Saturday Night Fever (3 Cluanie Munros)

I took the opportunity for another run last night, the three Munros just north of Loch Cluanie - Ghluasaid, Conbhairean and Sail Chaorainn - actually, I returned back over the middle one so it probably counts as 4? yeah, definitely 4.

Whilst doing them I discovered a new branch of fell running where you don't actually run up anything steeper than about 5 degrees, I just couldn't get going, still, the down and flats are always nice.

Last of the light hitting the South Shiel Ridge

I didn't set off until after baby bath time so ended up doing the last section of descent by head torch which added to the excitement but also meant I got to enjoy the setting sun over A'Chralaig and Mullach Fraoch-choire to the west.

View from Conbhairean

The sun disappeared as I hit the last Munro, Sail Chaorainn

I set off from the van at 7.30pm and was back at our Highland hostel at 11.10pm and covered about 16km, not bad but could have been faster in the daylight (and if I actually ran some of the ups!).

--Matt

The Loch Lochys

My darling wife and our beautiful baby boy were heading up to the bright lights of Inverness for some important retail therapy, I took the opportunity to squeeze in a quick(ish) run.

The Loch Lochy Munros (Sron a Choire Ghairbh and Meall na Teanga) are our local Munros and soar steeply over Loch Lochy, an imposing sight from the A82.... and easily reachable by bike.

Unfortunately, today it didn't look like the picture above...it looked more like

....and this....

It was pretty grim up on the tops but this probably served to speed me up a bit, no reason to hang around and enjoy the views.

As per usual for me, the up was hard going but the down was very enjoyable (apart from my fall), from the usual parking spot at the forest gate it took 2 hours 45 minutes to bag both summits, much better than the 6 it took last time I walked it. I broke up the 6km ride back to the 4 star luxury comfort of Invergarry Lodge (Reviews) by stopping to watch a little of the Scottish Six Day Trials before getting home to a well earned shower and a dozen or so beds that needed changing.

--Matt

Sisters of Kintail - double quick!

The 5 Sisters of Kintail is one of the classic ridge routes in Scotland, it takes in 5 peaks, 3 of them Munros and offers magnificent views (apparently).

The weather was looking promising as Rick and I shuffled our cars around to save a long walk back along the road but the heavens opened just as we were about to set off - it didn't last too long - by the time we'd messed around and put our jackets on it had pretty much stopped.

(excuse the camera strap in that shot)

It was quite tough getting up to the ridge but was over fairly quickly so we could start enjoying the ridge. All 5 summits where shrouded in cloud but we got a few glimpses of views as we headed along - to be honest, we were going so fast we hardly had chance to look around!


A lot of the ridge isn't conducive to fast (or slow) running - quite rocky and windy, few bits of fairly deep snow to sink in but there a couple of nice long sections and the final section down from Beinn Buidhe and along the Allt a Chruinn was great.

I thought we'd done well, 3 Munros and 16 km in 3 hours 15 minutes that is until I checked Stephen Pyke's Blog for an update on his continuous Munro attempt - he'll be doing these three in a couple of weeks....along with another 9 Munros further along the Glen at the same time, still.... everybody's got to start somewhere.

--Matt

Queues on Tower Ridge

We finally had our day out with the legend that is Alan Kimber on Ben Nevis, what he doesn't know about Ben Nevis isn't worth knowing. It looked like a great day for heading up Tower Ridge - blue skies, no wind and great snow, unfortunately, everyone else had the same idea too!

We managed to skip in front of a couple of parties at the beginning but there where still plenty of other teams on the ridge - queues seen forming here on the little tower, we took a line a little to the right of the main line to try and keep things moving.


The climbing didn't really present any problems for either of us (or Alan!) although I can't say I particularly enjoyed belaying in a crowded tower gap - gulp! - something to hold on to would have been nice. Rich finishing up the little tower (I think)....

Rich taking 5 waiting for the queues to die down for the Eastern traverse. Working on his tan, well, his face tan...


Anyway - great route, great conditions, a legend to take us up it - a great day. Could only have been better if we'd got home 1/2 hour earlier for Alby's bath time!

