This was another early start. Lee rejoined Sarah and I and we headed off to do the classic grade 1 traverse of the Ballachulish Horseshoe. This route takes in the summits of Sgorr Bahan (901m) and Sgorr Dhearg (1024m). This stunning round was fairly straight forward. A steep walk up frozen fields to the nose of the shoulder then follow the shoulder up the first peak, down to a little Bealach then up to the second summit (the Munro). However that said it was a truly fantastic day. We were tramping over perfect, hard, nevé. The ridge is steep with stunning drops and an almost perfect line.

We were treated to views East down Glencoe to Rannoch Moor and North to the unclouded summit of Ben Nevis. Part of me was gutted that we hadn't chosen to do the CMD Arete onto the Ben, but the weather forecast had predicted that cloud and clag would come in at lunch so we decided to do a less committing route.

Overall it was a short day out but non the less superb for experiencing a nice day on the mountain with some stunning views of the Scottish Highlands.

The day was marred slightly by a long trudge through the forest to reach the road (I won't be repeating this way off), and a grumpy SYHA keeper, but the less said about him the better.

After a day shopping and recovering from the Five Sisters Sarah and I decided to have a potter up Aonach Mor.

The simplest way to the summit is to get the Gondola up to the ski center then wander round the side of the ski area following the fence line to the top of the ski piste. This takes a long time. On the way up I attempted to teach Sarah some boot and axe skills, we got them in the end.

Aonach Mor is a narrow featureless plateau with big cliffs on either side. To get to the summit requires walking on bearings for set distances, either pacing or timing. This proved to be an interesting challenge as different pacing are needed for summer and winter, and I can't remember how many paces I take in winter. So while Sarah paced I timed. we reached the summit cairn in an almost total whiteout. the views had been amazing on the way up but thoroughly crapped out as we got to the summit cairn. We decided to leave Aonach Beag for another day and started to navigate our way back.

This was nerve wracking and I had a little flap part way back. (Remind me never to give my map and compass to someone else). However after consulting the GPS and getting a second compass out (I was convinced that the firs had changed direction) we made it back to the top ski tow and then back to the gondola station.

A mentally exhausting day out. 

This was truly an alpine day in Scotland!

The Five Sisters of Kintail dominate the norther side of Glen Shiel. A long majestic ridge line with some quite stunning and imposing summits. The route takes in 3 Munros and 2 high peaks.

The siren that is my alarm brutishly dragged us from our slumber at a grueling 5am. Truly an alpine start to the day.

After a bit of faffing Sarah and I met with Sue and Lee who were joining us for the expedition. It was slightly amusing to introduce Lee to Sue in the pitch black when neither could see the other. After some too-ing and fro-ing we set off up Bealach an Lapain. This was still a brutal slog (this was the same start point as Brothers Ridge) however it was wonderful to reach the Bealach and know that the worst was over.

We set off with a gusto that was soon dampened by the long slog up to the first of the sisters, Sgùrr nan Spainteach 990m (not even a munro). From here we desended a short way before popping up to the summit of our first munro of the day (Sgùrr na Ciste Duibhe 1027m) there was a massive cairn here that some poor sod had had to build. Well played to them!

After a long plod of interesting ups and downs we reached the second Munro of the day (Sgùrr na Carnach, 1002m). The summit of this mountain is a perfectly rounded hill. Seriously look it up on a map, see concentric circles! The sun gleamed through the cloud to light up the top as we made our way to the top.

After this it was a beasting down to another bealach before an interesting assent of Sgùrr Fhuaran (1067m) our final Munro of the day. We quickly descended before starting up our last major peak of the day Sgùrr nan Saighead (929m). Just mindless plodding to get up but an interesting nav challenge to get off the summit while avoiding treacherous cliff faces. (Ok not really as bad as it sounds, just had to head in the wrong direction for a bit before naving back to the corrie rim).

We finaly popped up to the top of Beinn Bhuidhe. At this point we had completed the Five Sisters. As it was getting late we started to descend back towards Glen Shiel, the cars, and the pub. It was dark by the time we got back to the road. We were tired, extremely tired and Sarah had wet feet, but it had been worth it. We had completed a traverse of a classic ridge line in perfect winter conditions (ironically for it to be a quality winter mountain day clag and wind are required). Back in the pub we made plans for the coming days.

After the success of yesterday (being able to cross rivers despite heavy rainfall) Sue, Sarah and I decided to attempt Beinn Fhada.  This Munro has rather a long walk in and a river crossing that Walk Highlands describes as "dangerous in spate".

A group of mutual friends and instructors had attempted Beinn Fhada yesterday and had had to turn back at this river crossing as the water level was too high to attempt a safe crossing. We knew this but decided to chance it and take a look, just in case the water level had dropped.

