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This was a walk that happened a week back now, when there was a decent covering of fresh snow on the hills. Ideal weather, with clear skies, excellent visibility and importantly little in the way of a breeze.
All week I'd been eying up a couple of options. Plan A was a couple of Corbetts from Criag, with Plan B being a couple from Killilan. "Eyes bigger than my belly" might have been the best way to describe those ideas, as a) I probably wasn't winter hill fit (I discovered I definitely wasn't) and b) this would be first first walk of the winter season carrying the full winter pack.
Thankfully I had a Plan C up my sleave, in the form of the solitary Kintail Corbett of Shurr Mhic Bharraich. It looked ideal for a perfect winter's day
It was a late start for me.......a little more after midday than I'd planned.......as I readied myself at the large parking area next to the Shiel Bridge campsite. There'd be a bit of walking back in the dark I was sure.
P1060139 by
Pete Riedel, on Flickr
My target for the day, as I set off on my walkP1060140 by
Pete Riedel, on Flickr
The empty campsiteP1060141 by
Pete Riedel, on Flickr
It's a good path all the way to Loch Coire nan CrogachanP1060145 by
Pete Riedel, on Flickr
Superb views to The Saddle developed throughout this walkP1060150 by
Pete Riedel, on Flickr
Dropped down to this bridge before the path follws a gentle amble through the glenP1060157 by
Pete Riedel, on Flickr
A view in the daylight of my likely descent off the hill........didn't look like that in the dark P1060158 by
Pete Riedel, on Flickr
The SaddleP1060172 by
Pete Riedel, on Flickr
The path eventually skirted right, along the base of the hill and then started to climb ahead of a short section of zigzagsP1060174 by
Pete Riedel, on Flickr
The Sisters began to make an appears over the top of Biod an Fhithich as I gained heightP1060178 by
Pete Riedel, on Flickr
The craggy face of my target's 724 point came in to view, developing and changing as progress toward it was madeP1060183 by
Pete Riedel, on Flickr
P1060184 by
Pete Riedel, on Flickr
P1060188 by
Pete Riedel, on Flickr
P1060191 by
Pete Riedel, on Flickr
And views back to The Saddle really opened up nicely as I got higher P1060197 by
Pete Riedel, on Flickr
My route ahead looked steep, and it was a bit, but all in all with the perfect conditions it was there to be enjoyed P1060199 by
Pete Riedel, on Flickr
And it was always worth stopping for a look back P1060202 by
Pete Riedel, on Flickr
Finally arrived at the Loch Coire nan Crogachan. I was starting to puff a bit by nowP1060204 by
Pete Riedel, on Flickr
Now started a period of slog-stop-gather one's self and then slog-stop, etc.I was aiming to the right of the crags and worrying it was going to be a really hard climb. In reallity, steep though it was, it isn't that long a climb and even this old git was able to make it relatively unscathed
And the views more than compensated
P1060207 by
Pete Riedel, on Flickr
P1060209 by
Pete Riedel, on Flickr
P1060212 by
Pete Riedel, on Flickr
Slog-stop-gather one's self........repeat........P1060215 by
Pete Riedel, on Flickr
....reap the rewardsP1060221 by
Pete Riedel, on Flickr
The gradient easesP1060226 by
Pete Riedel, on Flickr
The sun is shining, but the moon is out over the Five SistersP1060237 by
Pete Riedel, on Flickr
The mighty Sgritheall makes an appearanceP1060244 by
Pete Riedel, on Flickr
The final walk to the summitP1060246 by
Pete Riedel, on Flickr
My new laptop wallpaper P1060249 by
Pete Riedel, on Flickr
Views to Torridon and other northern hills now opened upP1060262 by
Pete Riedel, on Flickr
Those Five Sisters of KintailP1060267 by
Pete Riedel, on Flickr
And at last the summit cairnI was aware I had laboured up the steep climb and was perhaps a little behind schedule
The sun was setting fast, but much as I knew I must leave the summit I wasn't going to rush off straight away. There was definitely time to soak up the views of distant Torridon
P1060270 by
Pete Riedel, on Flickr
P1060272 by
Pete Riedel, on Flickr
P1060273 by
Pete Riedel, on Flickr
P1060277 by
Pete Riedel, on Flickr
P1060278 by
Pete Riedel, on Flickr
P1060280 by
Pete Riedel, on Flickr
The initial descent was in the fading daylight and at least afforded me the opportunity to get the worst of the steep stuff out of the way before I lost the light completely.
P1060299 by
Pete Riedel, on Flickr
I'm facinated by the moon, especially when you see it so clear in the skyP1060302 by
Pete Riedel, on Flickr
The moon and the SistersP1060308 by
Pete Riedel, on Flickr
I told you I was facinated by the moonP1060309 by
Pete Riedel, on Flickr
Looking back at my route down, before the light went altogetherP1060311 by
Pete Riedel, on Flickr
The camera was away after this, as the light went and I focussed on getting back down to the path without suffering injury. Slow progress, but altogether unenjoyable. Bizzarely I was more concerned that one of the locals might see my car still parked up and call Mountain Rescue. Only for me to be ambling back along the trackEventually I was back on the track and the relatively short walk back to the car. No Mountain Rescue thankfully and I was soon packed up and on my way back home after another highly enjoyable day (well, afternoon) in the hills.