Bidean nam Bian (Retro)

[houdi]

This is a retro walk from December 2008. My first ever Glen Coe Munro and only my fourth Munro overall. I drove across from Fife early in the morning. It was minus six in Glen Devon and similarly in Glen Coe, but it was a crisp clear dry day with not a cloud in sight.

Ascended via Coire nan Lochan and then up to the left of the waterfall to get a close up view of the rock face of Stob Coire nan Lochan. From the three (frozen) lochans I went up on the right hand side as it looked more interesting with good photo opportunities out towards Loch Linnhe.

As you can see from the pics the snow wasn’t as bad as recent winters. There is hardly any on the summit of the Ben. I had no crampons or ice axe and didn’t encounter any problems on the way up. In fact it was so warm up top (completely still) that I took my jacket off at one point. Freezing cold back down in the valley though and the burns were starting to ice up.

Obviously it was impossible to get down into the Lost Valley from the bealach between Bidean and Sgreamhach without serious winter equipment. It was a solid ice wall. Had to go over Ben Fhada instead and down into the Lairig Eilde where there is a good path all the way back to the road. Ice on most of the rocks made the descent from Ben Fhada quite tricky and, to be honest, the ridge on the right from Sgreamhach down into the Lairig Eilde (there is a 778m spot height marked on the map but no names) looked the better bet. The following day I had a quick look in the Lost Valley before crossing the road and doing the Aonach Eagach which was covered in hard frost but I managed it in walking boots quite easily. Only a couple of photos though as my camera packed up on me. Frostbite I think.

Coire nan Lochan

The Chancellor on Am Bodach

Stob Coire nan Lochan

Loch Leven & Loch Linnhe

Beinn ‘a Bheithir

Stob Coire nam Beith

The Ben across the Aonach Eagach

Beinn ‘a Bheithir & Loch Linnhe

Bidean

Bidean from Stob Coire nan Lochan

Stob Coire Sgreamhach

Glen Coe peaks across Ben Fhada

The 4000ers across the Aonach Eagach

The Mamores peaks

A distant inversion

Sgreamhach and the Glen Coe peaks

And a closer viewpoint

Stob Coire nan Lochan and beyond

Coire Gabhail (The Lost Valley)

Approaching Stob Coire Sgreamhach

And a closer view

Bidean nam Bian

In the Lost Valley (the following day)

A frozen Aonach Eagach

[Stretch]

Cool stuff Houdi, especially that last shot of the AE. Shame about your camera though. Oddly enough, Bidean was my 1st Glencoe and 4th overall munro as well - still my favorite hill to this point.

[houdi]

So we have something in common, eh Stretch? Know what you mean about Bidean. I'd done Beinn Glass, Ben Lawers, and the Tarmachan Ridge previous to this but on Bidean I had the feeling of being on a 'real' mountain for the first time.

Was annoyed about my camera for a while, but I've been over the Aonach Eagach three times since then so it doesn't bother me now. Will post a decent AE report soon.