Ben Lawers and Beinn Ghlas

[Wanderlust]

After all of the snow that fell last week, the forecast for Friday was good. I had stayed for a few days at SYHA Crianlarich, but today was moving on to the Braveheart Backpacker's Hostel in Killin.

The road to the Ben Lawers visitor centre was not passable, so I parked my car lower down in the forest then walked the rest of the way up. It was around 11 o'clock when I started the walk in earnest, the views were very clear - could see Beinn Ghlas right in front of me and Meall nan Tarmachan to the left with Meall Corranhaich in between.


Meall nan Tarmachan


me and Beinn Ghlas

It was a steady ascent to the bealach between Meall Corranhaich and Beinn Ghlas, I saw a chap below us plodding up on skis!



Around the back of Beinn Ghlas it was quite icy and it was time to crampon-up for the traverse to the bealach below Ben Lawers, it was a good view down towards Glen Lyon and I got my first view of the top of Ben Lawers. Also a nice view back to Meall Corranhaich.


Ben Lawers and Beinn Ghlas


Glen Lyon


Meall Corranhaich


Traverse to bealach between Ben Lawers and Beinn Ghlas


Ben Lawers from the bealach (notice the man on the skis!)

The visiblity was excellent, but there were patches of cloud that would soon pass over and I had a good view of Beinn Ghlas on the ascent of Ben Lawers.


Beinn Ghlas

Made it to the top and the views were extensive, particularly to the north, where it looked like it was clear on all of the summits.


view from Ben Lawers


me on Ben Lawers summit

Stayed for a while on the summit, taking in the views, the wind was very cold though. The man on the skis was up there at the same time as me and I looked on in amazement as he ski'd back down towards the bealach! he said was going to ski down off Beinn Ghlas aswell.

I set off on foot for summit of Beinn Ghlas, enjoying the ridge walk and the surrounding views.


Meall nan Tarmachan


Loch Tay


ascending Beinn Ghlas


Ben Lawers

From Beinn Ghlas it was a straight-forward descent down to the path that I'd followed on the way up from the Visitor centre.

[Graeme D]

Nice report Wanderlust. I was out at the same time on the other side of Loch Tay. Wasn't it a brilliant day until the cloud rolled in from the west in the mid-afternoon? It's always nice to see a report of what you were looking at while the author of the report was looking at where you were at the same time! Try as I might though, I can't quite pick myself out on either the Shee of Ardtalnaig or Creagan na Beinne.

[bazer100]

nice report, particulary like the picture from the top of ben lawers , the view looks amazing, done these 2 a great number of years ago, however seeing your trip gives me the bug to do them again, exellent, thanks for sharing

baz

[mountain coward]

Those 2 look great in snow! Some super pics there I'm always amazed at the steepness of where people will ski - it's usually where I'm picking my way very carefully across the hard-frozen snow in my crampons (I'm not very confident going downhill in them yet )

[monty]

What a great set of pictures. Looks like it was warm at the start with you in shirt sleeve order? I love picture no 10 looking out from Ben Lawers. Its nice to get some sunshine on your back

[walk aboot]

Nice report wanderlust...pink snow (first two photos)?

[Wanderlust]

pink snow (first two photos)?

ha, I noticed that effect on a few of my photos - must have been a bit too bright for my camera

[IainG]

pink snow (first two photos)?

ha, I noticed that effect on a few of my photos - must have been a bit too bright for my camera

If it's a Sony Cybershot then be prepared for your next purchase!!!