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MWIS had 20% chance of cloud-free Munros but BBC weather showed sunshine for Spean Bridge so thought I'd get mixed weather. Parked car, got on bike & headed across the bridge, Beinn a'Chlachair behind:
Usually read the map while I'm walking but I now know this is tricky on a bike so I missed the fork to the left and continued uphill on the wrong track. Finally stopped, checked map, backtracked and made it round to Lochan na h-Earba with frozen beaches. The ascent ridge of Beinn a'Chlachair is in the middle of pic:
Snow was frozen on the way up, other walkers had left deep footprints while the snow was softer so I could follow these and use them as steps:
Back down to Lochan, low cloud now moving in to Creag Meagaidh so it's going to get claggy:
Lovely sunshine in Glen Spean...
...but not up here:
Onwards in the cloud following GPS, was now pretty cold:
Cairn:
Long walk now to Geal Charn, eventually got to bealach and under the cloud. The descent here is very steep on hard icy snow so I got the crampons on:
Start of Geal Charn from the bealach:
Tricky descent of Beinn a'Chlachair:
Into the clag again, couldn't see much but walk seemed to take longer than expected with several false summits:
Cairn:
Started walking back, all of a sudden the weather cleared:
Beinn a'Chlachair still in cloud though:
Last hill today, Creag Pitridh:
Steep ascent of Creag Pitridh, the large patch of snow behind the deer had more footsteps frozen into it so I used these like stairs. Cheers to whoever left them
Bird:
Back to Geal Charn descent, again tricky in places:
Best hill of the day, with views & everything
Down to frozen lochan:
Creag Meagaidh:
Beinn a'Chaorainn:
Easains etc:
Straightforward descent from the cairn:
Beinn a'Chlachair finally free of cloud:
And back to Lochan & bike for a nice coast to the car
Weather really clear now so could see all the hills on the way home through Glencoe etc - always a good way to end the day with the music on loud
NB police speed trap at the bridge works near Bridge of Orchy.
