When a Graham becomes a Corbett, I'll be Damphed!

[GillC]

Met up in Torridon with a small breakaway faction, now renamed the Judean Peoples Front or is it the Popular Front of Judea?

Guess where I am

I’ve not been on a hill since May and been having knee niggles and advised not to take on too much so decided that whatever everyone else was doing, I’d keep it low'ish level and not too strenuous so armed with a few shore walks and a potential Torridon Graham (Beinn na h-Eaglaise) I tottered off to the meet.

I decided on the Graham and as most of the 13 strong group had their eyes on bigger prizes, I was on my own as I set out from the Torridon hostel towards Annat for my wee Graham. It's 3km/35 min walk round to where the WH route starts at the Torridon Inn.

View along the A896 over to the Graham Beinn na h-Eaglaise

good use of an old woodburner

bit of local wildlife on Upper Loch Torridon

When you reach the inn, past the "resort" you could stick to the road round to the stalkers path but it's lovely alternative to follow the signposts through the Inn carpark and courtyard and on up through the lovely trees to a gate. Through the gate, cross the A896 and on up into the trees. This is highlighted on WH as up through the rhododendrons but there’s been a massive clearance of the plant, now considered a threat to our indigenous flora so it was not much in evidence as I climbed through the trees on a good path.

The river Allt Coire Roill below moves further away as you climb up through the trees but you can catch glimpses of waterfalls and one in particular is a long drop and could be heard higher up.

Down to the tumbling Roille burn

The Corbett, Beinn Damph above to my right was looming large, but looking ever so tempting. No Gill, stick to the plan!!
Leaving the trees and emerging into the clear, both the Graham and the Corbett were fully visible.

Betwixt and between the Graham and the Corbett

At this point I decided I would attempt the Corbett but the only info I had on it was in the Cicerone book which seemed to over complicate the route. Also, I was aware of the knee issue and didn’t want to get into problems if I went too long. So, decision re made, stick to the Graham .

Should I? looks awfy tempting

You reach a fork in the path and I dutifully took the left one to the Graham, still eyeing up the Corbett above. Went about 100mtr down the track before stopping and checking WH for the Corbett details. Height, ascent etc. NO GILL, Stick to the plan!!!! Walked another hundred mtrs or so then literally turned on my heels and went back to the fork, Damph was calling me, Corbett it is then!!!

Stopped to read the full WH description and to load it to my phone (I admit, I did not have the OS map with me but it was a clear day and the route seemed pretty good and conditions were fab, clear, high cloud and a light breeze with no forecast to change for the day. I also sent a message to the rest of the group and John to let them know the change of plan.

Path up to the Corbett

The route ahead and up to the ridge between Meall Gorm and Beinn Damph is rocky but it’s a clear path and I easily reached the steepest part just above Toll Ban. Had a short break here for a biccy and enjoyed the views back down which opened across Upper Loch Torridon to the Torridon Giants, all the way from Alligin to Beinn Eighe.

View over Upper Loch Torridon from the track up to the ridge

Back over to Alligin

The remainder of the group of 13 were scattered across Beinn Dearg (Corbett) Beinn Eighe and over on Maoile Lunndaidh, gave them a wave before starting off again to finally reach the ridge line.

I hadn’t seen a soul since heading off but I then saw a couple of figures descending from my left. I had been considering trying to drop off the end of Damph, crossing the glen and returning over the Graham but decided to wait and see how the land lay beyond the summit.. Another option if that wasn’t possible was to return the same way then cross out to the top a the Northern end of the Corbett at Sgurr na Bana-Mhoraire, to be decided once I reached the summit.

Looking back towards Sgurr na Bana Mhoraine and the descent path off the the right

Met up and spoke with the descending pair and discussed my options, they didn’t advise dropping off but did suggest I cross over the bump of the 868mtr point, telling me its not much height difference blah blah. I look up at it to my left but on leaving them, I opted to stick to the main path under it and over Glac nam Bac. I checked the time here and at 12:01, I considered it would take me almost another hour to reach the summit over the rocky ascent.

Considering the rocky ascent to the 868mtrs,,,nah!

Looking on up to the Munro summit with MCD off to the left

Some local wild goats

On up to the summit

Steep and fast way off,,,,not for me lol

As I approached a large shelter cairn, I anticipated a false summit but on reaching it, it was clearly the top, and it was only 12:21 woop woop.

I had amazing views in all directions, including down the extremely steep and rocky Coire an Laoigh and neighbouring Toll nam Biast, not an option to drop and include the Graham. Not up for discussion lol.

