25/06/16 - Aonoch Eagach - (me, Steve Fallon group)

This was the event that had brought me back to Glencoe - Aonoch Eagach! I was doing it with a group so that a) I dared do it at all and b) so that I could give Steve Fallon ome confidence in me doing Skye in September. The weather looked OK (pretty important given the exposure of the route). We met at Clachaig and drove to the start.
It was a relatively small group. 3 attendees, 1 leader (Al), and 1 trainee leader (also Al). The other attendees seemed capable, but not intimidating - I wanted to hold me own, but not be held back too much!
We started up the steep ascent, Al distracting us all the way with some decent insights on local flora and fauna, history and geology. He was the archetypal guide in terms of his knowledge and interest in bestowing it. Good stuff.
Before long we were at the point where we needed to don helmet and harness.
I'm not sure i it was after the first Munro or not, but the trickiest part of the day is typically held to be a long and steep descent where prolonged down climbing is necessary. This  turned out to be quite good fun. Exhilarating rather than terrifying - not sure I'd want to do it without a rope though it wasn't quite as steep and exposed as I'd thought it might be. But it was high.
We carried on through a number of shorter sections, none of which presented too much difficulty. The weather was perfect (still, bright, warm), and presented excellent views down Glencoe.
We eventually came to the pinnacles. These again turned out to be fun and not as exposed as I feared they might be. There were 2 bits where you could either shuffle or walk along while massively exposed on either side. I managed to walk the first one (I think because I thought there was no choice), but not the second.
It always comes as a relief though when the leader tells you that the worst is over and you can take your harness and helmet off.
We walked to the last Munro - an excellent, but none technical ridge walk. And then just had the descent to take care of. We'd probably been warned about the descent more than any other part. I'd feared that we were doing the gully which leads to the Clachaig Inn (where several people have died over the past few years), so I was relieved when it was confirmed that it wasn't. But it was a steep scree slope.
With much slipping and sliding we managed to make a prolonged descent and all before the rain came in (an hour later than forecast). Which was good, because when it came, it really came.
I went to Morrisons in Fort William and then to the Youth Hostel. Cooked, drank a bit and then ended up going for a local walk in a glorious evening sunset.
Tonight I was sleeping in a dorm room, so I donned ear plugs and crossed my fingers for a good nights sleep.

Munros - Meall Dearg and Sgorr nam Fiannaidh

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