The Awesome Aonachs

Munros since diagnosis #160 and #161

14:15 – Aonach Beag (M007), 4049ft, 1234m

15:15 – Aonach Mor (M008), 4006ft, 1221m

The piece I wrote about a wee flurry in the establishment media last week has left me all worded out.

Anyway, I don’t really feel that anything I write would do justice to the experience of these Alpine mountains, with their layers of crag and grassy meadows culminating in massive sheer cliffs and complex buttresses, and views forever in all directions.

Here then a selection of photos.

Emerging from the woods through the Nevis Gorge, the first glimpse of Steall Waterfall.

Looking down on the meadows of Steall from the path up the ridge to the east of Alt Coire nan Laogh before it peters out. Here decisions have been made by many feet about how to avoid a big crag.

Ben Nevis and the south face of Aonach Beag from a flat 800m plateau to the west of Sgurr a Bhuic.

The gentle bouldery slopes between Sgurr a Bhuic and Stob Coire Bhealaich.

One day this big rock is going to fall. On the horizon Scheihallion to Ben Achallader.

The Grey Corries from the ridge of Stob Coire Bhealaich.

The eastern buttresses of the Aonachs.

The traverse to the summit rise of Aonach Beag with Ben Nevis behind.

The south slopes of Aonach Beag, Stob Coire Bhealaich, Sgurr a Bhuic, the eastern Mamores, Glen Coe, Rannoch, Orchy and the Trossachs.

The central Mamores ridges.

Ben Nevis from Aonach Beag.

The Grey Corries from Aonach Mor.

The path off the plateau plunges down from here. This is the hardest section of the walk.

Carn Mor Dearg looking very dearg.

A snow tunnel on the north side of the bealach between the Aonachs and Carn Mor Dearg.

The route back down to Glen Nevis.

Gentle pastures and meadows and a burn pouring over great red slabs.

Still waters with horsetails at the end of a water meadow bristling with cotton grass.

Somewhere to freshen up on the way down the hill with the route up in the background.

Looking back on the start on the day.

Steall waterfall, birchwoods, summer grasses.