Next day of our Scottish adventure and the usual round of endless discussions around where to go. My mate JC suggested Ben Cruachan which I haven’t done for years. Its a big bugger so we went for the shorter and lower eastern side and the Dalmally horseshoe.
Even though its a shorter day, you start at sea level and its still a substantial undertaking of 8 miles and 3,500 feet of ascent.
Our group 6 set off on the track into the heart of the horseshoe. The Hydro track went much further into Coire Chreachainn than the map showed which was helpful.
After which the real work began. Steep grass and then ever deepening snow. The forecast was for the grey skies to clear and as we climbed things looked promising. However the grey skies soon returned.
It was a very long climb and in deep snow with no new tracks to follow it was tough going.
JC puts a happy perspective on things.
Approaching the first top of Sron an Isean.
The happy gang on the first summit.
The weather was still overcast and we were in and out of the cloud. We still had some decent views and in this grim spell of weather it was at least dry which is always a win in Scotland.
It had been tough going on the ascent but from here things were even tougher. The snow was amazingly deep even on the crest of the ridge. It was incredibly hard work bashing through and breaking trail (we were pretty much the only people we saw up here all day) even though I didn’t actually do any (I slunk to the back of the group using my lack of height as a very weak excuse).
Despite the grey skies the views were still pretty decent and Ben Cruachan is a spectacular mountain. Rocky with narrow ridges, unlike most of the rest of the south east highlands.
We stopped for a break on the final summit of Stob Garbh. Despite the relatively short distance it had taken us 5 hours to reach this point.
As we sat on the top the skies began to clear a little and the sun even came out. We were half in and half out of the cloud, the sunlight reflecting off the Cruachan Power Station reservoir far below.
After a grey day the skies began to clear to dramatic effect. Selfie with the highest summit of Ben Cruachan behind.
Within the space of a few minutes, gloomy grey skies were replaced with blue ones.
We even had a couple of fog-bows!
We went our separate ways from the summit, me and JB heading back to the car, the rest taking on the extra Corbett of Beinn a Bhuiridh.
As we headed down the skies became clearer and the late afternoon views across the southern highlands were magnificent. Another concerned face selfie.
It was a long and tiring descent in deep and slippery snow but with views like this no complaints.
JB takes a pause to survey the grandeur.
By the time we reached the lower slopes the skies had pretty much cleared and the light contrasts were just stunning.
Looking back to Beinn a Bhuiridh. At this point the rest of the party were only just heading away from the summit and likley to completing their descent in the dark.
We eventually reached the track just as the last pink alpenglow faded from Ben Lui.
We had to wait at the car for well over an hour for the rest of party to make it down but the moonlight views over the mountains, this is Beinn Mich Mhonaidh, was more thn enough to keep us happy.
A magnificent, long and tiring day
surfnslide 
I did Cruachan with Chris T. Pretty sure we went up from the Power Station, but weirdly, I have very few memories of the day, apart from the fact that it was showery. I can vividly remember other days from much longer ago, so I’m not sure why the mental blackout on this one. You got some great views in the end, and even before that everyone looks very happy in the photos. Apart from you of course! Have to say, however, I think we may have had the better weather.
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Its a superb mountain and probably the best one south of Glencoe. Shame we didn’t really see it in all its glory although the slogging through the snow would likely have hampered that enjoyment. Been a long time since I had to wade through snow that deep, especially on a ridge. Like you I only have a vague recollection of my first ascent with UF many years ago, surprising I’ve never been back until now. I think you had the better weather through the day, but the finish for us was pretty special
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Very jealous – what month was that? I’m sure it was bloody hard work though! I’d have had to do Beinn a’ Bhuiridh as I’ve been after that for years now – must go up and do it sometime – hopefully via that horseshoe as it’s on my to-do list. Not sure I’d be able to do it in winter conditions nowadays though…
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This was back at the end of February. Its a really good Corbett (I did it on my first ascent of Cruachan when I was much leaner and fitter!) but starting it at that late hour was pushing it a bit for the others. Tough day starting from sea level in deep snow!
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I agree it was a big add for that weather and that start time – I’d definitely only want to do it in non snowy conditions – I’m probably not fit enough for big rounds of mountains in snow on short days now
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Oh wow, that’s a day and a half. Some stunning views with the blue skies at the end, but you had to do some snow bashing to get to those views, you could argue that the snow slowed you down enough to give you those views
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Yeah, that’s a good point – any faster and I’d have been on the way down when the skies cleared. It was odd that my other half was walking in Glencoe a few miles to the north on the same day and it was completely clear and blue most of the day
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Wow, wow, wow! Hard work but so worth it!
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It was a tough days walking, deep snow is very tiring. Worth all that effort for the great show as the day ended
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