The Aonach Eagach is a spectacular narrow ridge running high above the pass of Glencoe. Check out our Rope Work for Scramblers BMC TV series for tips on improving your rope skills. It is only once onto the crest that the scale and size of the ridge of becomes apparent. “Some people run across it soloing without thinking twice, but I’ve seen others totally frozen and definitely in need of a rope. 2010 Schotland Aonach Eagach 15-05-2010.JPG 1,685 × 947; 1.15 MB. Finally, we will have to descend the Aenoch Eagach which is the most intimidating part of the trip. I had been saving the Aonach Eagach for a good day, the ridge deserves to be savoured. AONACH EAGACH Traversing the Aonach Eagach is allot of fun. Website designed by. Towards the end of the ridge are the Crazy Pinnacles, which we took by heading right and down climbing a fairly greasy gully. Depending on how tired everyone is there is the option to extend the guided traverse of the Aonach Eagach by ascending the Pap of Glencoe (another half hour of ascent or so right at the end of the day) to get equally stunning views looking out onto Loch Leven and out towards Loch Linnhe. We use cookies to ensure a better website performance, to analyse site traffic and to give you a more tailored experience. Once on the ridge there are no … Do you have the skills to take it on? Want to give it a try but don't know where to start? Ahead of us stretched the crazy pinnacles. The Aonach Eagach which appropriately means 'notched ridge', travels along the northern side of Glencoe and is probably the most famous ridge in the country. Between Meall Dearg and Stob Coire Leith, a number of rocky towers, the ‘Crazy Pinnacles’, bar straightforward progress. From here make sure you continue on to the large shelter and trig point at Sgorr nam Fiannaidh. Read more ». However … As many already know I suffer from vertigo and down climbs are very difficult for me. Stretching approximately 4km along the Glencoe skyline and a total distance of 10km, it deserves the hype as the most iconic ridge traverse in Glencoe. At a glance . Bidean had never looked so good, the snow hanging on for dear life … The choice hasn’t been easy, some have been shoe-ins like Crib Goch, the Aonach Eagach and the legendary Cuillin Ridge, others like the Nanttle Ridge and Pinnacle Ridge on St Sunday Crag are more esoteric, but still a brilliant day out. Instead continue across heading north west towards the Pap of Glencoe. All of our policies include the following Coronavirus cover: Please be aware that there is no cover for cancellation, curtailment, delays or journey disruption in any way caused by or resulting from coronavirus / Covid-19. Whatever measure you use to assess the quality of a scramble - length, exposure, views, or overall adrenal gland-squeezing awesomeness - the castellated crest of rock that looms menacingly above Glen Coe is pretty hard to top. When it comes to roping up, most people know where they stand with Grade 1 (a rope is generally unnecessary) and with Grade 3 (climbing kit is generally advisable). mountaineers, including ski-mountaineers. Any attempt to escape the ridge between Meall Dearg and this point is asking for trouble - there are no safe descent routes to the south, and the northern options will leave you stranded a long way from civilisation. 166 Reviews. The plan was to get as far as the Crazy Pinnacles and then reverse the route. Aggy ridge.jpg 640 × 480; 87 KB. Posted on 18/11/2012 by mark. Viewed from Glencoe below, the Aonach Eagach appears as a narrow crest with a series of small towers. The last two 'pinnacles' in this section will make even the most experienced scramblers pause for thought while they search for a route round them. my experience is Crib Goch tryfan north ridge and Bastow buttress I think Crib Lem 2 times don’t know … It is apparent from the views though that you really can’t escape the ridge once on it and the scrambling varies from terraced ridges, knife edge aretes, greasy gullys and towering chimneys. The most technically challenging section ambushes you right at the end, in the form of a series of spikes known as the Crazy Pinnacles. The Pinnacles is a 500 m long very exposed section of the ridge and provides some fantastically committing and sustained scrambling. I often carry a short length of rope on the ridge in case I meet anybody in trouble, and I’d say it’s a good idea to have somebody in your group who is confident with a rope.”. The walk from here was straightforward until we reached a series of pinnacles which … From Review: Guided traverse of... of Lochaber Guides - Private Day Tours Lochaber Guides - Private Day Tours See all 166 reviews. Great to see the pictures. Before tackling Aonach Eagach Ridge, the woman, who was not named, had climbed eight Munros - mountains of more than 3,000ft (914.4m) - and Striding and Swirral Edge on Helvellyn in the Lake District. The BMC recognises that climbing, hill
Whichever way you do it (and east to west is the most common direction), the ridge has almost as many downs as it does ups. INSURANCE, Courses, workshops and lectures with the BMC in 2020, Chill thrills: how to keep scrambling over winter, Hillwalking A to Z of equipment and skills, Club support: webinar programme for officers, leaders and volunteers, UK Sport funds GB Climbing to uncover the champions of tomorrow, Call to check avalanche transceivers as potential issue reported, Information: BMC Travel Insurance purchased before 6pm on 11 March 2020. From the east, Aonach Eagach is approached via a meandering mountain path that begins at a layby just off the A82 (NN173567) (keep in mind that it's a long walk back up the glen once you've descended near the Clachaig Inn - most people arrange transport at the other end.). It is an exhilarating and heart stopping traverse with many scrambles, ascending and descending, linking the two Munro’s, Meall Dearg and Sgorr nam Fiannaidh. 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