Ben Lui Central Gully on a Perfect Day....

[wilkiemurray]

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

[jacob]

You keep impressing me with your photography. First one showing scale, second one showing steepness and third one the views. What more does one need?

[litljortindan]

Superb as ever. Drone looking directly down on summit certainly very dramatic.

[kaye.cantlay]

outstanding

[RussellR]

Inspiring! Great video to appreciate the climb!

[Beaner001]

Wow
Cheers for posting

[Alteknacker]

Fantastic stuff as usual; and what a day you had for it! Such a sensational hill, particularly when dressed in white!

It's amazing how much the snow has reduced since we were up there at the end of February. We contemplated the Gulley, but I'm too fearty when it comes to avalanche risk - real or imagined! So we took the North Ridge route .

[Tomsie]

Super stuff and inspiring.
Good music too

[ancancha]

You'll be giving up your day job then
Maybe this is your day job
Drone shots are fabulous

[Riverman]

Fantastic! I was out the same day. What wonderful conditions. I've still to climb Lui. Looks like it's worth saving for a day when central gully is in condition. What a fabulous report and video. Thanks for sharing.

[wilkiemurray]

You keep impressing me with your photography. First one showing scale, second one showing steepness and third one the views. What more does one need?

Thanks Jacob, I like the one with the climbers emerging for the murk

ATB

Murray

[wilkiemurray]

[quote="litljortindan"]Superb as ever. Drone looking directly down on summit certainly very dramatic.[/qThanks LJ -=tried some different angles this time. Was an amazing day though back to normal now

ATB

Murray

[wilkiemurray]

Fantastic stuff as usual; and what a day you had for it! Such a sensational hill, particularly when dressed in white!

It's amazing how much the snow has reduced since we were up there at the end of February. We contemplated the Gulley, but I'm too fearty when it comes to avalanche risk - real or imagined! So we took the North Ridge route .

Thanks- we were nice and early and the skies had been clear making the snow nice and braw However descending North Ridge route the sun had got to some of it and wouldn't have fancied doing this later in the day! A great mountain by any route IMO...

ATB

Murray

[wilkiemurray]

You'll be giving up your day job then
Maybe this is your day job
Drone shots are fabulous

Definitely not my day job unfortunately

[wilkiemurray]

Fantastic! I was out the same day. What wonderful conditions. I've still to climb Lui. Looks like it's worth saving for a day when central gully is in condition. What a fabulous report and video. Thanks for sharing.

Hi Riverman - yes - read your report - two great ridges and the weather was cracking...when the weather is like this there not much that beats this

ATB

Murray