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Well that was our week in Killin over and as I got up for the regulation early morning passing of water I thought - looks clear out there.... hold on ..... no clouds..... stars in sky..... wait a minute this looks like its going to be a good day. OK, all hands on deck, get packed, get the butties made, flask filled, sacks stuffed, gear checked, map....
One hour later - job done and we were off, question was what are we going to do? Earlier in the week we had planned to do Meall Corranaich and Meall a' Choire Leith from Lochan na Lairige road highpoint so - that was a plan then lets re-instate it now. Not so fast. As we drove up the road towards the visitors centre the temperature was -2 C according to the temp dial and this was backed up soon as we left the forest cover and headed upwards as the wheels began to spin. Making an executive decision at the Visitors Centre car park we pulled off the road - skid-pad style and stopped the car in a position that was half parked/half abandoned. Although it may not have looked good - we did have a potential escape route as we were now pointing in the direction of the exit. Excellent.
A couple of 4x4's passed making the progress up the road look possible however I took the soft option and stayed where we were a decision confirmed when I saw a person in the same car get stuck and have to reverse back.
OK, what are we going to do then? Having done Tarmachan earier in the week we opted for Beinn Ghlas and Ben Lawers.
The skies looked good - not clear but clearing with potential of some blue! What are we waiting for.
Leaving the car park and heading for the Nature Trail the blue was getting more and looking at a cloud inversion over Loch Tay.
- Leaving the Visitors Centre Car Park and heading to the Nature Trail
- Cloud inversion over Loch Tay
The snow in the nature trail fresh from the night before having topped up what had fallen earlier in the week so it was a fair plod up through the winding track made interesting by the frosted trees.
It was further than we thought the route through the nature trail but eventually we could see a gate and passed through a gate. Because of the snow - the clear and obvious path was not so clear and obvious but we made a good guess that it headed up towards the ridge above us .... and it felt like a path.
- Heading up to the ridge below Beinn Ghlas
This was looking good. We had a pair in front of us and three behind us but were aware of the mini buses arriving at the visitors centre - so we were going to look forward and to the sides and keep going. Around us the views were excellent and we were optimistic for another classic day.
- Looking towards Meall Corranaich from below Beinn Ghlas
There are a series of climbs before you actually get to see Beinn Ghlas but boy did it look good today.
- Heading to Beinn Ghlas
- Getting there...
We were quite focussed on our goal supported by the view I have to say, however from behind and around came the cloud as it rolled in over us. All was not lost however as we could see the sun above it and I had been very good recently so I accepted this as a temporary metereological blip.
- a blip
This said it we were mainly above it as it passed over.
The snow was now deep enough that we felt it time to put our crampons on and have the axes at the ready as we made our way to the first top of today Beinn Ghlas: 1103m. A very pleasant, neh enjoyable saturday morning so far. The top was clear to the North and East and we could see up the valley below up to Glen Lyon but behind us the clouds were thickening.
- Beinn Ghlas
But soon it was clear (or not) that Ben Lawers was not going to retail that fresh alpine look for long.
- Ben Lawyers from Beinn Ghlas
... and this turned out to soon be true. We had been tagging with a couple of lads who seemed to have rather large packs and very impressive boots. This soon became relevant as they parted from us and made there way to their objective which was to do some winter climbing just south east of the summit in some gullies. The pic below shows Andrea heading up with these gullies behind. We opted for the simpler option.
- Heading up to Ben Lawers with some gullies behind
Soon we were at the top. Initially we could just make out each other but it did clear a wee bit to reveal .... each other. The group in front were already heading to An Stuc. Not today methinks.
- Ben Lawers
Just at that we turned round to be greeted by the York University Mountaineering Club. After 24 handshakes we felt bonded: we took their picture and we reciprocated - kindship of the hills, brilliant.
We said our farewells and headed off back the way we came - they being the young frightly type bounded off whilst we savoured the moment - OK, we were just slower! That said we did get the view as it cleared for a bit.
- Looking back... is it clearing?
As we got to the ridge below Ben Lawers they were having a pit stop and refuelling - something we do on an ongoing basis.
Once again the clouds parted (a bit) and we were allowed once again to enjoy our surroundings - brilliant.
- Looking back to Ben Lawers
Looking north, back to Ben Lawers - amazing
- Beinn Ghlas looking back at Ben Lawers
Final pic is looking at me from the lower position up towards Beinn Ghlas summit.
- Looking up at Beinn Ghlas
After this it was down through thick cloud all the way down to the Nature trail before we got through it again. It was dense however the significant number of people who had headed up after us had left their mark making an easy trail to follow.
We sat in the car pleased with our decision to squeeze in a couple of extra Munro's before heading off for chips in Mhor Fish in Callander then home.
End of an excellent week in Scotland. Great to be home again.