in cloud so no views but a wonderful feeling of being out in the wild. The cloud cleared later and I had a great view back to where I had come from as I returned along the track.
I returned the same way and made good time, stopping for photos on the way back.
A perfect day. Let's hope there are plenty more this year.