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Was planning on bagging a few near Loch Laggan, but after reading quoman's report about the deep snow up there I had a rethink and went for Bidean again.
Got to car park and started just after 9am, headed up between these two. Path a bit icy at the start:
Aonach Eagach:
Higher up, path had more grip as there was snow. There were other walkers ahead of me so I could follow footprints.
Then into the deep snow, again following the footprints - cheers guys!
First view of the Bidean ridge, as I got closer to the others I saw they had helmets - looked like they were going straight up a gully to Stob Coire nan Lochan:
I headed across to get on the shoulder. No footprints to follow now so it was heavier going in knee deep snow. One footstep went right up to my waist & I had to climb out a hole, boot a bit damp so there must have been a pool of water/stream underneath. Progress slowed from here as I used the ice axe to test depth of snow before each step
Got to the shoulder, AE again:
3 sisters from behind:
Rest of the way up Stob Coire nan Lochan - tried to keep to rocky bits as snow was shallower there, but usually had to trudge through the deep stuff which was energy-sapping:
Nice views though, doon a gully:
Ballachulish bridge:
Ridge from Bidean to Stob Coire nam Beith:
Route up Bidean:
Stob Coire nan Lochan cairn and ridge to Stob Coire Sgreamhach:
The snow on the ridge would support your weight for a few steps, then back to the knee deep stuff. I had an eye on the clock now as it would be getting dark around 4. Ascent of Bidean:
'Camera' breaks on the way up
View over to the Ben from the top, the climbers were just getting to the top of Stob Coire nan Lochan:
And the rest of the ridge:
Glen Etive:
Further on, looking back up to Bidean from the ridge:
Was racing to get to the top of Sgreamhach now as I didn't fancy the descent to the Lost Valley in the dark. Views from the top, over to Ben Nevis:
The ridge from nan Lochan to Sgreamhach:
Beinn a' Bheithir on the right:
And back down to the Lost Valley, steep at the start of the descent so time for a bumslide, if the snow was harder I could have slid all the way down & saved a bit of time
:
Picked up the path with footprints further down - none up to here though, so they must have taken a different route down. There were prints at the top of Sgreamhach leading to Glen Etive and down towards Beinn Fhada too. It stayed light most of the way and I didn't need the headtorch till the burn crossing towards the end.
Crossed the footbridge and up the stairs when a couple of low flying RAF jets passed - could see their lights as they went. Was dark when I got to the car and I saw the climbers' head torches coming back down Coire nan Lochan. Great day out, but this snow definitely takes its toll - legs had seized up by the time I got out the car back home
