Liathach, the Grey One has been on my agenda to climb for a while now but I have been waiting for a day of good weather for the views and favourable photography. My friend and I had planned Easter weekend to stay in Torridon with the plan to climb Liathach if the weather was good. During the night it had rained constantly and I had little hope of there being clear skies in the morning however, the forecast was for the clouds to lift.
After a lazy breakfast we set off up the southern flanks to reach the ridge close to the eastern peak of Stuc a Choire Dhuibh Bhig, it soon became apparent that the rain had fallen as snow on the upper slopes and progress became tiring in knee high snow in the gullies.
Once the ridge was reached we made the short walk to Stuc a Choire Dhuibh Bhig, our climb had been timed to perfection as the clouds started to lift from the summits. Great views south and east are available from here especially the huge bulk of Liathach's neighbour Beinn Eighe.

  Stuc a Choire Dhuibh Bhig

After a short rest and a few photos it was time to continue the ridge westwards towards the main summit, along the way ever changing views of the northern expanse opened. The hills of Wester Ross rarely seen by many folk dominate this great expanse of wilderness.

  The views north towards the Wester Ross hills

After a few ups and downs and some tricky narrow ledges along the ridge we arrived at Spidean a Choire Leith, from the main summit it became apparent that we had chosen an amazing Winter's day to climb one of Scotland's iconic ridge mountains.
The views in all directions were spectacular but especially to the north where the great corries stretched out in a blanket of white. The northen slopes of Liathach are rarely seen by the visitor to Torridon, the southern slopes barring the way except for enthusiastic walkers.

  Coire na Caime and Mullach an Rathain, Beinn Alligin in the distance

The ridge continues to the western peak of Mullach an Rathain via a section that is the trickiest and most exposed. The Pinnacles and the small peak of Am Fasarinen offer superb scrambling over a very exposed knife edge ridge and are the main highlight to many who traverse this ridge, a good head for heights is required and a serious undertaking in Winter conditions.

  The Pinnacles and Am Fasarinen.

All in all one of the best days I've had walking in the hills. Please click on an image or check out the Torridon Area gallery for more photos.