In February, Jo took a couple of days of work and we zoomed up to the Glencoe area to see if winter was still around. It was.

Stayed in the van, but with the luxury of campsite showers and ‘shore power’ for the heater. Van living, combined with 4 consecutive quality winter mountain days out and a trip to the Clachaig made us feel a bit closer to being real Scottish mountaineers.

Victoria Bridge, setting off into a typical Scottish day

Slogging up to the ‘other’ Aonoch Eagach (on Stob Ghabhar) – we found snow!

Great ridge in a bit of sun

Looking NE out to Rannoch Moor

Approaching the interesting section

Stob Ghabhar looking rather fine

Aonach Eagach (a dog followed us along here, with owner)

Dave in mountains

It then got windy, cloud rolled in and we didn’t see anything as we summitted. After a bit of compass work, we were back on the ridge, descending this time.

Dave wondering if this slope is a) the correct way and b) safe

Dave lolloping down the deep snow

Once again, the weather turned as we climbed up Stob a’ Choire Odhair, so no photos. This is Dave again playing in the snow as we descended off Beinn Toaig towards the van

Another day, another slog up a hill to start.

Steep initial climb up above Ballachulish

Warm enough for base layers, and getting higher

Great views over Loch Leven.

Onto the NE ridge of Sgurr Dheag. Lots of parties attempting the East ridge, but few made it.

Loch Leven, the Pap and the Mamores

Good winter conditions

More fantastic views

Approaching the final ridge to Sgorr Dhearg.

Again, the cloud came in, and after some compass work we descended to the col, in high winds. We decided to give Sgorr Dhonuill a shot

Again, pretty windy and cloudy, which made the top exposed section interesting, but no photos until we were descending into the forest

Snow down to the sea today, so we ploughed our way into Coire nan Lochan. The path is in the photo on the right.

Dave deep in snow, thankful for not being the first person.

Having decided the snow was too deep for climbing, we took all of our gear on a jolly trip around the top of the coire, via Stob Coire nan Lochan

Dave being silly on the way down. He then had to try to be sensible to navigate down from the ridge to the path in low vis.

Our final day, on Buachaille Etive Beag. Dave got up early to allow him to break trail all the way.

On the ridge out towards Stob Dubh

After floundering in a cornice in high winds, we turned back around 200m from the summit.

By which point our footprints had filled in so we could break trail all the way back to the bealach

Finally, a summit (Stob Coire Raineach) with views – after good conditions all week, this was a blue sky and sunshine day to top it off.

Views of Stob Coire Sgreamhach

More of the same

Back down the ridge, wondering what the massive crowd is doing at the bealach

Decided to run off the side in the lovely powder, and also avoid the big group

Final few km back to the van. Amazing weather.