Mamores North-South Traverse

[GableNovice]

Hi,

This may I'm looking at taking a route over the Mamores to Kinlochleven/Kinlochmore from Glen Nevis as part of a longer mountain day. I've never been into the Mamores but have seen them from across the valley on the side of the Ben. I'm looking for the quickest and easiest route across them and maybe throwing in a top or two for good measure. I've been poring over my maps of the area (OS Explorer 392 & 384) and have noticed a route that heads up from the car park at the end of Glen Nevis along a wide gully between Stob Ban and Stob Choire a' Mhail crossing by Sgurr an Iubhair and dropping off the ridge from Am Bodach down to Kinlochleven/Kinlochmore.
My questions are;

Has anyone on here attempted that particular route or parts of it and how is the terrain (I don't trust maps and photographs too much on that matter)?
What's the weather likely to be like in late May?
Are there any better routes over the Mamores (bearing in mind at the end I still need to get round to the youth hostel in Glen Coe)?
And is there anything in particular I, as a novice, should know about the Mamores?

Thanks everyone

[laconic surf]

What's the weather likely to be like in late May?

Take your pick. This year March/April was scorchio, May saw the start of the drenching season which finished, oh, about mid november when it turned to snow
Prepare for possibility of all weathers, quite possibly all on the same day

[Meatball]

A few people on here have done the full traverse if that's what you're looking for?

[GableNovice]

As long as it's not heavy snow I'm happy. Never done a winter walk and haven't got the gear so would have to take the valleys around them instead which will take forever :/

And yeah information on the full traverse would be great

[Meatball]

http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=14786
Dooterbang has done it too if you search his reports.
I thought about it but I enjoy that range so did 3 trips there.

[GableNovice]

Very interesting read and some great pics, thanks

[ketzster]

Hi, I have done the whole ridge with a friend last summer but have also done it in various combinations. The great thing about the mamores apart from them being fantastic hills, is the fact that it is always easy to escape and get down whenever you want virtually.

Here is my report from last summer if it helps!

Good luck! Matt

www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=13581

[rockhopper]

Similar to above, walked the full round in June 2012 - took me about 18hrs but I'm not exactly the fastest and saw almost nothing all day ! Walk Report here and map attached below - started at the car park at the end of the road and waked back west to begin with Mullach nan Coirean - then west to east.

Hope you get more views than I did !

click to enlarge

[GableNovice]

Cheers guys they certainly look challenging. I'm basically in a situation where there's three walks I want to do in that area (The Mamores entire round, Ben Nevis by CMD Arete and Aonach Eagach) but with only two days so one's gonna have to wait

[Mountainlove]

If you are planning the whole round do it end of May/June...you will need the daylight hours.
The first time I managed 8 and had to return as I forgot my headtorch

[GableNovice]

Just to revisit his a bit. I've had to change my plans a bit which happily now means I can attempt the full traverse but I don't fancy the whole lot in one day. The day before I'll be up doing Ben Nevis by the CMD Arete. I'm now looking at then getting dropped off further down the glen after and hiking up onto the ridge and seeing how far I can get before dark. Can anyone suggest any good spots I can camp for the night preferably on the ridge or slightly off of it?