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Central Gully I*** Ben Lui 3707ft
Film of Adventure -
High pressure had been sitting over Scotland for the previous week and the weather had been good. It was a bit hit and miss as to the area that got cloud and the areas that didn’t. A decision was made to try Central Gully on Ben Lui and hope clear skies would appear overnight and freeze the snow pack. If it wasn’t then a traverse of Coire Gaothaich would be a suitable alternative (as it was the last time we headed for Central Gully).
Approaching Dalrigh and the signs were good – a clear sky! We headed along Glen Cononish with the iconic view of Lui keeping a spring in our step and soon we were headed uphill following the Allt Coire Ghaothaich…. However cloud had materialised and soon the blue skies had disappeared and we were in the murk…… Up we went and somewhere above there was a change in the light. A little further and we sensed we were reaching the top of the cloud. A little more ascent and we were looking down over a sea of cloud, a magical inversion In Coire Gaothaich we geared up and the sun glasses we stuck on. A base layer and gillet was all that was needed. Up we went on the approach slopes and the clear skies the night before had done their job, a fine snowpack.
Soon we were moving smoothly and steadily up the Gully. A fine climb that increased in steepness towards the top….. Behind me and the inversion cloud was breaking up, however the sight that greeted me as I topped out was spectacular. Hopefully the video does the views justice…..
A fine break for lunch with good company and even better views was well enjoyed. Too soon we had to head and took the ridge down the south of Coire Gaothaich over Stob Garbh.
A few snaps...
Climbers emerging from the murk..
Inversion on Ben Lui by
Scotland's Mountains, on Flickr
Half way up the Gully..
Steaming Boots in Central Gully by
Scotland's Mountains, on Flickr
Cruachan..
Ben Cruachan above the inversion by
Scotland's Mountains, on Flickr
More and Stob Binnein
Ben More and Stob Binnein from Lui by
Scotland's Mountains, on Flickr
Summit
Beinn Laoigh by
Scotland's Mountains, on Flickr
Drone Selfie...
Drone shot from top of Ben Lui by
Scotland's Mountains, on Flickr
A superb outing on a fine hill in Alpine condition