Woo Hoo, I finally got a view!!

[lomondwalkers]

With today being my last day in my 30's, I was hoping rather than expecting that I'd finally get a break with the weather and get up to the fabulous Glencoe, with the wee Bookil my preferred target. My last 6 or 7 walks I have seen hee haw from the summits (usually clearing 5-10 mins after i descend - You know that feeling!). MWIS wasn't filling me with great optimism last night, stating low cloud gradually rising through the day, with a 20% chance of a cloudfree Munro in the West, but it was better than the 10% chance in the East. So for today, West was best and I'd decide where when I got up. Our house looks towards the Luss Grahams, and it was distinctly gloomy that way when daylight arrived, but being the optimist I am, I packed the Glencoe map anyway and if the gloom persisted I'd just head for the Corbett Beinn a'Chrulaiste. The drive up didn't fill me with much optimism either with all the high tops in clag, and even as I approched Buachaille Etive Mor the clag was down to around 600m, but it was dry, so that was an improvement on last week on Stob Diamh!

Pulled into the carpark across from the large domed cairn, and low and behold, a miracle..... The clag was above the summits of my chosen hills Even the Arrrrgghhhh Eeeeek Ridge was clear of the clag!!

Aonach Eagach

Stob Dubh

Followed the obvious path from the carpark for around 1km, where it forked to the left, and followed this as it gradually rises away from the Allt Lairig Eilde and heads for the col between Stob Coire Raineach. As I gain height I can't help but keep looking back towards the Aonagh Eagach and all it's jaggy pointy bits, wondering if I will be ready for it when summer 2012 comes along, or if I'll just end up stuck and crying for my mammy Even from this distance, it looks rather daunting!!

Jaggy Ridge again

Height was gained fairly quickly, mainly due to the high start point and just a little over an hour from leaving the car I was at the cairn on the col, and greeted with a fabulous view of the full length of Buachaille Etive Mor, which by now was almost clag free too! Unfortunately my camera skills aint upto yet, so no fabby pano shot of the full ridge

Stob Dearg

Stob na Doire

Stob Coire Altruim & Stob na Broige

From here it's a choice of left to Stob Coire Raineach or right to Stob Dubh. As SCR was nearest, I opted for that first, and within around 20 minutes or so, I was standing on the summit taking in my first summit view in bloody ages!!!
If the last few walks had me questioning why the hell I do this for a hobby, then this was the moment that gave me the answer!!! To the North it was still positively gloomy, not even a glimpse of the Ben, even just across Beinn Fhada, Bidean was shy, but these grand herdsmen of Etive were showing themselves and that was as good a 40th birthday present as anything (though I may change my mind in the tomorrow if I get some nice new kit ). So a few minutes were spent snapping away at the summit, though with the excitement of actually having something to photograph, I forgot the obligatory self portrait Then it was time to traverse the ridge to Stob Dubh, which looked a rather fine walk from where I was standing

SCR summit cairn

Stob Dearg & Stob na Doire

Stob Dubh

Loch Etive

Back up Corbett in the clag

A quick descent to the col again and then up to the unnamed 902m cairn where the ridge flattens out and becomes quite narrow, before rising again to the summit of Stob Dubh. The wind was fairly strong along here, but nothing to worry about.

Ridge to Stob Dubh summit

There are two cairns on the summit, the first of which is higher, and from here Bidean revealed as much of herself as she was going to. The second cairn however offers a superb view down Loch Etive, and again a cracking view of Buachaille Etive Mor.

First cairn

Bidean almost clearing

2nd cairn & Loch Etive

Loch Etive

Buachaille Etive Mor

Made my way back to the first cairn, remembering to take that all important smug shot, you get a nice view of the narrower part of the ridge from here also. Then it was down to the col and back to the car via the ascent route. Stopped off at the Kingshoose for the obligatory Big Bookil shot, and got a nice welcome from the locals

Peekaboo!!

Ridge

Stunning!

