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Yes I know I said I would never return, but after chatting to Campbell and Wullie on FB the original plan was to head up north to An Teallach, however the forecast was for fog & low cloud, so not much point in travelling all that way to see s*d all
The forecast was better for the south so after plenty of suggestions we opted to pay Aonach Eagach a visit. After my first trip there I have always said I would never return, but having enjoyed Skye and the similar challenges provided there I thought "why not"
Especially as the forecast was for wall to wall sunshine. Campbell & Cameron had done the ridge a few times, whereas Wullie & myself had endured the experience the once and not in the best of weather conditions, namely pretty grotty with little or no view
The plan was fairly relaxed and in a few ways seemed to throw Wullie & myself off course a wee bit, more of that to come
I had arranged to meet Campbell & Wullie in Crianlarich at 10.45 which is a very leisurely start time, left my car there and travelled to Glencoe with Campbell. It was almost deja vu as Campbell has almost the same car as the one I have just sold, the only difference his is diesel
The plan was to leave a car in Glencoe village (Wullie's) and leave the rest at the parking area at the start. Cameron was running slightly late (as students do) and it was 12.15pm by the time we started heading uphill
By this time I am normally either well into the walk or on the descent
Quick photo before the off
As we started the climb which for those who haven't ventured onto the ridge is fairly steady from the off and it wasn't long before Wullie was gasping for breath
After one or two stops on the way up to Am Bodach we eventually made it and by this time it was not far off 2 o'clock and I hadn't had my lunch yet
Wullie relaxing on the way up
Another wee rest
We had been chatting to a couple of guys who were 'travelling light' and had come across from Germany, so we filled them in about the Scottish hills and imparted a bit of advice. they were off to Skye to take part in the half marathon
They had no accomodation arranged so if you are reading this, hope you enjoyed Skye and managed to find a bed somewhere
Bidean
Looking down Glencoe
Pretty busy down below
Campbell looking for someone/something
After lunch it was onto the main event, firstly the bit I remember most from my previous visit, the initial descent off Am Bodach
The good news was I found that part rather easy, I put it down to experience and knowledge gained over the past couple of years
3 posers blocking the view of Bidean
Same 3
Different 3
The Chancellor (not George Osborne)
2 volunteers
Campbell surveying Glencoe
1st volunteer, naturally running
Nearly there
Facing the wrong way!
Next volunteer
Here they come
Once down off Am Bodach for me it was just a matter of following Cameron who was always way ahead & Wullie, with Campbell bringing up the rear.
Campbell descending
I won't describe all the individual intricasies that the ridge poses, mainly because there are too many and I can't remember them
I will let the photo's do the talking
The way ahead, looks fairly easy!
Just follow the path
Looks a bit more challenging
Looking north towards the Ben
Ben zoomed
Blackwater Reservoir
Looking NW
What a view?
Santa coming 'up' the chimney
Ossians cave zoomed
Sneaky shot below through one of the many 'gaps'
Posers
Cameron off again
Same posers
Cameron waiting patiently
Wullie trying to blend into the rocks
Looking across to the Bookils
Campbell almost blending in
Plenty of cars down there
Interesting bits approaching
Don't look down Wullie
Contemplating
Next bit
Posers again
Just love the view
Looking back
The way ahead, easy peasy now
Looking SW
Another gap
Never noticed this from the road
Zoomed
Loch Leven
Loch Leven with Glencoe village
I mentioned at the start that things wouldn't go exactly to plan, about three quarters of the way across the ridge, rather loud expletives were coming from the direction of Wullie - he didn't sound very happy
He confessed that he had made a wee bit of a fopar, his car keys were sitting in Campbells car back at the start, which meant that we had to come up with yet another plan on how to get back to the parking area at the start. A few suggestions were forthcoming, which I won't go into but Cameron being an all round good egg as well as being super humanly fit, volunteered to run off the ridge, presumably down the gully (eek) and then back to his car
As Wullie and I were the senior members for the day we volunteered to take the leisurely way back down to Glencoe village, Campbell had decided as he was feeling fit to tackle the Pap on the way back down
Wullie and I descended down the rocky descent path, blethering away which made the descent almost pleasant
Cameron had already disappeared well out of sight by now & we caught a few glimpses of Campbell heading across to the Pap.
Wullie & I stopped a couple of times on the descent having come across a super little burn, which was utilised to top up our liquid supplies as they were getting a bit depleted.
Once we reached the road we turned right towards the village and we had hardly walked any distance and who should turn up in his car - Cameron, what a hero
We updated him that Campbell would be down soon so he was going to wait for him & then head back to the start. Wullie & I took a nice leisurely stroll along the road, in the shade back to the village.
So endeth the drama
A cracking day, in fantastic weather, with some super human efforts. Glencoe doesn't get any better than that
Next port of call for me will be the Gorms again, maybe Monday, forecast over the weekend not overly clever