Starting the Monster Kilometre Traverse
Yesterday was a sad day, I did my last remaining Munro in the dramatic Glencoe scenery now I have to make an excuse to go back there.
Its one of my fave areas and I have done a lot of summer and winter climbing here. As you approach the road drops down into the Glen the mountains seem to soar higher each side. With all those buttresses, ridges, faces and corries in close proximity to the road its a unique area for scramblers and mountaineers, theres even stuff here for walkers.
The most famous scramble in the area, the Aonach Eagach attracts the masses BUT there are dozens of other great days out just as good that avoids the crowds.
Today we plan to go onto one of these on the mountains opposite, Aonach Dubh, the Ryolite Romp.
Never heard of it I hear you say...................
It starts on the West Face, steep territory here, home to some of the best rock climbing and mountaineerimg routes in Scotland.
So our route really is a sheep in wolfs clothing, sneaking up an easy scramble called Dinner Time Buttress amidst steeper ground . This leads onto a monster kilometer long traverse time with steep crags above and below. A break in the upper crag allows you to escape and ascend a gully leading you onto a second traverse leading back past the point you started.
My mate is keen to do summits so we quit the upper traverse and visit the top of Aonach Dubh.
We decide to drop down into another major mountaineering area, Stob Coire nan Lochan where we pick up the main path down into the valley,
We call in at the Clachaig for a pint where I bump into one of the youngsters I helped as a beginner, now working as a MIC.
Great day out with a bonus catch up.
Yes the route goes up there
Ascending the gully
Looking across at the Aonach Eagach
Stob Corrie nan Lochan
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