MIKE WOOD - 488361

One of my top ten mountain days! Perfect temperature inversion conditions on one of Scotland's classic ridge traverses. I planned and led the walk, the group consisting of my wife Marion and four of her friends. We discussed and agreed the route at our accommodation the previous evening, opting for the circuit of the Cruachan Reservoir over the longer traverse taking in Stob Dearg and Sron an Isean, given the shorter daylight hours - the clocks had changed overnight. I still requested an early start to give the best chance of finishing in daylight and we were on the path from Falls of Cruachan station at first light. The MWIS forecast had given some hope of an inversion on the "higher" Munros in the area: with Cruachan's 1127m summit height this seemed worth the gamble. We were to be fully rewarded. Climbing through dense, damp mist above the reservoir towards the Bealach an Lochain at the top of Coire Dearg, we stopped briefly to refuel. Soon after resuming the climb, the landscape was transformed to one of azure skies and warm sunshine illuminating peaks above a blanket of fluffy cloud. The dew point seemed to be located almost exactly at 3000', so that all we could see in every direction were either Munros or Munro Tops. We continued gleefully to the summit and traversed east towards Drochaid Glas; a short section of exposed slabs giving me cause to do some minor spotting duties for a few of the party. We descended briefly into the mist again en route to Stob Diamh, and by the time we reached Stob Garbh the mist had risen to meet us - the remainder of the descent to the dam requiring map and compass work at times, especially where the path peters out near the Beinn a' Bhuiridh col.
An interesting footnote to this walk: I learned from direct observation that extreme diets don't marry well with a big day on the hills! One of our party who shall remain nameless had regaled us with tales of his "ketone" diet the night before, and how much weight he had lost. Normally perfectly fit, he experienced a classic "bonk" before our first stop. I plied him with gels and chocolate bars thereafter and he luckily fully enjoyed the rest of the day - but I think learned a tough lesson.
We arrived back at the cars just as the light was fading!
Total Distance 15.32km
Elevation Gain 1326m
Elapsed Time: 8:55