I've been trying to get out on the hills properly for a long time, but there has been a lot happening in my life and that's been sucking a lot of time away from me. And I've been running a lot as well, but let's keep those things separate shall we?
Ages ago, I'd heard that Clach Leathad used to be the Munro before Creise was promoted in the big 1970's Munro reshuffle. Ever since then it's been nagging away at me that I should really get it done.
After my ML course in September, I was looking for nearby hills that would qualify as a Quality Mountain Day, and this one certainly counted.
My van was once again in the garage, which meant my plans of getting a Saturday night pint at the Kingy were quashed. However, I decided on an early start and headed off from a very frosty Glasgow just after 0700.
The drive up was incredible - Loch Lomond was going in and out of mist and the sun rising was lighting it up beautifully. I almost pulled into Luss for photos but I had been keeping an eye on the north-bound weather front and I knew if I missed the window I'd have blamed that stop for it.
I made it to Glencoe at 0840 and started getting ready to head up. The car park was really quiet and so I started off up the footpath alongside the chairlifts. It was cold, but not too windy so I was quite comfortable. I did carry my full winter kit, so my bag was quite heavy. It's a steep climb and there was a lot of ice on the rocks, but it was fine. I made it to the start of the flat bit at 0940 and got sight of the snow on the hills. It was looking pretty nice under blue skies.
From the 720m cafe, I was starting to go through crispy snow up the steep slope beside the next chairlift and then I hit the road that presumably everyone else used. The snow was hard-compacted and a bit slidey. At this point, I noticed that the Buachaille was putting on quite a show to the North.
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| Buachaille forming it's own weather system |
I pressed on up and was rewarded with a tremendous view as I came over the summit of Meall a' Bhùiridh at 1045. I could see Clach Leathad right ahead of me.
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| Clach Leathad |
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| Light on the ridge |
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| Summit Selfie |
It was breathtaking - the light highlighting the long ridge. This is where learning Gaelic has come in handy - I can really tie that view to the name - Clach Leathad meaning "stony slope" - that long ridge really making the words clear. Between that and the stags roaring in the Glen below giving Meall a' Bhùiridh it's name, hill of the roaring, I was in Gaelic heaven.
I headed down the ridge from Meall a' Bhùiridh and on to Mam Coire Easain. There was a bit of scrambling and I had the axe out mostly for stability but it wasn't really crampon conditions. Once I hit the Mam, it was an easy km into the wind to hit the summit of Clach Leathad. There were a few tracks but it looks like most folk over the weekend had hit Creise instead. I was on the top at 1210.
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| Meall a' Bhùiridh |
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| The Kingy from Clach Lethad |
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| Glen Etive |
The wind started picking up so I headed back, the way I'd come pretty much, but following some of the ski centre roads to get a feel for the different buildings around the place. It's quite weird.
I headed back from the cafe down to the car park and arrived there at 1430 where I got into the car and drove down to the Kingy for a nice coffee, where I could see the hill I was on earlier.
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| Clach Leathad from the Kingy |
I really felt my new training kicking in as well - taking my time, assessing the conditions, feeling whether my comfort cup was full or not. It's given a new lease of life to my walking and really deepens my appreciation for it.
I was back home for 1730 and quite relaxed after a nice day on the hill.
Hike Distance: 12.66km
Hike Time: 5h 43m
Hike Ascent: 1377m
Munros Completed: 205 (Still! No new Munros for me on this trip)
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