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The weather for Friday 22nd was forecast to be good (is that why it was called Good Friday) and it certainly lived up to the name. I arrived at parking area (NN170568) just before 8.00am as a hazy sun was just rising behind Stob nan Caber and Stob Coire Raineach and was hopeful of some decent photo opportunities as the day progressed.
- From parking area (NN170568) looking up Coire nan Lochan between Gearr Aonach (left) and Aonach Dubh with some snow still showing on gullies of Stob Coire nan Lochan
- Again from parking area (SE) Gearr Aonach on right with 3rd of three sisters Beinn Fhada on left
Setting off just about bang on 8.00am.....within 30 minutes took my first ...Ahem!....photo break at approx (NN161561)
- Looking North from (NN161561) viewed R to L...Am Bodach, The Chancellor & Aonach Eagach ridge
- Aonach Eagach again
- Stob Coire nan Lochan from further up Coire
At the top of Coire nan Lochan (approx NN155553) the suggested route skirts NW onto plateau North of Lochans but I chose the relatively straight forward scramble ahead onto plateau South of Lochans then a walk NW to join track for Stob Coire nan Lochan.
- Eastern face of Stob Coire nan lochan from plateau at top of Coire approx (NN151552)
The route to the summit was a real ankle breaker and I lost the track on a few occasions as it weaved through / over the boulder field
- Boulder field route to summit
and after what seamed an eternity the summit cairn was reached
- Stob Coire nan Lochan summit cairn
where someone had laid a meaningful message / memory of I would assume a loved one (I straightened up and turned it a bit for you)
- Someones meaning full message at the cairn
then took some shots from summit...
- E/SE view across sun hazed Beinn Fhada, Buachaille Etive Beag & Buachaille Etive Mor
- S/SE to Stob Coire Sgreamhach with visible snow filled Red Scree descent route at foot of hill on right
From the summit of Stob Coire nan Lochan the route to Bidean nam Bian looks daunting and my first thought was how the hang am I going to get up that...was there some other way that I couldn't see.....Eh! NO...
- To the left is route up to Bidean nam Bian from Stob Coire nan Lochan
the assent was a lot less daunting than photo would have you believe...that said it was a tough old haul to the summit.
After reaching and wandering about Bidean summit I noticed a cairn off to the West (approx NN141542) so headed off on said direction to tick the box
- Cairn on Bidean at (NN141542)
and then back up to summit and headed for Sgreamhach and in doing so forgot to take the Bidean cairn shot.
- Stob Coire nam Beith to NE from Bidean summit
The ridge between Bidean and Sgreamhach gives superb views down into the lost valley
- Looking down into the Lost Valley
as does the assent of Sgreamhach...
- Stob Coire Sgreamhach summit cairn with Aonach Eagach in far ground
- Bidean from Sgreamhach with Red Scree gully descent route (NN149537) in centre ground
Whilst at the summit I joined debates on the practicality of the Red Scree gully due to being snow filled and that first 100 feet or so was pretty steep (refer again to 0483 & 0505 JPG's) ......some headed off along Beinn Fhada in search of a route down into the Lost Valley, but I and others chose to try the gully. The first quarter of the descent was very steep and every step was firmly planted, but once past the rocky section at quarter way down, it bum down feet up and off down the gully in no time.
- Route down Red Scree gully (check the bum slide tracks)
after that the walk out seemed to take forever....
- Waterfall down Gearr Aonach approx (NN157547)
when almost on valley floor attention was drawn to an RAF rescue hellicopter which had entered the valley and initially gave impression of looking for someone, but after a few circuits and stops it looked to more like a training exercise
- RAF Rescue scanning Gearr Aonach
- Again hovering beside Beinn Fhada
...after it despersed it was on with the walk out back to the car....
- Looking along lost valey floor and up Bealach Dearg
- Looking into valley...guess that's why it got lost
- Looking out towards Glen Coe
...... a good day with variations and another double at the end of it.
Regards................B