Knee Deep on Streap

[Collaciotach]

Madainn Didómhaich agus air an rathad cruinn Loch Eil ....... Sunday morning found me heading round the Loch to Streap .

Streap Gleann Fhionnan

I have looked on this hill for many years and decided it was time to take her on and maybe a challenge given the conditions and time of year

The route was via Gleann Dubh Liath and up onto Creag an Eich before heading for the bealach between Beinn Tuim and Meall an Uillt Chaoil we left the car at 8.30am

Abair madainn !

Streap Caomhlaidh

The road through the harvesting site at Druim Sallaichan is grand , then a left fork on the track above the road down to the bothy takes you on to the open hill ..rough and wet it is as well

We soon hit the snow line and not to deep ...... fhathast

Bealach Tuim

Bha an t side breagha latha fuar ach grianach ..... The weather was perfect like a cold Alpine day and the scenery from the Bealach was promising all round but especially down Sheil side .

Loch Seile agus Bheinn Odhar Mor

We headed up to Meall an Uillt Chaoil a sharp climb with the snow becoming increasingly soft and deep ! good sealladh to the West and Eilean Eige

Eilean Eige air ciuil

The atmosphere was amazing lots of icy mist creeping through the gullies and troughs that take you onto the minor summit here and a noticeable change in the snow composition to thin crust and knee deep deposits

Glac Beag

A dhaithgearr agus air a mhullach ach a fas sgith mu thrath .... soon on the first "minor" peak but already tired

Good views opening up to the Gleann Fhionnain horse shoe , Loch Beoraid and Na Garbh Criochan

Sgurr nan Coireachan

Loch Beoraid

We walked a fair pace in the knee deep white stuff and were soon struggling up Stob Coire a Cearc with the first views out to Streap

Streap Druim Chaoil

Lorg coise an t sneachda

It took an age to reach the summit of this wee beauty so a quick stop for lunch , I was now conscious that time was pushing on so a short break to take in the views and the Druim Caoil Streap .

Druim chaoil streap

And to the Ben

Beinn Neibhis

The descent and renascent to this point was pretty full on in fact never ending and narrowing with dodgy cornicing making the going very slow...... weather was still superb

A Sealltainn air ais

Boidheachd

The ridge to the summit is quite breath taking in this conditions but a caution to be careful and safe given the drops all round

Streap

Streap

dubh is geal

We carefully picked our way onto the mullach of Streap and even got a slight brockan spectre

Ceo

Air a mhullach

I tried to go round this stac on the North slope but I did not like the feel of the snow under my feet although deep it gave me the eagalach or fear .... just did not feel right

An Stac

The time was getting on at 2.30pm so I made the decision to bail rather than try to traverse this and on to the Streap Comhlaidh probably not the wisest decision I have ever made !

I dropped down into Coire Chuirn literally the corrie of stones .. heaps of them

Again slow slow going so as no to break a leg but I got through the fields of stone and onto the bowl of the coire and breathed a sigh of relief it was now 3.45pm and darkening

Coire Chuirn

I was in for one final surprise! ......over the lip of the coire a steep craggy slippy clamjamfourie of moss, grass, slab rock and ree snow ,at one point I seriously thought I was going to get stuck in a steep wee grass /stone /snow gully but by using the ice axe as a post I managed to negotiate my way down. In Summer this would be relatively easy but was a bit of a nightmare in these conditions .

The dodgy route down

Co dhiu bha sin an latha .... that was a day to remember we were back at the car for 5.30 a full 9.5hrs and not even completing the circuit so a wee reminder in Winter allow loads of time , remember the snow and enjoy

Cheerie a nis

[PeteR]

A tough, tough looking day, but some absolutely stunning views Good effort

Have got this one on my radar, but think I'll wait a while

[scottishkennyg]

S math a rinn thu! grand day and some cracking pictures capturing the essence of walking in these conditions..

[Collaciotach]

S math a rinn thu! grand day and some cracking pictures capturing the essence of walking in these conditions..

Taing dhuit a bhalaich

[Collaciotach]

A tough, tough looking day, but some absolutely stunning views Good effort

Have got this one on my radar, but think I'll wait a while

Aye might have underestimated her a wee bit

[wilkiemurray]

Magic photos there - great day

[weaselmaster]

Beautiful
Have this up near the top of my part 2 list.
looks a tough one indeed

[Bruno]

Beautiful photos, Colla, as ever - I did Streap on a hot midgey day 10 years ago..........
Find myself looking forward very much to your reports!
Beautiful.
Iain

[malky_c]

Wow - knew this was going to be good but that is worth report of the month at least . Lots of photos, 6th one in particular, look like the Alps or something. Hoping for a day like this (although hopefully with more solid snow) when I go up Streap.

[dooterbang]

Some great atmospheric photos

This looks like a nice winter walk, and easy to access.

The fear has to be respected

Cheers.

[Collaciotach]

Magic photos there - great day

Aye the best

[robertphillips]

well done colla great winter walk this

[Collaciotach]

well done colla great winter walk this

Its a cracker Robert ... that grahams total is getting there a bhalaich

[Johnny Corbett]

Good effort and super photos, Streap is tough enough without doing it in those conditions.

[Collaciotach]

Magic photos there - great day

Cheers one of the best days yet