The day stared out in an ominous fashion. According to the guide book we could park in Dorusduain Woods, however as we drove towards them there was a large sign claiming that this was now a private road and the path now started from a different location. We ummed and ahhred but eventually decided to go to the new start point even if this did mean a much longer walk in.

After a long, but not unpleasant, walk we reached the river crossing. We were greated by a heart stopping view.

The boulders were washed out. The waterfall was quite spectacular, but as our friends had found the day before, impassable. Sue and I figured that discretion was the better part of valor and that a picnic was called for before turning our back on the Munro and heading back to the car. Sarah agreed and we had a pleasant half hour having lunch.

As we were eating said lunch a couple arrived who, like us, had designs on the Munros on the other side of the river. We explained that we thought the water levels too high to risk a crossing, and then watched them wander up and down stream looking for a possible crossing. The chap clearly thought it was possible but there was some vigorous shaking of the woman's head. We left, not wanting to see the remainder of their discussion.

We headed back to the vehicles and then Sarah and I went off to Skye to fill up the van and bag some geocaches. Not a wasted day. Later we joined the group of instructors at their cottage for a very nice dinner.

Yesterday was our first rest day in the Highlands. S and I went off to do some admin and check in with various relatives. Mum and Dad were very glad to hear that I was still alive as texts and phone calls hadn't been reaching me. Anyway we went on a geocache hunt before cooking up soup and going to have a  look at the Culin. Disappointingly the Sligachan Hotel was shut, just as we were thinking of joining Sue for coffee the wind picked up and started rocking the van. So we made the sensible decision to park up and watch Bee movie (good choice). Only after watching it did we remember that we needed to do some washing... Laundrette times! 

After cooking dinner we went to meet Sue in her hotel the Mackinnon Country House Hotel. What a stunning place! Its got an honestly bar and a coal fire in the sitting room. The land lady is lovely. We were all chatting round the fire when she asked where S and I were staying. When we said in my van down the road she looked horror struck! (A similar look to that Mum had when I suggested the idea to her too). Anyway first she said we were to park in her carpark so we could use the toilets, then she offered us towels and a bathroom to make use of. Then we were offered breakfast for £3 each. Finally she offered us a room for a very good price which we simply could not refuse. So now we are staying in the hotel it is plush.

So that brings me to today. After a leisurely breakfast in the hotel (they don't do speedy breakfasts) we headed round to a remote bit of coastline to tramp up a roadside munro. It was yet another long and torturous slog up a heather slope that was mostly bog. 

Fortunately the tedium was broken by a few interesting river crossing. The rivers weren't wide, but they were fast! 

Then boredom struck again and I seriously wondered if it was all worth it. Seriously who chooses to slog up a mountain in the lashing rain just because its there? Apparently me. 

Things got interesting again when we finally reached the Bealach and the winds hit us. Suddenly this was no longer a miserable traipse up a hill this was exciting, this was living, 

After an interesting, but rounded ridge we finally made the summit cairn. It was rather broken and looked a bit on the drunk side (possibly hit by lightning?) the wind abated and I was able to sort out a wardrobe malfunction that had been causing me some discomfort (I had only put one brace back on my waterproof trousers after a speedy layer change and they were falling down). We had a quick bite to eat and then headed down.

In an attempt to make the most of the small weather window before the storm moved in this afternoon Sue, S and I made an early start on A' Chràlaig (1120m) a munro just past the Clunie Inn.

It had a nice aspect and route to it as its a long North spur to the summit so looked like it would go even if the weather did begin to crap out on us.

As it was we could not have had different weather to yesterday. After another punishing slog strait up a heather slope we reached the crest of the spur that was to lead us to the summit cairn. 

There was good bullet hard nevé to walk on so we strapped on crampons and plodded our way up hill. Just before the first false summit the weather crapped out on us. The cloud swept in and enveloped us in its mists. 

Sue and I switched into nav mode and the day turned from a pleasant stroll up a hill to a challenging navigation  exercise. 

After much pacing and walking on bearing we eventually made the summit. our paces were 50m off but as the slope was still going up and we knew to find a cairn we made it there.

It was the biggest cairn I think I have ever seen. Easily 10 feet tall!

The wind was howling round it and cutting through our layers so after a swig of water pulling on jackets and a bite of food we turned around and stared the process of navigating back. Not quite so simple as following our own footsteps. 

We managed this spectacularly! There was one heart stopping moment when I realised that I had almost stepped onto the cornice (the visibility was down to about 2m) and that S was worryingly close to the edge. However after a sharp outcry from myself we all beat a hasty retreat away from the edge. 

After that it was a relatively simple walk down the slope, keeping one eye on the compass and another on the mountain. We were off the hill by 2pm and once again questioning what there was to do in the Highlands when your not on a mountain. The answer? Nothing, but try and keep warm. 

Apologies about the lack of photos, the weather was simply too grim. 

