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Date: 30/3/13
Hills:Buachaille Etive Beag
Present: Richie and myself
Weather: Outstanding
Distance: 5.52mls approx.
Ascent 3166ft approx.
Walking:3hrs 16mins. Loafing:4hrs 16mins With a great forecast it was a hard decision about where to go. I mulled over several routes in different areas but finally settled for Buachaille Etive Beag as it had been years since I done it with my bruv Neil on a fairly average day. I had always fancied a winter trip on it and after last week’s storms I reckoned it would be in great condition.
Gave my friend Richie a call and arranged to pick him up in Barrhead at 5.30am so we would be on the hill early to beat the Easter crowds. It was a stunning morning as we drove across Rannoch Moor and we just had to stop for a few photos
.
Blackmount Hills were looking fantastic.
Got into the parking area at 7.30am and there was only one other car and the owner was setting up camp on the other side of the road, so we were going to be first up the hill.
Underway for 7.45am in -5c and no wind.
Beinn Fhada with Stob Coire Sgreamhach behind.
Richie pushing on up the slope.
Back to the Aonach Eagach.
Having a breather as the sun rises over the col.
Can’t wait to start heading up to Stob Dubh
.
Looking across to Stob na Doire, Stob Coire Altruim and Stob na Broige from the col.
Richie approaching the col.
We had a shortish break at the col to take in our surroundings. I was feeling very pleased with my decision to come here today as it was just stunning under the deep blue sky and warm sunshine
.
Stob Coire Raineach from the col.
Spotted two walkes on the summit of Am Bodach.
Heading up tp Stob Dubh first.
Just before we reached the start of the steep section of the ridge we stopped and donned the crampons and got the axe’s out. The boots had been getting enough bite in the snow up till here but it was getting a good bit firmer now with some iced up sections.
Looking back to Stob Coire Raineach.
Time for some posing
.
Not to be out done
.
Stob Dubh comes in to view and it was looking pretty fantastic.
The view west to Stob Coire Sgreamhach, Bidean nam Bian and Stob Coire nan Lochan.
We were in a world of joy as we headed along the ridge to Stob Dubh
.
I let Richie get ahead so I had a figure on the skyline.
I stopped near the summit to have just a wee peek at the view behind. Words just can’t describe it
.
I joined Richie on the summit and it was just out of this world. All the critics of walkers and climbers in recent weeks really need to experience a day like this to see and feel what inspires us all to be out on the mountains in winter. It just makes you feel so alive and privileged to be in such a beautiful landscape which we are blessed to have access to. We both settled down to some serious photo taking and a spot of lunch. We were joined by another walker who we had spotted earlier on heading up Stob Coire Raineach. He had just done a weeks winter skills course and was putting it to good use before heading home.
Zoom to Ben Nevis.
Zoom to Stob Dearg on Buachaille Etive Mor.
Panoramic of Buachaille Etive Mor.
Stob Coire Sgreamhach, Bidean nam Bian and Stob Coire nan Lochan.
Ben Starav.
Time for summit posing
.
The view North as we leave the summit for Stob Coire Raineach.
Richie was out in front again and in the photo above you can see him talking to another walker on his way up. Unbelievably he had no crampons or ice axe, his boots were glorified walking trainers and he admitted he had little experience 8O . He also said he had crampons back in the car and had not intended to come up so high! We advised him it was probably not a good idea to go to the summit as the descent was on firm snow and narrow in places and not a place to have a slip on. He went on for a look anyway as we continued on.
The next walker we met turned out to be one of the SAIS guys out checking the snowpack. It was really nice to meet him and we spent a while talking to him before continuing on our way. Thankfully the previous walker had decided to turn back and not try reaching the summit of Stob Dubh.
SAIS guy taking a photo which I saw on the site later on that night.
On down to the col before heading up Stob Coire Raineach.
The walker with no poons was slipping and sliding his way down behind me and I was pointing out the areas of softer snow and bare rock to help him out.
The mountain was getting busy now with a steady line of walkers heading up Stob Dubh.
Back to Stob Dubh from the steep pull up Stob Coire Raineach.
About halfway up the wind had scoured most of the snow off the slope so the metalwork was stowed away.We reached the summit and the wind had all but died away and it was now very pleasant indeed in the warm sunshine. Time for 2nd lunch and some more loafing about, plus a bit of photo taking.
Buachaille Etive Mor.
View n/e out across the Blackwater Reservoir.
Zoom to Stob Dubh.
View n/w through Glen Coe to Moidart.
Walkers/climbers on Stob Dearg.
SAR helicopter enroute to the incident at the ski centre
.
Somebody else likes to pose on the summit
.
We felt obliged to get our own posing done
.
Glen Coe and the Aonach Eagach.
It was with great reluctance we set off on our way back down.
Almost back at the car.
Video from the day
What a belter of a day out. It really doesn’t get any better than and this was my best walk of this outstanding winter so far. Richie was well pleased as well. It was his first walk for about 2 years and what a day it was to make a comeback.