--Matt

Edit: Picture of the dream team from Alan's blog

A Short Cairngorm Ski Tour

The plan was to head up to Cairngorm from the ski centre and then head over to Ben Macdui, or, if the weather was poor, traverse round the Northern Corries and down Lurchers Gully, a classic ski mountaineering introduction for Rick's brand new top-of-the-range touring skis.


Unfortunately the weather was appalling so after a bit of white-out navigation to get us to the first summit we bailed and headed down to the warm comforting embrace of an all-day breakfast. That's the last two mountain days with Rich that have finished early with an all day breakfast, there is definitely a pattern emerging, he tells me we'll soon stop pretending to do stuff and start meeting at cafes. Fine by me.

--Matt

Curved Ridge Conundrum

Headed up towards Curved Ridge today but decided to cut our losses and turn back after ploughing through waist deep snow. We were hoping that someone would have been up before us and broke trail but no such luck so left it for another day.

Still, a nice day to be out for some photos.....




Matt

East Ridge of Beinn a Chaorainn

We (Rich and I) where supposed to be having a day out with Ben Nevis el supremo Mr Kimber but had to postpone it so we headed up to the East Ridge of Beinn a Chaorainn.



A lovely long ridge, great weather, a bit of powder, a few interesting bits but no need to use any gear, what more can I say....lovely stuff.

A Seasonal Ski Tour Adventure

My brother Mark and his family have come up for Hogmanay and we managed to get permission from the wives for a morning out as long as we were back by lunch time to look after the kids. My brother thinks he's some sort of ski touring demon so after an alpine start (7.30 am) we headed down to Fersit to tackle the two Munros to the south east which Mark reckoned wouldn't take too long.

I think he only does all this ski touring and ice climbing business so he can look cool in car parks, I got a example of this this morning as we met half a dozen walkers which he impressed before they set off up the neighbouring hills.

After some basic hints and tips from big brother and him trying to tell me you have to shout "lock and load" (he doesn't get out much) we were off.


We made steady progress up to about 750 metres by which time gale force winds and thick fog and dangerous hoar frost conditions and the impending wrath of two wives and three kids we decided to head back down to civilisation and a lovingly prepared lunch - is anyone else still eating turkey?

Mark deciding he has absolutely no idea where we are.

Good fun, shame the weather wasn't better and the "pass out" for a few more hours, maybe I'll start taking the dog for ski tours instead of walks.


Happy new year.

--Matt

Glenfinnan/Corryhully Horseshoe

I managed to escape the hostel duties for a few hours today for a quick trip round the Glenfinnan Horseshoe, a steep and rugged circuit taking in two fine Munros, Sgurr Thuilm and Sgurr nan Coireachan.
The approach is on a private tarmac road so a bike comes in very handy for much of it. Then it's a steep (and quite boggy) slog up to the 600m mark where it eases towards the summit (963m) and gives great views across to Ben Nevis.

Then across the ridge, over four minor summits to Sgurr nan Coireachan which although slightly lower at 956 m provides great views across to the Outer Hebrides, Skye and Knoydart. It took some effort to pull myself away from the views and head back down to the bike and Glenfinnan.


--Matt

A Snowy North Shiel Ridge

I'd been given a half day pass out for good behaviour (I've decorated one of the bathrooms in the hostel) and what with the recent dusting of snow I'd spied on the tops on Sunday there was nothing else for it but an early start.

I pulled up in glen shiel a little before 6am and things were looking promising. The sky was clear and lit up by a full moon, I set off up the Allt Coire Tholl without even needing my headtorch. By the time I was approaching the south east ridge of Sgurr An Fhuarail, however, the sky had clouded over and light rain was following me up the hillside. I kept skirting further and further eastwards in an attempt to catch the sunrise at the other end of the glen, but unfortunately luck was not with me today - cloud was!


Despite this the ridge did offer some atmospheric views across to Ciste Dhubh, A'chralaig and Mullach Fraoch-Choire as the cloud danced around their summits.


