Hills: Beinn Eunaich and Beinn a' Chochuill
Date: Thursday 6th February 2020
Company: Myself and Ann-Marie
Distance: 15.4km, Ascent: 1230m
Time: 6Hrs 50Mins
Thanks to Ann-Marie for picking me up from home at
4am on Thursday morning and then driving to the west coast with a view to
ascending Beinn Sgulaird. En-route to Beinn Sgulaird we changed our plan
opting instead to ascend Beinn Eunaich and Beinn a' Chochuill.
On
arrival, we parked on the B8077 close to the start of the track. Once suited
and booted we set off walking taking our ice axes but opting to leave our
crampons in the boot as the hills looked almost devoid of snow.
Alas, the weather was not as good as had been forecast by MWIS.
View from just beyond start of track:
During the walk in we passed several H'lan Coos. Always a pleasure to
meet them on the hills.
H'lan Coos:
After walking a short distance along the rising track we took to the
steep hillside reaching the start of the ridge at Stob Maol. Once on the
ridge it was an nice, gradual ascent to the summit.
Looking back during steep ascent of Stob Maol:
I last ascended Stob Daimh in June 2019. It was nice to once again see
its narrow horseshoe ridge with a cap of snow.
Stob Daimh:
As we progressed along the southern ridge of Beinn Eunaich the cloud
came and went providing fleeting glimpses towards the Cruachan range.
Cruachan range (zoom):
At a height of circa 800m we reached the snowline. The snow was soft and
shallow posing no difficulties.
Above the snowline on Beinn Eunaich:
Looking across to Cruachan range:
Looking back:
On gaining a bit more height the views to the south opened-up. The tops
of the Crianlarich hills and Ben Lui range were exposed above a sea of cloud
inversion.
Crianlarich hills and Ben Lui above a sea of cloud inversion:
On reaching the summit of Beinn Eunaich we stopped long enough to take a
few photographs and to get the ice axes out before continuing on towards
Beinn a' Chochuill.
At the summit of Beinn Eunaich:
View from the summit of Beinn Eunaich:
The descent from Beinn Eunaich was challenging without crampons due to
hard snow and ice. In hindsight, we shouldn't have left the crampons in the
boot of the car. This did however provide an opportunity to practice some
key winter skills, kicking and cutting steps.
Looking back to Beinn Eunaich:
On reaching the col we stopped for a quick drink and bite to eat before
commencing the ascent of Beinn a' Chochuill. The ascent of Beinn a'
Chochuill, althought steep at first, posed no difficulties.
Ascending Beinn a' Chochuill:
It was great to reach the summit of Beinn a' Chochuill where again we
stopped only briefly to take some photographs.
At the summit of Beinn a' Chochuill:
View from the summit of Beinn a' Chochuill:
From the summit of Beinn a' Chochuill, I decided to descend back to the col
and then descend via the coire instead of descending via the SE ridge. It
was a pleasant descent from the col to a small hydro scheme where we picked
up the start of the track leading back out to the car.