The Alps? Nepal? No! Scotland!!!

Back from an absolute EPIC full on winter mountaineering day. It just doesn't get any better than this! Our initial plan of doing Ledge Route on The Ben was cancelled due to unstable snow conditions. Plan B however was much to my liking!
We drove the few minutes to Ballachulish to start our round of the Ballachulish Horseshoe which is in winter an exciting grade 1 with a good bit of airy ridge walking and some nice mixed pitches.

Our route

The way up to the actual horseshoe via the ridge on the left

It was sunny, it was warm and we were sweating like pigs as we made our way up out of the village and soon onto a relentless uphill walk until we reached the snow line. With a long day ahead we just didn't want to lose any time and rather get to the cool stuff.

Heading up to some proper climbs

Did a number of pitches on mixed ground which were great and enjoyed the fantastic views over Glencoe, the Mamores and Ben Nevis. All around us white peaks and blue sky. It had an alpine feel to it for sure.

After about four or five pitches we put the ropes away and walked up to a minor summit for a short 10 min break, then down to a col and finally up on a knife edge ridge to Sgorr Dhearg. This final push to the summit almost had the feel of a Nepalese Himalayan peak to it... without the altitude of course.

Loch Leven

A col and then up to Sgorr Dhearg on a knife edge ridge

Looks a bit like Nepal... is Scotland

Views from my munro number 34 were stunning. We could see Rum and Lismore and dozens of white peaks around us.

View from the top towards Glencoe

Lismore and Rum in the distance

Time was pressing so we went down the now broad ridge towards the Ballachulish Hotel, still enjoying the views in this fantastic winter weather. The last bit was a terribly steep heather slope followed by an equally steep but now also boggy fight through a plantation, finishing on a gravel/tarmac road. My knees and feet were very unhappy with that.

After all, today was easily the highlight of my not yet done two weeks here in Scotland. This is impossible to beat I'd say. All of us were pretty knackered slumping into the chairs while we took our boots off. Literally without any major break we had been on our feet for 9 hours straight.
Despite fatigue and aching limbs we all had a big grin on our faces and where excitedly babbling away about our day. EPIC!