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A cow of a walk! - The Mamores

A cow of a walk! - The Mamores


Postby highland rambler » Sat May 05, 2012 2:55 pm

Route description: Stob Ban (Mamores) and Mullach nan Coirean

Munros included on this walk: Mullach nan Coirean, Stob Bàn (Mamores)

Date walked: 05/04/2012

Time taken: 5.5 hours

Distance: 13 km

Ascent: 1145m

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Two days after our snowy venture into Glencoe we were in Fort William. With the snow melting away we decided that Stob Ban and Mullach nan Coirean would be our conquest. We arrived in Glen Nevis in somewhat cloudy conditions and with waterproofs at the ready we set off up the track from Polldubh.

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Into the Corrie towards Stob Ban


We soon gained height and left the relatively dry ground behind for the boggier and icier ground higher up the hill. The route followed the burn high into the Corrie, which looked quite stunning, waking from it’s frozen slumber:

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Frozen Burn

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Frozen Burn

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Frozen Burn

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Frozen Burn

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Frozen Burn


There were fantastic views back down into Glen Nevis:

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Glen Nevis

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Glen Nevis


The higher we climbed the more clag we encountered and were soon mooching around with nothing to look at but the route immediately in front of us.

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Watching the hanging ice crash from Stob Ban's east rock face

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pausing for thought in the Clag


With dense cloud reducing visibility to no more than 100 feet or so it was impossible to know how far from the summit we were, so we kept plodding onward and upward hoping that the clag would lift to reward us with the stunning views we had been hoping for:

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Towards Stob Ban


Upon reaching the first Munro summit of the day, Stob Ban the visibility was very poor, so much so that it was impossible to see the route from there to Mullach. So out came the trusted map and compass to point us in the right direction.

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Summit cairn - Stob Ban

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looking back to Stob Ban from the Mullach ridge


As we trudged along the route towards Mullach, all of a sudden the Clag lifted and we got a view of what we had been missing :D , along the ridge towards Mullach, down into the Corrie towards Glen Nevis, and back along our route towards Stob Ban. Alas, it was only a temporary reprieve, lasting just a few minutes, allowing a quick photo opportunity or two before plunging us back into the land of zero views :( :

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The clag finally clears from the Stob Ban - Mullach ridge

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Into the Corrie towards Glen Nevis

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Back towards Stob Ban


The ridge was completely covered by snow as we trudged through the drifts towards the second Munro, Mullach. By the time we reached the summit the clag was all around, so we paused momentarily for the summit photo and to check the descent route, heading for the forest just west of Polldubh.

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Route finding, summit cairn - Mullach nan Coirean


The route down was snow and ice covered and a little lower down following the line of the deer fence, very boggy. This caused problems for the pair of us, as we slipped our way to the bottom in fair regularity. Claire proved to be the worst victim slipping in the middle of a large bog, introducing her backside to the sodden Peat. We both had a laugh as I hauled her to her feet and she blessed her Goretex trousers! :lol:

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Snowy & icy descent from Mullach


We arrived back at the car, which we had cunningly left at the forest track instead of further east at Polldubh and changed into some warm, dry clothes before leaving for home – Ballachulish.

A great walk, but we were disappointed not to catch the views, and that coupled with the boggy descent caused Claire to dub it ‘a cow of a walk!’ in a phone text to the in-laws, and so it has become known to us!

Looking forward to climbing it again, next time in better conditions! :lol:
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Re: A cow of a walk! - The Mamores

Postby quoman » Sat May 05, 2012 3:10 pm

Hardluck with the weather highland rambler.... but you get a good laugh when someone slips in the muck :D and its no you.
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Re: A cow of a walk! - The Mamores

Postby cha1888 » Sun May 06, 2012 7:05 pm

[Done Sgurr á Mhain
DSCF3670.JPG
Sgurr á Mhaim
,Stob Ban
DSCF3671.JPG
Stob Ban
and Mullach nan Coirean
DSCF3697.JPG
Mullach nan Coirean
yesterday 5/5/12 amazing views.
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Re: A cow of a walk! - The Mamores

Postby highland rambler » Sun May 06, 2012 10:27 pm

Many thanks for the photos, just inspires me more to get up there again - Stob Ban looks amazing!
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Re: A cow of a walk! - The Mamores

Postby Meatball » Mon May 07, 2012 12:16 am

Wow, I was there on Friday...no snow, magic views and the streams running freely. The difference a day makes!
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Re: A cow of a walk! - The Mamores

Postby Grimbo » Mon May 07, 2012 12:32 pm

Just shows you how changeable conditions can be. I was up there on Thursday, I would say it was the best-ever day I've ever had on the hills. It was blisteringly hot, I sunbathed on the top of Stob Ban, my face and hands got burned. As I got to the top of the Mullach, there were a couple of hang gliders circling. The views were stupendous. Kept thinking that we're so lucky to have the best scenery in the world, right on our doorstep.
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Re: A cow of a walk! - The Mamores

Postby jonny616 » Mon May 07, 2012 1:02 pm

Good effort in those conditions. 8)
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