Set up for a couple of pics at the cairn, just as my camera battery died, still, got it and just used the phone for further pics.

Made it, and still smiling

Had to build a wee rocky table for my selfie pic.

Over to Munro Maol Chean-dearg and the Corbett An Ruadh Stac

The views West, out to the coast were hazy with cloud and although there was a lot of cloud all around in other directions, all the Munros were cloud free and it was just breathtaking. Video call with John then settled down in the wee shelter cairn to have some lunch. Fed and watered, I left the summit at 12:50

With the advice of taking in the lower bump with a very obvious cairn, I checked the route back and it looked like a good wee saunter round the rim of the corrie of Spidean Toll nam Biast then up to the 868mtr marker. Indeed, this was easy enough going but about half way up, I looked back and had a bit of a panic when I realised the bump ahead was higher than the bump behind. I literally looked at one then the other about 4 times, trying to work out if it was one of those moments when one looks higher from the other but when you go over, the other looks higher,,you know what I mean? Eventually I realised I wasn’t looking back at the summit, it was way off in the distance haha,,and definitely higher.

On and up to another large shelter cairn at 868 mtrs. No point stopping but again, soaked up the 360deg views.
This is where it got tricky. This top is surrounded on 3 sides by boulders. Too big to be manageable scree and not big enough to be of any help, sharp, moving , sliding and just really annoying. I walked back and forth a bit to pick out the shortest distance of this painful stuff (should prob have just retraced my steps down to under them again in retrospect)
Picked my line to a small patch of grass and set off. I was wearing Inov8 Roclites, nice and light but they don’t have a rigid sole so this was a bit painful at times. Nothing else for it than to just pick away at the stuff. It was fiddly, sore on the knees and time consuming, but after about 30mins, I was almost back down at the path. Made my way over to a rock and sat down for 5 mins to regroup. Looked back up at my descent, lordy that was hard work.

Texted in my progress to John, always do this when out on my own.

Headed back off to the ridge before starting my descent down to Toll Ban and met a couple as they headed up my way. I had been in a t-shirt and long sleeved wind cheater all day and was absolutely roasting by now in a very warm breeze, they on the other hand, shorts and t shirts. We had a chat and I talked about the rocky stuff, me advising if they wanted to include that top, they may want to do it on the way up as it would be easier than down lol. They were staying in the hostel too.

I headed down the steepest part of the path and my knee/s were now beginning to really complain. It’s a clear path, but very rocky and it was a bit of an effort. Stopped on the same rock I’d used on the ascent to again recover a bit as my legs were getting a bit wobbly. Keep having to remind myself I haven’t done a proper hill in many months.

Looking in to wave to the others on Beinn Dearg

Stopped several more times, just for a min or so, just to let the legs reset before getting down to the fork in the path again. 2 mountain bikers came into view coming down the path from the Graham. I don’t know how they do that, their joints will gubbed when they get older lol. I stepped aside to let them pass me a little further down the track as I picked my way over rocks and tree roots back down into the forest.

Before getting back down to the trees and Alligin in the distance.

My legs were getting very weak so munched some jellies to keep me going.
I hadn’t taken my camel pack and had only had a few sips of water from the bottle so I think I was also feeling a bit dehydrated so made a point of taking the bottle out and taking a good gulp or two. The path crosses some wee stone bridges in the forest and the gurgling burns looked very tempting to stop and dip my hands (did I mention it was fairly warm ?)

Back to the road and down into the track behind the Inn, time to text John that I was off the hill and passing the bar. “Have a pint” was the reply. Well, who am I to disobey the boss hahaha. Popped in and got myself a pint of Boulder Beach, seemed apt. The midges were too bad outside to sit so ended up back in the bar. Had to then contemplate the 3km return walk to the Hostel but the pint did the trick. Picked up my feet and headed off.

Mmmmmmm

Ahhhhhhh (if only MY boulder beach was a Single Hop!)

Back at the hostel at about 4:30pm, 8 hrs after leaving but 70 mins or so of that was the walk round from and to the hostel so I was happy enough with my time and just a little proud of myself for pushing to a bigger target. Corbett number 50 (I’m not bagging them, honest)
Sore sore legs and VERY sore knees for the rest of the day, overnight and into Saturday but again, felt good at my achievement.

Great hill, great day.

our_route.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts

attachment]

[Stevesmith159]

Great review Gill and well done on a challenging distance and height not having walked for a while.