The southern side of Glen Coe includes some very well-known mountains and can be split into two groups; the ones you can see from the A82 and the ones you can’t. Included in the former group is Buachaille Etive Mor, Buachaille Etive Beag, the Three Sisters and the Ballachulish Horseshoe, and in the latter, three Munros between Glen Creran and Glen Etive (Sgor na h-Ulaidh, Beinn Fhionnlaidh and Beinn Sgulaird). With huge amounts of climbing and walking in summer and winter, this area is also home to a large cairn built for Queen Victoria, or so the story goes. Includes all major peaks above 600m.
Given another poor forecast of strong winds, severe wind chill, poor visibility and a considerable risk of avalanches above 800m on all but the NW-SW aspects in the area, I teamed up with a friend to ascend Sgorr Nam Fiannaidh from the SW, at the Western end of the Aonach Eagach Ridge. Deep snow and trail breaking meant slow progress and strong winds and very poor visability above 600m made for very difficult navigation with severe consequences if errors were made. Ice axe and crampons were essential and the bitterly cold wind meant no hanging around at the summit to enjoy the cloud and 10-20m visibility. Despite these conditions, we successfully summited and had a great day out followed by a well deserved hot chocolate and Whisky at the Clachaig Inn!
