Atmospheric early morning Buachaille Etive Beag

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Weather forecast for Friday 28th September offered a little respite from the recent strong winds and rain.
Glencoe looked reasonable for the day, Buachaille Etive Beag was the choice as time was a bit short.
Left Falkirk just before 04.00 and had a cold and foggy drive up on deserted roads.
Arrived at the car park about 06.20 and sat for a little while until it began to get light, got suited up and off I went.Leaving car park, 06.50 by robert irvine, on Flickr
Lovely crisp morning, you can tell what time of year it is now.Morning Aonach Eagach by robert irvine, on FlickrHere comes the sun by robert irvine, on FlickrHere comes the rain ( bow ). by robert irvine, on Flickr
It's quite an easy walk up on a well constructed path, lots of stone steps and only a few sections that are slightly eroded, steep at times.
Met a lad from France on the way, his English was about as good as my French, conversation was a bit limited, restricted to comments about the views, mon dieu.
Bit of drizzly rain on the way, but this had cleared by the time I got up to the bealach, you could really feel the cold wind now.Stob Coir Raineach from bealach by robert irvine, on FlickrStob Dubh from bealach, peak hidden behind by robert irvine, on FlickrBig Buachaille from bealach by robert irvine, on Flickr
Headed off towards Stob Dubh first.
Steep climb up to the high point on the ridge.
Any ideas why this top doesn't have a name, every other hill in Scotland over ten feet tall seems to have been named.
Once past this point, there is a very slight descent along a reasonably wide ridge, before the final pull up to the summit, which is a bit steep and a bit narrow at times, but nothing too bad.Stob Dubh peak by robert irvine, on Flickr
The wind here was bitingly cold, on with the big gloves and jacket.Stob Dubh top, almost there by robert irvine, on FlickrMoon over Stob Dubh by robert irvine, on Flickr
Onto the summit, narrow, windswept and some of the rocks were a tad icy, tread with caution.Stob Dubh peak, windswept and a tad icy by robert irvine, on Flickr
The views were good, bit of cloud about.
Bidean group first, Stob Coire Sgreamhach visible, Bidean nam Bian and Stob Coire nan Lochan with their cloudy hats on.Stob Coire Sgreamhach ( visible ), Bidean nam Bian and Stob Coire nan Lochan clouded over (2) by robert irvine, on Flickr
The Lairig Gartain was like a witches cauldron with the cloud spilling up from it.Cloud spilling upwards from Lairig Gartain by robert irvine, on Flickr
The view down to the southern cairn.View to southern cairn by robert irvine, on Flickr
Back to Stob Coire Raineach, with the big Buachaille on the right.View to Stob Coire Raineach ( left ) and big Buachaille ( right ) by robert irvine, on Flickr
The Ballachulish munros in the distance.Ballachulish Munros by robert irvine, on Flickr
It's worth the short walk to the southern cairn for views down Loch Etive way.
First a look back to the summit.View from southern cairn to top of Stob Dubh by robert irvine, on Flickr
Then down to Loch Etive and Ben Starav on the left.Ben Starav and Loch Etive 4 by robert irvine, on FlickrMoody Ben Starav by robert irvine, on Flickr
The River Etive winding it's way down the Glen.River Etive by robert irvine, on Flickr
Across to the Aonach Eagach.Aonach Eagach by robert irvine, on Flickr
It was a bit too cold for sitting about on the top, shouldn't have taken my big gloves off to take photos, nippy fingers, ouch. I made my way back down to the bealach and the blood made it's way back into my fingers.
I noticed the cairn there and from a distance it looked as if it was sitting on a man made base.Cairn at bealach, base looks man made, it's not by robert irvine, on Flickr
Once you get a bit closer, you realise that it is just an unusually shaped rock formation.Cairn at bealach, base is just an unusual rock formation by robert irvine, on Flickr
Everybody had their coats on to keep out the cold, woof woof.Everyone with their coats on for the chill by robert irvine, on Flickr
The route up Stob Coire Raineach has a number of visible paths, take your pick. Stob Coire Raineach from bealach by robert irvine, on Flickr
It's a steep but short pull up to a rounded summit, with a bit more shelter available than Stob Dubh top.
Nice views from here as well.
Blackwater Reservoir direction
Stob Coire Raineach peak to Blackwater Resevoir by robert irvine, on Flickr
Across to the big Buachaille.Stob Coire Raineach peak to Buachaille Etive Mor by robert irvine, on Flickr
Back to Stob Dubh, where's the sun gone.Stob Coire Raineach peak back to Stob Dubh by robert irvine, on Flickr
If you are looking for a quick descent, wouldn't advise it though.The quick way down, gulp ! by robert irvine, on Flickr
The Easain hills in the distance.Easain hills by robert irvine, on Flickr
Stob Dubh again, the suns back, hurrah.Sunny view to Stob Dubh and Glen Etive, hurrah by robert irvine, on Flickr
The Aonach Eagach, almost.Aonach Eagach, almost clear by robert irvine, on Flickr
Bidean group, almost clear tops.Bidean group. almost clear by robert irvine, on Flickr
The view north, Ben Nevis clouded over.View North by robert irvine, on Flickr
The view down Glencoe to Loch Leven and Loch Linnhe.View down Glencoe to Loch Leven by robert irvine, on Flickr
I spent a bit more time sitting here out of the wind, lovely, quiet and peaceful.
The descent was pretty uneventful, passed a few people making there way up.
Nice short walk, 5 hours, well rewarded with good views and decent weather.

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