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Date - Fri 02/04/10
Hills - Stob Coire Raineach [Buachaille Etive Beag], Glen Coe
Route - Standard route from car park on A82. Retrace steps from summit back to start.
Weather - Perfect. Blazing sunshine. Blue skies. Not a drop of wind.
People - Me
Time - 5 Hours (includes several generous breaks)
Distance - 5.7km
Ascent - 730m
Max Altitude - 925m
I'd wanted to get back out somewhere in Glen Coe for a while and I'd been eyeing up Buachaille Etive Beag for a few weeks. Intended to go last Saturday but with all the cloud forecast I went east to Lochnagar (that's another story and a retreat 1.5km from the summit - too windy to walk! - still a good day though). With Friday forecast to be a stunner I hoped it possible to get to Buachaille Etive Beag - the issue was the avalanche forecast. With the recent dump of snow and windslab aplenty I was very wary. An alternative Corbett/Graham plan was devised as backup and I'd decide when I got there on the day.
Upon arrival it was clear that the slopes I'd be on didn't pose a high risk, so plan A was on
I decided I'd get up on to the ridge and take it from there. Once there I decided I'd just stick to ascending Stob Coire Raineach. Stob Dubh looked steeper, and bigger unbroken patches of snow (although not all that bad). The ridge looked a bit daunting to a winter newcomer like myself (with a bit of a cornice/ledge too...), and the summit looked plastered in snow. I guess it was all
probably okay because 3 seperate pairs of walkers did go up in the time I was on the hill. Still, I didn't want to push my limits, especially when out solo. Besides...who cares about bashing on up to another top - as good as I'm told it is - I was more than happy with my choice and boy am I glad I decided to dive into winter adventures this year..... this day showed me what it's about.....I'll let the pics say the rest
...plus a couple of short videos - these show just how calm a day it was.
Stopped just down the road from home for a snap of sunrise at Loch Ness
The Three Sisters - pic taken from the layby near the waterfall. Stopped here to get a good look at my target hill and was pleased to see it windscoured and asking to be ascended.
Car park on A82 - nobody there when I arrived. I started walking at 8:45am.
Buachaille Etive Beag
Aonach Eagach Ridge
Stob Coire Raineach (Buachaille Etive Beag)
Deer
Chopper flying over Aonach Eagach
Buachaille Etive Beag - first top of Stob Dubh on right. It was a little chilly on the ascent - I was spurred on by the thought of soon basking in the sunshine upon hitting the ridge.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AInKhiD9U0[/youtube]
Bidean nam Bian
Me (on Buachaille Etive Beag)
Nearly on to the ridge (top of Mam Buidhe). A joy to have the sun on my face.
Stob Coire Raineach
NE ridge of Stob Dubh
Buachaille Etive Mor (North tops)
South tops of Buachaille Etive Mor [left] & Stob Dubh (Buachaille Etive Beag) [right]
Stob Dubh [Buachaille Etive Beag]
Bidean nam Bian
Aonach Eagach Ridge viewed from summit of Stob Coire Raineach (Buachaille Etive Beag)
Ben Nevis viewed from summit of Stob Coire Raineach (Buachaille Etive Beag)
Ben Nevis viewed from summit of Stob Coire Raineach (Buachaille Etive Beag) [zoomed]
Blackwater Reservoir
South from Stob Coire Raineach [Buachaille Etive Beag] toward Loch Etive
Bidean nam Bian
Looking NW over Beinn Fhada to Loch Leven. Sgorr nam Fiannaidh (Aonach Eagach) on right.
Buachaille Etive Beag - Stob Coire Raineach summit
Buachaille Etive Beag - Stob Coire Raineach summit (looking toward Stob Dubh)
Aonach Eagach (left) & Ben Nevis (right)
Lairig Gartain
The centre of Buachaille Etive Mor
Summit of Stob Coire Raineach (Buachaille Etive Beag). Aonach Eagach ridge on right.
Stob Dubh [Buachaille Etive Beag] / Bidean nam Bian
Panorama of Buachille Etive Mor (taken from Buachille Etive Beag) Click here to open LARGE version
http://www.flickr.com/photos/highlandsc/4486245275/sizes/o/in/set-72157623766378768/Full Panorama from summit. Click here to open LARGE version:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/highlandsc/4486895098/sizes/o/in/set-72157623766378768/[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7Ml_K_6y7k[/youtube]
First top of Stob Dubh [Buachaille Etive Beag]. 2 people in centre
Look closely and you can still see 'em
A glance back as I begin the descent
Stob Coire Raineach [Buachaille Etive Beag]
Last look at the Aonach Eagach
Returning to the car park. Finished at 2pm. Gave me plenty of time to mull around the area for a while, scope out some plans for the future, and grab something to eat.
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Took a few other pics in the area:
Stob Dearg (Buachaille Etive Mor). Went to scope out Curved Ridge….possible future excursion…..one day. Whilst sitting in the layby here it was almost a constant stream of cars heading toward Glen Coe, with all passengers and the odd driver necks twisted in full on mountain ogling mode.
Aonach Eagach from the roadside
The Pap of Glencoe [Sgorr na Ciche]. Pic taken from outside "Crafts & Things" Coffee Shop - they do a great bacon roll.
Commando Monument near Spean
Ben Nevis and surrounding mountains
One of my best days out yet