I dropped a couple of washed and brushed and fed boys at school at 9; then collected Baz and Herbie from the bus stop outside the school and off we went to Argyll. 

After a brief pit stop to hear the tale of woe from the folks re: the house sale that is on hold, we duly rocked up beside the A85 on the road between Tyndrum and Dalmally and donned boots and jackets. 
A quick paddle across the river later, we were under the railway and into the forest for a slow trudge up to the end of the tree line and the start of the snow line. Bright sunny skies and white white snow...a joy. 
We got onto the open hill and aimed for the low point in the bealach between Ben Lui and Beinn a Chleib. Progress through the increasingly deep snow was steady...a brief skirmish ensued with the final drag up onto the bealach - Baz had ironmongery, I didn't - dur...

But once up, we turned west and followed a set of footprints onto the summit. 3 hours and we were up onto the 2nd smallest Munro. It barely scrapes onto the list by a matter of inches. And what views! To Loch Awe, Cruchan; south to the Arrochar Alps. Dramatic skies and snow as far as we could see. Stunning. 

We retreated off the summit and nabbed some extremely tasty tomato chorizo and lentil soup - my new BFF. 

Then back to the bealach and the slow trudge up onto the imposing bulk that is Ben Lui. Not so majestic from this side, but hey... The final 150 feet was a bit of a mission. Icy crusted snow proved problematic - not for Baz with crampons and I spent a frustrating 20 minutes trying to probe the slope for a safe route up - duly found I stormed onto the summit; nabbed some shots and marveled at the drop into Lui's central corrie / gully. Not one for people with a fear of heights...!
By now it's 4.30 and we had about 2 hours of decent light. But we charged down through the snow; slithering with abandon and taking care on the precipitous bits. And 6 hours all in; barely 1 and a half off the summit of Lui.
As darkness fell, we retreated into drizzle then rain back down the A82 and onto the M9.
I finally got in around 9.30; a hot bath and a load of washing went on, some bacon and brie with pasta washed down with a cold and very well earned beer.  191 down, 91 to go; Baz now on 166; Herbie is up to 5 now.

Fuckin excellent day.  Extra is Baz and Herbie

Fakebook album of photos here