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This was the first big winter walk of the season, somewhat belatedly after a planned Glencoe weekend two weeks earlier was written off by gale force winds
EJ and Jen picked Brad and myself up outside Union Plaza in Aberdeen at about half three. Not sure what the revelers or security guard though of the sight of Brad and I covered in kit and wielding ice axes...
Long tired drive to Glencoe not helped by Brad's techno Scottish folk music. When "Rave Chanter" doesn't help the atmosphere driving past a moonlit bookie you know the CD need to be hoofed out of an open window!
Boots were on and we were walking just as the sky started to lighten.
Couple of misnavigations through the trees. Always seems the hardest part finding the right path at the start.
The sky looked promising as the clouds and snow turned pink and we got some great views of Loch Leven as we climbed the steep pull to Leach na h-Aire before they properly opened up on the final climb to Na Gruaigachean.
This was one of those slap around the face views when you get to the summit and the ridge to Binnein Mor looked epic.
The ridge was great fun and and was 360 mountain views. We stopped to soak it in and have a quick sandwich at the 1062m top before pushing on to the summit of Binnein Mor.
This was a cool narrow summit that made you feel like you were on a special walk.
Next we headed back to the 1062m top for another sandwich (and a pork pie) before heading out to Sgorr Eilde Beag.
The cornicing made the normal path off the bealach down to the lochain look non to inviting so we kept heading east skirting south of the lochain before heading up the steep and icy west flank of Sgurr Eilde Mor.
There was a little bit of scrambling as we approached the summit from the south then descended by the east.
We then kept high as we walked out back to Kinlochleven just in time for sunset over the loch.
