I'd been watching the weather forecast on TV and online at the MWIS site for days, willing the weekend to be clear and dry. My will power wasn't quite strong enough as the forecast for Sunday was to be windy with strong gusts. Still it looked like it was going to be clear at least with a good chance of cloud free summits. (It wasn’t in fact)

I did the usual, set up my gear the night before, got up at 5am, quick breakfast, into the car and off to Inverlochlarig.

When I arrived there was clearly a lot of snow and as I drove along the single track road from Balquihidder to Inverlochlarig I was worried that it would be blocked and I’d have to turn back. Luckily the road had been cleared all the way by the local farmer, I assume. There was no way a big council snow plough was going down this road.

Parked the car, and headed up the side of Stob Invercarnaig. After a few minutes slipping about I strapped on my new crampons for their first outing. These really are easy to fit and I didn't have to take my gloves off to do so either. I was a little nervous at first, but that soon gave way as I gained confidence with each step. It wasn't long before I started taking on more technical climbs that I would have avoided at all costs before. I felt almost invincible on the snow and ice now.

My Ice Axe was also in use, and from the beginning too. It performed superbly mainly by giving me an extra leg to balance on, but It also gave me a feel for the snow and ice beneath me. A lot of the time the axe was buried right up to the neck and still wasn't hitting the ground.

The climb to the summit of Stob Coire an Lochain took me longer than expected and the wind was fierce up there. As I started to walk across the ridge to Stob Binnein the wind got even stronger taking what was left of my confidence and stopping me from making it across to the top of the Munro. I had to turn back, but I took my time trying to take in as much as I could.

Disappointed? A little, but I'll be back again in a couple of weeks.