Weather/Conditions: Absolutely tremendous weather - massive sunny skies, low January light, but hills bare of snow. Barely any ice or snow, and just a little wind and warm enough to sit on the summits and enjoy.
Distance/Ascent/Time: 8.9km / 1200m / 6h 20m
Accompanying: Lewis, Neil and Dave

I was only in the Highlands a couple of weeks when the Lewis, Dave and Neil mentioned they were heading for the Aonach Eagach. I'll go for that any time! We got a stunning day weather-wise; I took the opportunity to do some filming.

The weather has been pretty unique. I forgot gloves (a mistake), and didn't bring an ice axe (not a mistake). Neil's spare gloves were appreciated, but the ice axe simply wasn't needed. The hills were bone dry save for a few patches of verglas here and there.



The light was also stunning: sharp, hard, low-angled light that made all the hills glow orange and gold. It's strange to see so little snow, but in weather like this even the snowless winter hills look good. As a crossing of the Aonach Eagach, it was good fun, but I also know the ridge too well now! It's all familiar on the crest and I get more interest from exploring the south face which I've made some forays onto.



At each summit, I'd head off out the wind to get some filming done then catch up with the guys back at whatever summit it was. Beyond the pinnacles we walked over Stob Coire Leith and out to Sgor nam Fiannaidh. One of the most memorable moments was to descend Sgorr nam Fiannaidh overlooking Loch Leven, and to know that now I live here. I finally made the move! In the moment the move was really easy - surprisingly easy, and I'm shocked it didn't feel more significant. That said, I'm sure it's significance will become evident in time.



But the steps taken to reach a point where I could move were not easy, and took a lot of thought and consideration as to how to structure my life, and how I want to structure things. But now I'm in Lochaber, I couldn't be more glad that I bit the bullet and did it.

Lewis and I got back to the road first, and within five or ten minutes were picked up by Simon who was up for some bouldering. We had a good night in the Clachaig, then when the guys left for Glasgow I headed back up the glen for a session on the Stob Coire car park boulder - darkness, head torch, and a huge sky full of stars. Just brilliant.

360° Panoramas

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Sgorr nam Fiannaidh