Glen Etive, now the other side

[Benaden887]

Glen Etive, now the other side. 08/08/1992 Beinn Maol Chaluim, Sgor na h-Uldaidh and Beinn Fhionnlaidh. 18.5km 2150m 8.10h
Saturday morning. An early start gives a quick run up the A82 for the single track road down Glen Etive. The Loch Tulla basin was covered in mist as we pass and it`s here too as we drive into the white stuff to park near the cottage of Invercharnan. Gear up then walk back over the bridge, thro a gate into the forest. My Butterfields guide recommends doing “Finlay” from Glen Creran wi Sgulaird for company, but ther`s more up an down involved than going this way; plus Darren`s still has Uldaidh to do an I can add Chaluim a Corbett tae ma pot. The path winds up hill thro the dense packed firs until we break out onto open hillside, cue white mist again. A NE compass bearing gives easy going for 200m before a sharp 300m rise lifts us clear of the mist for the flat top of Beinn Maol Challum @848m. Its cairn still a kilometre away. Inversion. A magical name for the awesome views here – a sea of a cotton wool with inlets as far as the eye can see, all under a bright sun - of a Meall a`Bhuiridh @ 748m - a free standing island top amid others, too many to name - while N across a stunted Glen Faolin lies the long backside of the three Glencoe sisters. We reach the cairn and take a break viewing the mass of crags around us. Our side of Uldaidh is steep but doable, the down climb into then out of Bealach Fhionnaidh was easy enough, we stood on a wee platform wi a cairn overlooking glen Charnain and wondered who it was for and why. Then onwards and up onto a ridge, out to Stob an Fhuarain @ 968m. for views of Nevis, the Mamores and the Clachaig, a noble watering hole. Return to the ridge where iron fence posts lead to Sgor na h-Uldaidh @ 994m. and another wee break. My last time here was an intro to winter climbing and the greasy slab, re a Burns w/e @ Lagangarbh. Break over, we follow the fence down, cross rockfall grass then a burn so by the time we`d reach a col about 450m, the day had warmed up and the mist had cleared. On reaching the base of Fhionnlaidh, first a wee reckie, then cross its northern rock face which was easier than it looked. Some more climbing tops the rise for a cairn @ 840m then its follow the fence posts on narrowing ridge, a wee dip, two more rock steps finds the cairn and pillar trig of Beinn Fhionnlaidh @959m. We soak in the views of the dun hills on the other side, Loch Etive to Sgulaird, of Mull and the ever presence of Ben Nevis until its time to go. So a return to the first cairn and drop S for Meall nan Gobhar`s grassy shoulder - E past the remains of shielings cross the burn for a grassed firebreak into the forest and a winding track back to the car. So a good day, turned out well and a slower drive back home.