Introduction
 Descending north from the summit of Beinn Chabhar My plan for this trip was to climb all the remaining munros around Glen Etive and a few isolated summits in the north west highlands like Ben Hope. In the end I gave up on the first day owing to too much snow and joined the Manchester University Hiking Club on their outing in Crianlarich and Glen Coe. I climbed two new munros this trip - the Aonach Eagach munros and on new Corbett - Beinn Chuirn. Other summits I climbed were those that I had already done.
Wednesday 29th December
Stob Ghabhar (done before) 12km 900m ascent Deep Snow  Stob Ghabhar plastered under snow as seen from Forest Lodge After the killer journey from Denmark to Stanstead airport to London and then to Manchester, I was ready for what I hoped to be a successful trip. The avalanche report was checked in Denmark and I trembled at the comment of 'Difficult going'. I had doubts about this trip which were hinted at by icy roads in Manchester as I made my way to the Coach Station to catch the 1.30am coach. I had little sleep during the past two days and it wouldn't be until 2 1hours time that I would get some decent sleep. Still I find walking is a great reliever of tiredness. As the coach drove past Balloch, I got my first views of the hills. They were white - VERY white - and these were just the little hills. Doubts about the trip were creeping in - especially when the snow-line dropped to the road at the north end of Loch Lomond. The coach arrived at Bridge of Orchy right on time and two minutes later a hitch arrived to take me to my starting point at Victoria Bridge. The morning couldn't be much better by Scottish standards. There was no wind and as such it was time to take off the fleece and jacket - I was roasting despite the freezing temperatures and lack of sun at present.
The walk westward to the Allt Toaig was brisk but beyond that, the going was beginning to be laboured. I took a route to the right of some waterfalls at Creag an Steallaire and now the going was tough despite a nice trail being made for me.  The walk up beside Allt Toaig I rounded the lip of the hanging Coire na Muic and the view was fantastic with the sun causing every texture in the snow to stand out. The sky was a deep deep blue - probably an effect of having a small eye pupil at the time.  The view up Coire na Muic under deep heavy snow The guys in front met the end of the trail but decided to take to southern arm of the corrie. I was hoping for them to take the northern arm so that I could tackle the Aonach Eagach ridge. I wasn't going to break trail yet so I decided to follow them and let them do the work for me!  Looking down Glen Kinglas to Beinn Euniach It took 3 1/2 hours to reach the shoulder of the southern arm before the climb to the east summit ridge and the summit itself - the views getting ever better. I was moving onto hard windblown slopes and so the going was getting better - though chillier - I needed my goretex again.  Stob a' Choire Odhar seen on the ascent of Stob Ghabhar I reached the main summit ridge and said to myself "ENOUGH!". I dumped my sack at the top of the Aonach Eagach ridge and headed for the summit without my camera - A mistake I now regret. The view on the other side was fantastic though fast deteriorating with the approaching warm front.  The final summit ridge of Stob Ghabhar One final photograph and I now traversed the Aonach Eagach ridge. I wasn't as hard as the guide books made it out to be - I never once had to use my hands (except to carry my axe). I was now starving though never took the opportunity to take my gloves off and change the film - too cold for that I thought!  Looking down on the Aonach Eagach ridge of stob Ghabhar Time to get down. On the way I met Colin Prior on the way up - very well known photographer. He caught up with me on the way down - eventually he was kind enough to give me a year 2000 calendar. I also met another Manchester man from a club called the Manchester Rucksac Club - sounds interesting, might give them a buzz some time. Thankfully I arrived at Crianlarich Youth Hostel and they had spaces available - though the response from the club was generally not 'Anthony good to see you' rather 'Anthony you wimp! what are you doing here???' Lee Pattison then took the opportunity to give me a hard time for the rest of the evening dishing out all sorts of propaganda to every one else about how all my trips fail! Anyway, time to relax at the pub and then get some much earned sleep. Tomorrow didn't sound too good on the weather forecast. I had a nice lie the next day.
Thursday 30th December
Beinn Chabhar (done before) 12km 1050m ascent False summits  Lochan a' Chaisteal - on the west ridge of Beinn Chabhar - among many false summits Despite my long rest, I was now rushed off my feet as a group were preparing to leave to attempt three munros Beinn Chabhar - Beinn a'Choin and An Casteal. I wanted to join them - the forecast was for it to improve during the afternoon - but with grade 4 avalanche risk of all aspects. I knew about the very steep descent east from Beinn Chabhar would be dangerous for them to do that walk under current snow conditions and despite that, the snow and size of group (9 people) would slow them enormously. Therefore I was guaranteed a lazy day to relieve my tiredness so I joined them.
We set off in the light drizzle at the Drovers Inn and almost immediately progress was hampered by a partially flooded field before we arrived at the Inverarnan wigwams. Now we had a long slog up the first steepness to the glen beyond. Despite the thaw there was still much snow lying around.
Tim decided to take the 'scenic route' and take us over all the lumps leading to the final summit. We took a sharp left turn and ascended to the first knoll - Meall Mor harl Eag. The drizzle was on and off all morning but stopped for good when we arrived at the first summit. We reached the lochan up here (Lochan a' Chaisteil) when the sun gave it's first hint of trying to break through.
Upto now, only one picture was taken - the photo snapping rate was increasing from now on. The snow was very deep up here but for me at least, the trail breaking felt so easy compared with yesterdays backpacking slog. It was now time to tackle the many numerous false summits. False summit after false summit after false summit all under deep snow. Whew what a slog.
The cloud drifted in and out on a regular basis but it wasn't until much higher up that we got far reaching views to the north and west as the cloud finally broke. There were one or two steep sections to tackle and then we were on the final summit ridge just 1/4 hour before dusk and wow what a view! This is the stuff money's made out of! I imagine Colin Prior would also be out on the hills this evening.
We now made a swift descent back to the glen followed by a long walk back to the Drovers Inn in the decreasing light. Mick McHugh was quite slow on the descent and so the rest of us had 3/4 hour to enjoy a pint while we tracked his headtorch weaving its way down to the road. Overall an excellent day.
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