I followed the narrowing ridge over Sgurr An Fhuarail and then made my way onto the snow-covered summit plateau of Aonach Meadhoin, which despite its cloud covering had a real wintry feel to it. I hung around for a while hoping the cloud would clear but I soon got rather chilly so decided to head off towards Sgurr A'Bhealaich Dheirg, the next Munro on the ridge. Again the ridge started to narrow and I enjoyed a few short scrambly sections before starting on the long slog up to the summit, accompanied all the way by a soundtrack of rutting stags. The summit cairn actually lies beyond an easy but exposed ridge, made more interesting by a good smattering of snow. As I sat eating my sandwiches (cheese, sausage and redcurrant jelly if you're interested!) I was treated to a few glimpses of the summits I'd covered earlier on as they poked through the thick cloud.


Back on the main ridge I continued westwards, dropping sharply out of the cloud before tackling another short scramble leading to the bealach. Onwards and upwards I went, up the grassy slopes of Saileag for a well-earned rest at the rather pathetic summit cairn and another sandwich. The early start was starting to catch up with me, so I took a breather here for a while before backtracking down over Sgurr a' Bhealaich Dheirg and forking south down the broad ridge to Meall a' Charra. I was soon back at the van and made it back home in time for lunch!

--Matt

Ben's First Munro (A Scottish weather special!)

After having to shorten our fishing trip due to high winds, Ben (Invergarry Lodge's Fishing Guru) decided he'd like tackle his first Munro instead.

We decided on Sgurr a' Mhaoraich down by Loch Quoich, I've done it before so decided we'd make it slightly longer by heading in to Glen Loyne and climbing it with Am Bathaich. The weather forecast wasn't great but the tops where clear as we headed down after lunch (we had Ben helping out with hostel duties in the morning).

We parked up and it started raining. Then it stopped. Then it started again. Then it..well, you get the picture.

After a small stream crossing (imagine how good that photo would be if you'd jumped across Ben!) we headed up the tight zig zaggy path to the ridge of Am Bathaich where the winds picked up significantly.


About two minutes after this photo it started raining quite heavily and didn't stop until we where nearly back at the car - a freak localised squall that followed us around for two hours! The winds on the final summit were vicious so we didn't hang around and after a small navigational issue (we couldn't see anything) where soon safely back down to the glen.

Not one of the best days on the hill, character building at best but I don't think it's put Ben off too much, maybe next time we'll try something a little harder.....


--Matt

Burn, Burn, Burn, The Ring of Steall

The Ring of Steall is a real classic mountain route combining the traverse of four Munros with scrambling along narrow, rocky aretes.

I finally got underway after a late start (beds to change and DIY supplies to buy) and was mentally doing my checklist as I set off up the 'best half mile in Scotland' to arrive at Steall Falls and blue skies.....Suncream, No.....Shorts, No.....Extra Water, No......Sun Hat, No..... oh, well I'm already half way up the first one, I'll be fine. Well, fine-ish, the first one proved to be a long slog, great views to the back of Ben Nevis but definitely a long slog. My energies where quickly revitalised after getting to the top and along a short scrambley ridge before stopping for lunch with this fine view in front of me, the Glencoe hills just poking through the cloud.


It felt a bit strange sat on the top of a mountain on a lovely hot day, blue skies all around and autumn colours coming through and me eating my first mince pies of the year, delicious (as an aside - mince pies do not hold up well to the strains of hill walking, they were more like mince and pastry crumble).


Anyway, another top and then another long hard slog up to the summit of Am Bodach, the third Munro for the day and where I ran out of water and mince pies.



From here you have to cross a much narrower ridge called The Devils Ridge which only really has one awkward section (which can be bypassed) the rest is just a little exposed.


From this point it's all down hill, I confess I didn't hang around on the way down, I had a hot date with the stream at the bottom of the glen and the bottle of water in the van. Happy days.


--Matt

The Forcan Ridge (plus a bit of bagging)

I knew one of our guests this week from an online forum so we headed out together to tackle the Saddle via the Forcan Ridge. The Forcan Ridge is a classic Scottish scramble, not difficult but has a few exposed sections which can all be easily bypassed if you wish. The weather has not been great this week (better from tomorrow apparently!) but we took advantage of the best looking day and headed out.


