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I woke up at the shore of Loch Osgaig and peeking out of my tent half an hour before sunrise, I could see the Assynth mountains against the first pink glow of the morning. How lovely!
My night in the tent during freezing conditions had been pretty warm (I read later that it had been the coldest weekend in November since 6 years) . Saying that, I had been equipped for Siberia with 2 sleeping bags, a pile of fleece blankets, a tick sleeping mattress, a foam mattress and a another ground cover for good measures.
In the end I had only needed half of it to sleep well and warm.
At the shore of Loch Osgaig before sunrise at 8:15am
Views towards Stac Pollaidh and Assynt
Suilven
I got up quickly and packed my gear. Once I sat in the car, I checked my map to find a suitable place to have breakfast…should I drive to Lochinver, Ullapool or ?…looking ahead and seeing Stac Pollaidh in the distance my decision was made…I would have breakfast on top of Stac Pollaidh.
The car park and Stac Pollaidh
The car park was ice ring, but the mountain looked stunning against a backdrop of some late autumn trees. I prepared and packed breakfast, gathered warm layers and added my crampons for good measure (after all the world around me was covered in a deep layer of ice). Prepared for everything I made my way up the mountain. The path up is usually pretty easy, but that morning I was close to put my crampons on, as everything was covered in a a sheet of ice. Once I reached the bottom of the mountain, the path continued towards the left and I entered the snowy wonderland on Stac Pollaidhs north site.
Following the path I soon realized, that the direction of the path I had known had changed. A large area was fenced off and so I followed a lonely set of footprints until I reached the summit.
On the way up
Cul Mor
Sulven is partial hidden behind a wall of clouds
The famous views start on the way up
The path
The new path and fenced off area
The top
The views across Assynt were even more stunning that they are during summer. Looking towards the famous views across the north -east I could see Loch Sionasgaig , Cul Mor, Suilven, Canisp, Quinag and Conival. If I would only be allowed to climb on hill for the rest of my life let it be this one.
Looking towards the south a few clouds had started to appear, but it added to the beauty around me. I walked towards a few viewing platforms and looked into the abyss – what a stunning mountain it was! Wondering around and taking pictures my stomach suddenly started to grumble and I realized that I still needed breakfast. With views to die for I had a rather late breakfast/lunch and I stayed for nearly 2 hours at the top. With a decision that I had to return I made my way down...
Cul Mor
I love Sutherland
When the self timer is faster ...me on the way to one of the look out rocks
Its a long way down
All what I need to be happy
The way back down
My favorite photo of the day
...Stac Pollaidh you are a beauty!
Taken from:
http://www.udeuschle.selfhost.pro/panoramas/makepanoramas_en.htm