Big Steps and Bad Steps on the Aonach Eagach

[Graeme D]

Debbie and I were booked in for a night at the Bridge of Orchy Hotel. I had booked it back in April, not long after Ailsa was born and this would be Debbie's first night away from her. She and Lucy were dispatched to my parents on the Friday evening and we got an early start on the Saturday morning, being away from Perth by 6.15am.

I had long been forbidden by Debbie from doing the Aonach Eagach ....... that is forbidden from doing it unless she was with me. Not that she feels I'd need supervised - just that this is her kind of walk! In saying that, I knew this was going to be a stiff challenge for her. It had been 15 months since her last Munro, Ben Lawers in June 2010, and pregnancy and motherhood had intervened since then to keep her largely off the hills. And then there were the effects of the life-threatening haemhorrage she suffered immediately post-delivery. In short, save for a couple of local Sub2Ks, she'd not walked on this scale for a long time.

And so I was a little surprised when she suggested the Aonach Eagach. I was thinking we'd probably do the Corbett Beinn a'Chrulaiste, or maybe Beinn Trileachan down Glen Etive.

The forecast seemed fair so we decided to go for it, taking both cars up the road. We dropped one off at the carpark down the minor road beyond the Clachaig and the Glencoe YH and drove the other car back round to the carpark by the solitary white house, just past the main Bidean carpark. We were the first car in that parking area, although within a short space of time, we were looking back down to see half a dozen or so vehicles squeezed in beside us.

In short, we had a brilliant day. The Aonach Eagach lived up to all my expectations and met with Debbie's approval too. She was dead on her feet by the time we left Sgorr nam Fionnaidh to drop down to the bealach between it and the Pap, and she took a wee tumble or two on the descent path back down to the car, but otherwise it was a stunning return to form.

I will let the pictures tell the story. They do it so much better than any words could.

This is the Aonach Eagach! Enjoy!

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[Bod]

Brilliant day out! Well done the pair of you and treating yourself to a wee night in the hotel too. A lovely weekend to have had, and it looked like you had the mountains fairly much to yourselves.....nice one, brings back some great memories for Valerie and I as well from earlier this year

[pollyh33]

Well done Mr and Mrs D!!!

What a fantastic report, with lots of scary pictures!!!!

Hope you had a fabbie meal at the hotel after this awesome climb!

So how many times did Debbie mention Ailsa??? One or two I can imagine

[Stretch]

Ah good times! Nicely done both of you. I too saved my 'slip' for the final descent. Hurt my tailbone pretty good, but if you're gonna slip, best it be on wider ground!

[monty]

Great set of photos Graeme. Looks like you both enjoyed the walk. Superb.

[Johnny Corbett]

Cracking report Graeme, liking the look of the climbing/scrambling bits. It's now at the top of my list for next year. 15 months is a long time between Munros, so well done to Debbie for that. Kim seems to cope well on the hills as well when she's not been out for a while unlike myself, the girls must be fitter than us guys after all

[ChrisW]

Great report Graeme, Mrs D doesn't mess around does she 1st one in over 15 months and she elects to do this one, the lady likes a challenge. Some really stunning photos along the way with dramatic drops all round

[Alan S]

Well done Graeme, Some smashing pics there
Also well done to Debbie after what she went through earlier in the year A nice easy couple of munros to get back into it

[Mountainlove]

Ahhh that takes me back...great report and pictures enjoyed going through them while being stuck inside an office!

[pigeon]

That is a bold return to the hills right enough ,well done to you both,trying to build up the courage to tackle this next summer so your pics have been a great help,well done again

[skuk007]

Nice one Graeme, more scary pictures of the ridge, and not another soul to be seen in them, bliss.

[MarilynMunro]

""I will let the pictures tell the story. They do it so much better than any words could.""

No ****

Very well done to you both, and like everyone else, congrats to Mrs D, what a way to kickstart her walking again. Pretty much looks like the perfect day.

[dooterbang]

Great set of photos.

Defo a ridge worth revisiting.

Thanks for posting.

[Jock McJock]

Been planning on doing this one for a while now. Just trying to get the time and the weather. A mate of mines has done it twice and has offered to lead me over. Kind of fancy it solo though, so will just depend if we can get the time off together. Would only do it on my own on a very dry, clear day though. Some nice pics there

[lomondwalkers]

Sooperb Graeme & Debbie Loving the fact it looks like a quiet day for the ridge, I look forward to doing it in 2012, hopefully on a nice blue sky day, so doubt it'll be quite as quite as you guys had it.