The wet weather chased us up from the bottom of Glen Shiel, cleared slightly, then came in again as we got on the ridge proper, this was to be the case all day with the weather, all the seasons in one day.

The ridge provided lots of fun, proving a little more straight forward than when I last did it in the spring snow. Adrian took the lead and found every little bit of scrambling that the ridge had to offer. The interesting down climb proving to be the most, er, interesting bit.

From the Saddle we headed down and then easily back up to the next munro Sgurr na Sgine. I knew the next summit was a Corbett before heading over to Creag Nam Damh for another munro tick for Adrian. He told me as we headed over that we couldn't claim the tick as it was a twin Corbett, and that the summit 2 1/2 km to the south was exactly the same height and you had to do them both!

As I'd already done the Munro he was heading to I left him and headed south for the other Corbett summit before retracing my steps and meeting him back on the main ridge before descending.

That 5km proved to be very hard, the going was fairly easy, just one steep wet grassy section, but my legs were tired and I felt under pressure to be quick and not leave Adrian waiting for me - he had less ground to cover. I was rewarded with some moody views across to Knoydart before I turned and headed back, we got back to the descent path at pretty much the same time, both feeling pretty tired.


This time it was safe and enjoyable, but remember, if you meet strangers from the internet, be sure to tell people where and who you are meeting!

--Matt

North Ridge of Aonach Air Chrith (and 5 wet Munros)

MWIS, the god of weather and his trusty sidekick Metcheck, told us (Rich and I) that the weather should be OK today until about 2ish so we tried to grab a quick scramble.

We set off bright and early from the bottom of Glen Shiel heading toward A' Chioch and following the north ridge to the summit of Aonach Air Chrith. We'd been going all of 5 minutes before the drizzle (or Mizzle as Crafty Helen would say) started, before we got to the bealach between the two tops we had to don full waterproofs.

The scrambling was really nice (apart from cold hands) with only one tricky bit where the narrow arete was wet and slippy, will definitely be back again to try it in the dry.

We reached the summit and walked along to the next Munro, Maol Chinn-Dearg, from here a descent path heads back down to the A87, we figured we couldn't get much wetter so decided we'd continue along the rest of the ridge and bag the other three Munros. It was basically just grey cloud all the way, it cleared a few times for the odd moment, at least the rain was coming from behind us. I think I managed to keep Rich's spirits up by singing "it's getting wetter, get-ting wet-ter every day" (from a recent TV advert I think) for at least half the walk.

Anyway, beats hostel chores.

--Matt

CMD Arete (with extra scrambley goodness)

Rich and I decided to head up to the CMD arete but made it slightly more interesting by adding an extra little ridge on the way.

The traditional approach is to start up the mountain track and cut across to Carn Mor Dearg, we thought we'd miss out the steep ascent of CMD by ascending up the east ridge of Carn Dearg Meadhonach from Allt Daim. From the lovely secluded glen (nice wild camp spot?) we headed up some lovely pink granite slabs for about a 100m and then continued up a slightly loose boulder field to the pinnacles (not difficult but slightly windy) with a couple of stops to admire the west face of Aonach Mor




Over the pinnacles we where presented with fine views of the north face, although the skies had clouded over, the way the the north face is suddenly presented to you as you come over the top from the pinnacles was great. We saw a few other walkers looking tried after their steep ascent and decided we'd made a good decision.

After a quick stop for photos, lunch and the "Hill food: frozen butties versus refrigerated butties" experiment results (long story, but since you asked....tasted the same but the frozen ones had kept their shape better!), we carried along the splendid looking ridge.



The going is easy but very enjoyable, the hardest part is the slog up the steep boulder field the reach the actual summit. You can stick to the crest of the ridge for maximum enjoyment but there seems to be a path slightly lower down so you can avoid anything you don't like the look of.

We spent a while at the summit looking for climbers on the north face (none) before heading off down the zig zags with half of Fort William (it was Rich's first visit to the Ben and he was amazed at how busy it was - he likes his mountains a bit quieter!) before splitting off at the half way lochan. The sun had come out again for the walk back to the car.