After our success with the corbett yesterday Sue, S and I decided to try our luck with a bigger challenge.
With the Met Office and MWIS forecasting storms to sweep in by Sunday afternoon we saw a small weather window, Saturday and Sunday morning. 

The forecast looked good for today so we decided on the Brother's Ridge. This staggeringly beautiful route took in 3 Munros and a few smaller peaks too. 

The day started well with a relentless slog up a steep heather slope. A few bursts of rain swept in as we were ascending but we carried on determined to at least reach the summit of the first Munro (Sàileag) a short way up the ridge from the Bealach (Saddle). As we finally reached the bealach the cloud cleared and we were greater with staggering views into Glen Affric. 

Heading East along the ridge was staggering. we quickly summited our first Munro (Sàileag, 956), from then on there was no turning back. The weather was with us and a lack of wind made for an incredible ridge. Sue and I shared breaking the trail while S got used to using crampons on snow covered ridges. 

A short while later found us in the second bealach of the day. I managed to face plant the snow when I fell in the largest wind snow sculpture ever, standing at the bottom of it I couldn't touch the top with my walking pole!

After that excitement it was time to start slogging up the next section of ridge. S asked to break trail for a bit, and Sue and I were more than happy to let her. Some time later found us on the summit plateau of Sgùrr a' Blealaich Dheirg (1030m) however the actually summit lies 100m along the north ridge. getting there was quite an undertaking. Sue overcame her fears of knife edge ridges and made it along while S broke trail and I came along with Sue. A daunting but worth it summit. 

On our decent to the next bealach we met other people! a pair of walkers with a very nippy dog. Worryingly they were traipsing up the mountain without crampons! We then began the assent of our last Munro of the day, Aonach Meadhoin (1001m). The assent was a long but spectacular ridge right up the the summit plateau. Simply stunning. Here we met a solitary walker who had had a mammoth day but the sounds of it, but he was still faster than us descending the mountains. 

We traipsed off the munro and started up Sgùrr an Fhuarail which at 987m was a minor inconvenience that lay between us and our Sue's car at the Cluanie Inn. However it proved an interesting little mountain full of holes for us to fall in on the summit. We defended its SE ridge to a minor 854m top before heading quickly down hill and slogging through boggy moorland and the car. 

The whole day was fantastic. Dark closed in around us as we dropped below the snow line but with a predicted 6-8h time it was expected. In the end the whole route took us 8h, and it was glorious!

Yesterday S and I spend the day bumbling round Fort William before meeting up with my friend Sue in Shiel Bridge, not much to say of the day really.

Anyway today's forecast was interesting to say the least. Strong winds and snow showers. Fantastic. So we decided to poke our heads up a Corbett and see how we did with the weather. 

We drove back down the valley to try Am Bathach (798) and possibly a munro depending on the wind and weather. 

It was blowing a hoolie. So we popped our heads up over the first little summit, the wind was a bit strong but it was ok, so we decided to carry on an put our heads up over then next, then the next then we topped out on the summit. 

Over all it was a nice day, despite some interesting gusts of wind that saw all three of us on our knees and some very wet gloves and no photo opportunities. I thought about getting the camera out but was worried that it would blow away. 

Im also pretty shattered hence the lack of coherent writing. Right off to cook dinner now. 

Well, dear readers, I have 2 days to catch you up on.

Yesterday, New Years Eve was spent traveling through vial weather from Carlisle to Edinburgh. The M74 is my favourite motorway. It runs through some incredible countryside. However we didn't see much of that as it was lashing it down.

Traveling though Briggar we saw the biggest bonfire EVER they were stacking it with a cherry picker!

Anyway the rain cleared up as we reached Edinburgh. So we parked up in Portobello and went for a walk to Holyrood park. 

We picked up some geocaches on route and then climbed Arthur's seat. What views! I strongly suggest that you pick a sunny clear day and go up!

Any way the top was ruined by tourists and it was very blowy so we got off quickly and headed back to the vans. 

Once back we made a brew had and had a nap before catching a bus into the city centre.

After wandering through the sights we went for dinner (it was very hard to find somewhere with less than 30min wait) but we found somewhere in the end.

Feeling refreshed it was time to find more geocaches. We found some and ended up watching the fireworks from half way up Holyrood hill. Spectacular!

That brings us to today.

After a leisurely breakfast we headed north to Stirling then across to Crianlarich. A quick stop off at Killin to see the falls and have a brew was spectacular.

Then it was back on the road to Tyndrum then eventually over Rannoch Moor past the Kings House (Dad and I stayed there on our West Highland Way trip) through Glencoe and up to Fort William.

A long but not arduous days drive. 

The van is starting to feel homely. Every night there is something to tinker with to make living easier and a list of additions and changes is being written up.

Now to a evening in a toasty van! Good night all!