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I had originally planned on walking Stob Ghabhar & Stob a'Choire Odhair from Victoria Bridge today but changed the plan yesterday when the forecast changed for that Area. I checked all the usual weather forecast sites and decided upon Buachaille Etive Mor as the Kingshouse area was looking clear until the afternoon.
My plan was to get there early so that I was a good bit up the hill for sunrise and catch the first light breaking over Rannoch Moor from my high vantage point. As I was going solo today the earlier than normal start wasnt an issue as it was only me it was affecting.
Sunrise was 5am so I reckoned if I was parked up and walking by 4 it would be light enough to see where im walking in the twilight but it would give me an hour to gain some height. This unfortunately meant leaving the house at 2am!! I had hardly been to bed by that point.
I set off just after 2am towards Kingshouse pondering to myself if I had finally lost the plot or not. The journey there was looking promising as the skys were relatively cloud free, however just as Buachaille Etive Mor came into view I noticed an almighty cloud covering both tops. My plan wasnt looking too good at this point. I parked up at the carpark/lay by at aroung 3:30 and realised that it was also going to be far too dark to walk before sunrise. I had a head torch with me but soon realised that my idea of cleverly walking before sunrise to catch nice pics was more on the side of stupidly walking in the dark alone in Glen Coe. Common sense prevailed and I decided to wait until 5 before starting.
In the mean time I headed back along the A82 a bit to Loch Ba and waited for sunrise. In the end it was a bit disappointing and wasnt the colourful spectacle I was hoping for. There was also alot of grey cloud quickly coming in to cover the whole area.
- Loch Ba
Just after 5am I was back at the car park area and on my way. No major issues on the first section although it was a little tough on the legs, this may just be due to the fact I hadnt been out on the hills in a month or so. Theres a good path through this first section although its covered in lots of loose rocks. By the time I was at the top I was in the clouds and couldnt see much at all. A short time later I was at the peak of Stob Dearg. No views unfortunately.
- Stob Dearg
- Looking back the way I had came
I then set off towards Stob na broige retracing my steps. By this time there were some breaks in the cloud and I was able to see my surroundings.
- Initial Hill
On route to Stob na broige you have to climb up one side of Stob na doire and down the other. At over 1000m I found this a bit demorilising and it was sapping the energy out my legs. Eventually after what seemed like ages I reached Stob na broige.
- Stob na broige
From here I retraced my steps again and then cut down just before Stob na doire towards Lairig Gartain. This section was the hardest bit of the day for me. My legs were in agony and there was some fairly steep sections where big rocks were encountered. I wouldnt like to try this one in the snow! Once I reached Lairig Gartain I put to bed the idea of also doing Buachaille Etive Beag and headed towards the car. I was about an hour back from here along another good path with stepping stones over all the burns encountered. I got back to the car 5 hours after I had eventually set off.
Sods law, the weather started to clear up on the walk back.
- Looking back