Not up to much this weekend so have been looking through some old pictures and files. Back at the end of 2008 and the start of 2009 I found some pictures of a nice couple of days in the hills, one was spectacular in the fact that I got a lovely inversion and saw a Brocken Spectre. The next was an inadvertent trip to get views of one of the most iconic mountains in the UK.
- spectre and Ben More etc etc
31/12/08 – Stob a’ Choin 869m
On annual lave and the weather was looking fine so I headed off westwards along a familiar road by Lochearn. However – not so familiar was when I turned south instead of north at Lochearnhead!! I then went along via Balquhidder and into Rob Roy country. It was a tad cloudy and very chilly. Once off the public way which takes you to Inverarnan, I headed steeply up the ridge not wanting to take the direct route as I was on my own and I had read the direct route was avalanche prone. I reached 600m and into the clouds I went. As I climbed the magical started to happen. I started to notice it getting slightly brighter and the higher I climbed I started to see patches of blue above me – finally I reached the top of the cloud. There was no wind and I still think this is one of the best inversions I have witnessed!! The ridge walk over a number of tops from east to west was fantastic. It was now warmer than it had been lower in the glen and the big coat was taken off. This was the finest way to end the year and spend Hogmanay. Can’t really say much more – had old phone camera and the pictures still don’t do it justice – just one of the those days!!
- a stop to shed layers and first part above cloud
- brocken spectre and Crianlarich Munros
- pano
- loooking south
- black and white
07/02/09 Beinn a’ Chruslaiste
My brother wanted to bag Ben Starav so we had decided on an early start to get down Glen Etive. However on reaching the road end we were met by an ungritted road which had about 25cm of snow lying on top of it. We didn’t even attempt it!! Plan B – a small outing above the Kings house.
We did this in an anticlockwise direction. Although perhaps not an interesting hill to look at – it gives some awesome views of the Buchaille. I have attached some pics once again from my old phone camera. The views make this hill highly recommended at this time of year when some other hills are less accessible!!
- mountain
- brother
- icon
brilliant 
