There are a couple of false summits on Schiehallion, and by the time we arrived at the first, the beginnings of a blizzard were forming.

There are a number of false summits en route.

The route follows a ridge and reaches the false northern summit before contouring around the crater to the true summit.

At tree line, the trail narrows to the false summit.

The mountain rises gradually from the north, with many false summits.

For now, the 4,000-footer committee is accepting climbs to the false summit.

While the false summit can be descended at its end, it is much easier to follow a trail around the western side along the exposed foot.

It took me nearly two hours to clamber over an archipelago of false summits to reach the peak of one of the highest dunes.

Those who reach the false summit are about 3/4 of the way to the top, but still have several hundred feet to climb.

The first, which approaches from the northeast, passes by Lake Arnold before ascending the summit after crossing over several false summits.