An easy walk they said......

[Caledonia84]

I haven't done any walks since having knee surgery a year ago and have been a bit apprehensive about doing so. My friend Jonny has been chipping away at me over the past few months about getting out with him again so I relented yesterday to do a small walk up the devils staircase to Stob Mhic Mhartuin for sunrise and then along the munro less ridge.

Left Glasgow at 05.00 and made good time to reach the car park next to the Devils Staircase for 06:30 we had something to eat and started off on the staircase at 06:45 with head torches. 30 mins in and we stopped for some photos but the sunrise and the light were poor so I didn't get any shots work keeping . we continued on to the summit of Stob Mhic Mhartuin where the light changed and the views really began to open up.

Aonach Eagach by Caledonia84, on Flickr

Aonach Eagach by Caledonia84, on Flickr

Aonach Eagach by Caledonia84, on Flickr

Aonach Eagach by Caledonia84, on Flickr

Aonach Eagach by Caledonia84, on Flickr

Aonach Eagach by Caledonia84, on Flickr

we continued along the ridge to Sron Gharb where we got an epic view of the prehistoric looking Aonach Eagach ridge, at the summit I felt good, legs felt strong and Jonny suggested carrying on over the Aonach Eagach ridge( I suspect he had planned this all along). Knowing this to be a hard climb and a long day I was hesitant but conditions were perfect so we went for it,

Heading up and over Am Bodach we started meeting others joining here, the clouds closed in leading to some great photo ops,

Aonach Eagach by Caledonia84, on Flickr

Aonach Eagach by Caledonia84, on Flickr

Aonach Eagach by Caledonia84, on Flickr

Aonach Eagach by Caledonia84, on Flickr

Aonach Eagach by Caledonia84, on Flickr

The Ridge itself was hard going and I definitely wouldn't recommend it to anyone who hasn't got a head for heights, how people do this in the winter is beyond me!

Straight down!
Aonach Eagach by Caledonia84, on Flickr

Aonach Eagach by Caledonia84, on Flickr

Aonach Eagach by Caledonia84, on Flickr

Aonach Eagach by Caledonia84, on Flickr

Aonach Eagach by Caledonia84, on Flickr

Aonach Eagach by Caledonia84, on Flickr

Aonach Eagach by Caledonia84, on Flickr

looking back over the ridge you can see the rescue Helicopter at the other end, it was circling us for a while hope they were just training and not actually searching for someone.

Aonach Eagach by Caledonia84, on Flickr

We decided to come down the side of the Clachaig Gully which in hindsight was a bad idea, took as way longer than we thought to get down and was outright lethal in some parts, definitely come off over the Papp of Glencoe instead, Jonny was descending much faster as our knees were killing us so he decided to go and hitch a lift back to the car at devils staircase. Finished up in the excellent Clathaig pub with some well earned food and beer.

[weaselmaster]

Good pictures.
You might have been one of the "ant-sized beings" we were watching from on top of Garbh Beinn yesterday - seemed the ridge was a busy place. - we were looking over about 1pm for a while.

[Caledonia84]

Many thanks weaselmaster!,

It could have been us, we were on it around about that time, excellent conditions all round yesterday the views were spectacular

[SAVAGEALICE]

wow! stunning photos look forward to seeing more

[rockhopper]

Interesting route - don't think I've seen a route for these hills which starts so far east

Great set of photos - very atmospheric at times - cheers


PS The Am Bodach on the Aonach Eagach isn't a munro - think you've linked the Am Bodach in the Mamores which is a munro

[Fife Flyer]

As RH said interesting route for AE, some fantastic photo's Thankfully we couldn't see the drops

[CJM Skye]

Excellent photo`s , I especially like the one where it looks like you are descending Am Bodach. Did the Aonach Eagach about 4 weeks ago for the first time and enjoyed it thoroughly, the weather was on our side that day which helped.

[Caledonia84]

Many thanks guys, and thanks for the heads up on Am Bodach! Ill take it off the report. We started so far east as we were planning on finishing before the ridge, but conditions and moral meant we kept going. i don't think i'd like to traverse this in anything other than good conditions

[Silverhill]

Wowee! Fantastic pictures, showing off the ridge in a way I haven’t seen before. A nice surprise, being lured into the hills and end up doing the Aonach Eagach!

[Huff_n_Puff]

Stunning photos, some of the best I've seen of this ridge, and well done for just seizing the moment

[sonic]

Cracking report mate and some fantastic photos take it you upgraded from your phone in your last report to a decent camera
Sonic

[Caledonia84]

Cracking report mate and some fantastic photos take it you upgraded from your phone in your last report to a decent camera
Sonic

thanks mate I did indeed upgrade, got a Sony NEX 5R a mirrorless DSLR which makes it very small and compact, ideal for this sot of thing

Stunning photos, some of the best I've seen of this ridge, and well done for just seizing the moment

very nice of you to say Huff_n_Puff!! was difficult to go wrong with those conditions photo wise.

Wowee! Fantastic pictures, showing off the ridge in a way I haven’t seen before. A nice surprise, being lured into the hills and end up doing the Aonach Eagach!

thank Silverhill and yes it was a nice surprise.....at first, but after 6 hours into the day I was growing weary and mentally fatigued. The camera went away and I just wanted to get through it. Still glad i did it, I won't ever forget it!

[Beaner001]

Your photos are superb Caledonia, well done

[Caledonia84]

many thanks Beaner!

[dawnfoth]

Wow! You have some amazing pictures there!! Awesome! I have yet to do the AE and I will be waiting until I have guaranteed dry and wall-to-wall sunshine. Looks absolutely smashing!