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Another brilliant clear day, but horrific traffic jams on the A82 meant I was later than expected in Glencoe, so I chose Meall Lighiche as it seemed the shortest of the hills I had in mind.
The impressive nose of Aonach Dubh a GhlinneI walked down the track across the bridge and bypassed the houses as instructed
Meall Lighiche comes in sight with Sgurr na-h-Ulaidh behind Sgurr na-h-Ulaidh close-upLooking back to the Aonach EagachRather than just go up and down, I thought I would follow the stalker's track South, and climb my hill from the col behind , but I soon became tired of the path which seemed to find every bog and boulder in sight, so I crossed the burn and set off diagonally across the slopes on its Western side
Crossing the burn The going was good and I thought I could get out above a steepening on the horizon - until I came round a ridge and realised I was going to have to drop quite a bit
However, above me was a broad gully - well actually twin gullies with a grassy rib between - which led up to the "plateau" above. The rib seemed quite broken up, so as I hate descending unnecessarily I decided to have a look at it.
The going - over grass and moss ledges - was quite easy: there were lots of deer droppings and I found that where there were steep rocky bits the deer had created spiral paths that went round them I kept going up and up and eventually reached a flattening only about 30m from the top.
The Ben from the start of the ribAbove however was a steeper section with no "deer path"
Oh dear - I really didn't fancy descending it all again. Why do I keep doing these things? - I really should know better at my age - but I always have and probably always will do - even in the Uni. Mountaineering club I had a bit of a reputation as "the vertical grass king"
So on I went: there were still a lot of flat ledges but further apart, and I had to tug judiciously on the odd tussock and even use the occasional knee
But the angle soon eased and I was able to top out only 50m or so from the rocks of Creag Bhan
. It really wasn't difficult and in the absence of the sobering drop below I should have just have romped up it.
Looking down the rib It does look quite steep from the side Great views from Creag Bhan
Looking up to Meall LighicheStob an Fhurain, Sgurr na-h-Ulaidh and Beinn Fhionnlaidh Beinn a Bheithir was almost snow free While Bidean was plasteredBen Nevis and the Aonachs -The Western Mamores - in frontI walked on easily to the top, stopping to take a pic of Loch Linnhe and Mull. I seemed to have spent a lot of time on the rib, but made it in 2 hr 40 which is OK for me. Stunning views in all directions
Bidean's other peak - Stob Coire Sgreamhach - appearsThe view North includes a bit of the Graham Meall MorDown to Ballachulish -and the other Graham - Sgorr a ChoiseWest over Meall an Aodainn to Fraochaidh - Ben More (Mull) on the LLoch Linnhe and Mull againBeinn SgulairdOver Beinn Fhionnlaidth to Cruachan - Ben Starav on LWider view EastI retraced my way to Creag Bhan and returned down the normal route to the car
Purple saxifrage were everywhereLooking backEvening sunshine in Glen CoePostscriptBack home I looked at the SMC Corbett book - there in the picture of the hill, is "my" rib is standing out quite clearly . ( Sorry - the print doesn't scan too well).
I don't think I'd have gone there if I'd seen that before