--Matt

Strathfarrar 4 - Dylan 9

I had a favour to do for someone which meant I had to head up north, I figured I may as well combine it with a Munro or 4.

I've always said the great thing about living up here is being able to wait for the nice weather before you head out for the hills, unfortunately that doesn't really explain why today I was out in gale force winds and ice cold horizontal rain.

The 4 Munros down Glen Strathfarrar are a funny mix, two nice interesting hills and two big round lumps. I was planning on heading east to west, doing the featureless lumps first, before getting to the interesting hills further along the ridge. The wind was supposed to be about 40 mph so I decided to do them the other way round so the wind would be partially behind me.

The weather looked like it might be ok but as we approached the ridge it got pretty bad. Dylan kept stopping and looking me - now I don't speak dog, but if I did I think Dylan would have been raising his eyebrow in a knowing way and nodding his head towards the way down.

I ignored him and pressed along the bleak looking ridge helped along by the wind. After the first summit things started looking up, the horizontal rain had stopped and the ridge ahead had cleared up so we headed up to summit number 2 for a spot of lunch.



Half way to summit number 3 we met some walkers I knew from staying with us at the hostel, they confirmed that I'd made a wise decision doing them west to east, they looked pretty windswept.



The last Munro passed uneventfully (apart from the rain was back) and we made our way back down to the glen which was bathed in glorious sunshine for our 6 km walk back to the start.

These four hills put Dylan's Munro total up to 9 - he's really excited about soon reaching double figures - well, he was excited, currently he's out sparko on the sofa and has been for 4 hours.

--Matt

Ciste Dhubh (and Am Bathach)

We (me and the dog) took advantage of the long hours of daylight and took the opportunity for a quick late afternoon stroll up one of the local corbetts, Am Bathach. Am Bathach is a great little hill, you can be at the top in a little over an hour and get great views of the surrounding Munros.

The ascent was the usual, me slogging up with Dyl way ahead looking back wondering what was taking so long.

After a short pause to rebuild the cairn that I sat on at the summit (too much of the wife's home baking!) we decided we'd make the most of being out and head across to the adjoining Munro, Ciste Dubh. The descent is steep but grassy - last time I bum slid down it in the snow. We struggled to find the path up the ridge to Ciste Dubh (the path is obvious in descent, and probably in ascent thinking about it). I asked Dylan to seek it out - my mate Mark's dog, Jack, is great at finding paths -my dog can find bogs, bones, poo and all sorts of smelly undesirables, but not paths.



We eventually met up with the path half way up the ridge and made our way up past An Cnapac to the summit where the sun pretended to come out.


We took in the views for 15 mins or so than headed back down to bealach and followed the An Caorainn Beag. I'm guessing this is where the weekends LAMM passed through because there was a million sets of fell shoe prints on the boggy bits of the path. An easy descent down the Glen and home, just in time for a rapidly cooling dinner. Lovely.

--Matt

Agag's Groove, Buachaille Etive Mor

The VDiff dream team was reunited in fine style this week with an ascent of Agag's Groove on Buachaille Etive Mor.

You've all seen the Buachaille, that fantastically shaped, very photogenic mountain at the top of Glen Coe that cries out to be climbed.

It looks like we picked a perfect day for it too and we set off in high spirits as we marched up the path and scrambled up half of Curved Ridge until we got to the bottom of Rannoch Wall.


The route follows an obvious groove that can be seen from the A82 and looks brilliant as you scramble towards it from below.


We managed to turn a classic 4 pitch VDiff into 5 pitches, we wouldn't be the VDiff dream team if we didn't have some route finding difficulties.

Rich approaching 2nd belay

Rich approaching 4th belay (supposed to be the 3rd we think)

After the 5 pitches we continued the scramble up Crowberry Ridge (with an unintentional trip up Crowberry Tower) which comes out at the summit cairn of Stob Dearg, we had an amble along the ridge that joins it to a second Munro in perfect weather before we headed down and home.

A great route in a brilliant position with not another climber in sight. Lovely.

--Matt