Pap of Glencoe - Scotland

Pap of Glencoe / Aog Eogoch?

Here is a view of the Pap from after the hike. It was in cloud for most of our hike so we never actually climbed it. We aimed for Aonach Eagach, a walk connecting the following peaks: Sgorr nam Fiannaidh (967m), Stob Coire Leith (866m), Meall Dearg (953m), Am Bodach (943m), Sron Gharbh (873m). However, it was cold, wet and very cloudy so we did not get as far as the Chancellor. However, give good conditions this promises to be an excellent hike.
(c)2001 Eric Praetzel

Our hike began by trying to find the trail indicated on the map. We did not find it until we came down!
We started our hike by a logging road and then followed the forest up the hill. When we came out of the forest the erosion dammage from the hiking trails were clearly evident and we had no problem going up the hill.
(c)2001 Eric Praetzel (c)2001 Eric Praetzel (c)2001 Eric Praetzel

We barely made it to the shoulder where you choose between climbing the Pap and the larger mountain when cloud covered everything. We had problems finding the mountain peak and became misdirected a few times. Only our compass, the steady wind/rain and the odd clearly kept us orientated.

While stuck in cloud waiting we would sometimes see a bit to the one side but not the other. Clearings never lasted more than 10 seconds or so and cloud would very quickly appear.
(c)2001 Eric Praetzel (c)2001 Eric Praetzel (c)2001 Eric Praetzel (c)2001 Eric Praetzel (c)2001 Eric Praetzel

Here is a good example of how the visibility can go from nothing; to hazy to fairly good within seconds. These two pictures were taken within seconds of each other and most of the time we saw nothing!.
(c)2001 Eric Praetzel (c)2001 Eric Praetzel (c)2001 Eric Praetzel (c)2001 Eric Praetzel (c)2001 Eric Praetzel

Pictures on the way back down

At this point we're about 45 min. from finishing and these pictures are looking down as well as back towards the peak.
(c)2001 Eric Praetzel (c)2001 Eric Praetzel (c)2001 Eric Praetzel (c)2001 Eric Praetzel (c)2001 Eric Praetzel (c)2001 Eric Praetzel (c)2001 Eric Praetzel
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