Friday 22nd May - Current tally 89 Munros climbed.

Another full week, with a real mixture of weather conditions, everything from snow and sun to mist and rain, with a gale force easterly mid-week as well.

Had a really great day walking over Bidean nam Bian in Glen Coe, on Thursday 14th. The descent down into the Lost Valley from the bealach between Bidean and Stob Coire Sgreamhach still held a lot of snow and felt vertical on the way down! So much so I had to descend facing inwards. The snow was all soft and sugary though so kicking steps wasn’t a problem.

The descent route down into the Lost Valley
from Stob Coire Sgreamhach, 14/05.

A big round on Friday to get both Buachaille’s done on the same day, with gusts of around 60 mph on the summit ridges not helping! Cloud levels descended during the day as the rain and wind intensified. It’s difficult to tell just how strong the wind was, but at one point I did lose my footing and ended up with my feet above my head thinking “This isn’t good, someone could get hurt up here…” Needless to say I managed to right myself and pressed on in full Scott-of-the-Antarctic style (i.e. at 45 degrees)!

Storm clouds gather over Rannach Moor,
view from Buachaille Etive Mor, 15/05.

Murdo came up on the Friday 15th night and we headed to the Clachaig for some beers. It was pretty much as I remembered it from way back, absolutely jumping! The Aberdeen Angus Cheeseburger was fantastic - and I’d already had my tea before I went!

A bit of a trudge up Creise the following day with cloud level just scrapping the car roof! Still it was good to have some company again, although we saw nothing of the hills we walked over.

Sunday was a complete contrast again, with high clouds well above the summits and the sun even came out! Great day and managed four Munro’s down the bottom of Glen Etive.

Tuesday saw me in Glen Nevis, with two rather wet days spent traversing the Mamores, an atrociously wet day on Aonach Beag & Mor, and a fine day to finish off the week traversing the Carn Mor Dearg Arete and over Ben Nevis. First time I’ve been along the CMD Arete, and fantastic it was too! I had a shave and a pint to celebrate!

The mist starts to clear along the Carn Mor Dearg Arete,
looking towards the Ben, 22/05.

13/05 - Sgor na h-Ulaidh
14/05 - Bidean nam Bian & Stob Coire Sgreamhach
15/05 - Buachaille Etive Mor & Beag
(Stob Dearg, Stob na Broige, Stob Dubh & Stob Coire Raineach)
16/05 - Creise
17/05 - Ben Starav, Beinn nan Aighenan, Glas Beinn Mhor
& Stob Coir an Albannaich
18/05 - Meall nan Eun
19/05 - Binnein Beag, Sgurr Eilde Mor, Binnein Mor, Na Gruagaichean,
Stob Coire a’Chairn & An Gearanach
20/05 - Sgurr a’Mhaim, Am Bodach, Stob Ban & Mullach nan Coirean
21/05 - Aonach Beag & Aonach Mor
22/05 - Carn Mor Dearg & Ben Nevis

I start to head east next week, along the Grey Corries to Loch Treig and into the Ben Alder wilderness before popping out on the A9 at Drumochter.