I haven't done any walks since having knee surgery a year ago and have been a bit apprehensive about doing so. My friend Jonny has been chipping away at me over the past few months about getting out with him again so I relented yesterday to do a small walk up the devils staircase to Stob Mhic Mhartuin for sunrise and then along the munro less ridge.

Left Glasgow at 05.00 and made good time to reach the car park next to the Devils Staircase for 06:30 we had something to eat and started off on the staircase at 06:45 with head torches. 30 mins in and we stopped for some photos but the sunrise and the light were poor so I didn't get any shots work keeping . we continued on to the summit of Stob Mhic Mhartuin where the light changed and the views really began to open up.

Aonach Eagach by Caledonia84, on Flickr

Aonach Eagach by Caledonia84, on Flickr

Aonach Eagach by Caledonia84, on Flickr

Aonach Eagach by Caledonia84, on Flickr

Aonach Eagach by Caledonia84, on Flickr

Aonach Eagach by Caledonia84, on Flickr

we continued along the ridge to Sron Gharb where we got an epic view of the prehistoric looking Aonach Eagach ridge, at the summit I felt good, legs felt strong and Jonny suggested carrying on over the Aonach Eagach ridge( I suspect he had planned this all along). Knowing this to be a hard climb and a long day I was hesitant but conditions were perfect so we went for it,

Heading up and over Am Bodach we started meeting others joining here, the clouds closed in leading to some great photo ops,

Aonach Eagach by Caledonia84, on Flickr

Aonach Eagach by Caledonia84, on Flickr

Aonach Eagach by Caledonia84, on Flickr

Aonach Eagach by Caledonia84, on Flickr

Aonach Eagach by Caledonia84, on Flickr

The Ridge itself was hard going and I definitely wouldn't recommend it to anyone who hasn't got a head for heights, how people do this in the winter is beyond me!

Straight down!
Aonach Eagach by Caledonia84, on Flickr

Aonach Eagach by Caledonia84, on Flickr

Aonach Eagach by Caledonia84, on Flickr

Aonach Eagach by Caledonia84, on Flickr

Aonach Eagach by Caledonia84, on Flickr

Aonach Eagach by Caledonia84, on Flickr

Aonach Eagach by Caledonia84, on Flickr

looking back over the ridge you can see the rescue Helicopter at the other end, it was circling us for a while hope they were just training and not actually searching for someone.

Aonach Eagach by Caledonia84, on Flickr

We decided to come down the side of the Clachaig Gully which in hindsight was a bad idea, took as way longer than we thought to get down and was outright lethal in some parts, definitely come off over the Papp of Glencoe instead, Jonny was descending much faster as our knees were killing us so he decided to go and hitch a lift back to the car at devils staircase. Finished up in the excellent Clathaig pub with some well earned food and beer.