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Stob Ban and Mullach nan Coirean

Stob Ban and Mullach nan Coirean


Postby rani slapstick » Sun Jan 25, 2015 11:13 pm

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

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

Date walked: 26/05/2014

Time taken: 9 hours

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Looking back towards Glen Nevis

Having read the user reports here on Stob Ban and Mullach nan Coirean there was still one grey area.. just exactly how difficult is the climb up Stob Ban's east face? Not being good with heights and having virtually no experience of scrambling it was a concern. Most reports here say that when up close and personal to it that it doesn't present any real problems, despite showing many photos of it looking almost sheer and certain to kill any man who attempts it. Well, the good news is that they're right, it's a doddle, just do it.

On the day we were blessed with weather so perfect we'd have been mad not to give it go. We followed one of the
suggested routes following the stalker's path through Allt Coire a'Mhusgain and then turned right up onto the ridge leading to Stob Ban. The steep face actually looked more intimidating in real life than it does in the photos, but we took the path right up to it and decided assess it close up. There was a path of sorts, so we followed it with the agreement to turn round if things got iffy. Thing is, once we started our ascent we were caught up with the thrill of it so turning back was always unlikely. In a few places it looked like the path had disappeared before us, but we soon saw a trail of smaller, lighter coloured stones leading the way once more. The use of hands is more to pull yourself up than climbing - I'm assuming that this is what's called scrambling? It didn't seem to take long to reach the small cairn that marks the top of the path and there was a real sense of achievement when the summit was finally in sight.
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Yikes!

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The way off the summit through the boulder field is a similar affair as far as finding a path goes. Although less steep and intense, some concentration is required not to twist any ankles, but the overwhelming euphoria (who needs an E?) made it feel like more of an adventure than a chore. Then it opens out into a cracker of a walk with breathtaking views in every direction. At no point is it hard to follow the path and although there are some big drops to the right the path stays far enough away from them.
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The route ahead..

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Looking back towards Stob Ban

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Snow...yup.

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Blimey!

Our route off towards the Achriabhach car park was fine coming down the ridge, but not great in the bog alongside the deer fence, still, the buzz from the days walk soon carried us through it and big smiles were all around.
rani slapstick
Mountaineer
 
Posts: 1
Munros:3   
Joined: Jul 14, 2014

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