- Mixed forecast
- Loch Cluanie sunrise
- Spot height 734m
- Shaft of sunlight
- Nearing Am Bathach
- Am Bathach summit pano to north
- Shadow on An Cnapach leading to Ciste Dubh
- Bealach a' Choinich
- Down An Caorann Beag
- Rock formations at bealach
- Climbing An Cnapach
- Dark Coire nan Eun on the left
- In the lee of the wind on west side of ridge
- Dark corries
- An Cnapach from the north
- Start of SGS Ridge beyond Am Bathach
- Ciste Dubh ahead
- Silhouette on Ciste Dubh
- Ciste Dubh summit
- Five Sisters to the west
- Poss Beinn Fhada plateau
- Frozen paths make the going slow
- Good path down An Caorann Beag
- Back at empty lay-by with with low sunlight before 13:00
Summary:
Conflicted about the day, as high pressure and excellent visibility forecast but with v high winds and buffeting. Ploughed on, starting in pre-dawn darkness, half hour before sunrise. Deserted lay-by on A87 again, winds already strong but thankfully behind. Steady pull up, with winds increasing. Amazing colours, pinks, golds, with sunrise over Loch Cluanie and SGS Ridge. Views and light quickly increasing. Some amazing shadows cast and shafts of low-angled light. Ground seemed to have quickly frozen from a wet day yesterday, resulting in glass like patches of ice - made going slow at times. Descent from Corbett Am Bathach to bealach straightforward, often stopping for photos. Interesting rock formations at Bealach a' Choinich. Tough ascent to An Cnapach: combination of bitter, strong winds, frozen ground on and off path, and relentless incline. Winds extreme and on the limit of walking on plateau before An Cnapach, so avoided summit and stuck to western path in lee of wind with great relief. Views to west sensational, very foreboding look to dark, isolated corries above Allt Cam-ban. Ciste Dubh reached at 1049. Photos taken, views taken in. Didn't stay long. Bitter and getting buffeted. Slower going on descent - like glass in places. Relief to get to relatively mild glen, An Caorann Beag, sheltered and somewhat unfrozen. Very wet path back to A87 past section of Glenshiel Forest, then short section of road back to car. Back at deserted A87 lay-by before 13:00. Tea and lunch before drive down south for 21/22:00. Tough conditions but well worth if for the clarity and stunning light play of mid-winter.
Start: 08:10
Finish: 12:54