Oh Deer!

A great half day in a stunning wee part of our planet, with much better than expected weather, and some time alone to reflect on the first 40 years of the life of little OLD me. I only wish I'd got into this fabulous pastime years ago!! Better late than never

Cheers,

Dave

[pollyh33]

Woo Hoo! An early birthday present indeed!!

Brilliant photos Dave and that's without your new camera

You make this sound very straightforward, is it really?

Glad you had a fabbie birthday eve

Happy happy birthday (in 40 minutes) X

[Bod]

Lovely report and a well deserved day by the looks of things. Been saving this one for a special day myself.....

Happy 40th when it comes, all the best

[soulminer]

Call that a view ? Can't beat the view down Loch Etive.
Have a nice day as you plunge headlong into the Fourth Decade
Cheers

[dogplodder]

Happy 40th birthday! You've got loads of time - I've climbed the bulk of mine since I turned 50

Great shot looking down Loch Etive.

[rockhopper]

Well done - it's great when you get to see the views especially here Would agree with soulminer - having sepnt time up here at the start of July, I find the views down Glen Etive hard to beat

[SusieThePensioner]

Unfortunately my camera skills aint upto yet, so no fabby pano shot of the full ridge

Thats a disappointment, you'll have to go back when you've honed your photographic skills

Woo Hoo, a great report and loved the photos anyway, they're excellent

[rockhopper]

Well done - it's great when you get to see the views especially here Would agree with soulminer - having spent time up here at the start of July, I find the views down Glen Etive hard to beat

....and happy birthday - welcome to the 40's

[lomondwalkers]

Woo Hoo! An early birthday present indeed!!

Brilliant photos Dave and that's without your new camera

You make this sound very straightforward, is it really?

Glad you had a fabbie birthday eve

Happy happy birthday (in 40 minutes) X

Cheers Pauline, thats me officially middle aged now and how fab to finally get some views!!!!!

Its a great path all the way on these two, though coming off the summit of SCR there were a few different paths here and there, but with it being clear it wasn't a problem, might be a bit confusing in clag though.

Lovely report and a well deserved day by the looks of things. Been saving this one for a special day myself.....

Happy 40th when it comes, all the best

Cheer Bod Hopefully you'll also get a decent day when your special day comes. You won't be disappointed!

Call that a view ? Can't beat the view down Loch Etive.
Have a nice day as you plunge headlong into the Fourth Decade
Cheers

Cheers SM, though fourth decade sounds even aulder than 40!!! I agree about the view down the Loch, it is stunning!

Happy 40th birthday! You've got loads of time - I've climbed the bulk of mine since I turned 50

Great shot looking down Loch Etive.

Cheers DP! Just glad I took it up eventually Been to places I'd never have seen otherwise

Well done - it's great when you get to see the views especially here Would agree with soulminer - having sepnt time up here at the start of July, I find the views down Glen Etive hard to beat

Glen Etive is most definitely up there with the view I had from Stob Ghabhar. Really enjoyed your report of the 2 Bookils and reaching 100

....and happy birthday - welcome to the 40's

Cheers RH, seems to be a fairly decent place to be so far

Unfortunately my camera skills aint upto yet, so no fabby pano shot of the full ridge

Thats a disappointment, you'll have to go back when you've honed your photographic skills

Woo Hoo, a great report and loved the photos anyway, they're excellent

Thanks Susie. I'm actually on an evening class on the basics of DSLR photography, which I have to attend tonight of all night

[SusieThePensioner]

Thanks Susie. I'm actually on an evening class on the basics of DSLR photography, which I have to attend tonight of all night

If there's any help or information you want regarding the photography then just ask. I've been on a couple of 1-2-1 day courses (in Scotland) which were excellent

[lomondwalkers]

If there's any help or information you want regarding the photography then just ask. I've been on a couple of 1-2-1 day courses (in Scotland) which were excellent

U might just regret saying that Susie, you wont get peace now