Liathach on Fire...
Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 12:32 am
Ever since I first drove past Liathach I've been scared of it; it's enormous; steep sided; and it appears impregnable... I'm full of anticipation and nervous energy as I set of from my home in Bridge of Allan. The Mountain Weather Information Service (MWIS) forecast is a good one; clear skies and a slight breeze; cooling I'm thinking...
I make short work of the drive; the roof is down; the music on; and I'm indulging in my thoughts... I love 'me' time; when what anyone else wants doesn't matter. Driving down Glen Torridon in early morning the weather was beautiful and I was looking forward to the day ahead...
I'd chosen to ascend the hill from the eastern end walking to the west; mainly because of the scree exit on the west. Not something I wished to climb!!
The ascent on the east initially follows a well constructed path, but higher up as the slopes steepen it changes to a less well constructed path. You may even see some deer...
There's nothing uncomfortable on the ascent, just good views; and if anything; the beast that is Liathach seems tame... Though you'll be conscious of the pinnacles to come... Most of the ascent is walking, but there's the odd place near the ridge you'll need / want to use your hands...
In an hour and a half or so of climbing you'll find yourself on the summit ridge. I headed east the eastern top Stuc a'Choire Dhuibhe Bhig where the views of Beinn Eighe are sensational...
In fact the views in all directions are sensational... I've decided this is one of the most beautiful places on the planet...
Looking west along the ridge the highest point of Liathach dominates the view. I'm cursing the smoke which is ruining the views over the Horns of Alligin - little did I know at that time that the mountain was on fire...
After absorbing the view it was time to head to the eastern munro and the highest point of Liathach; Spidean a'Choire Leith... There's nothing difficult on the ascent; just easy walking / scrambling across some rocky terrain; and the ascent is not as steep as it is on to the ridge. It may look a touch intimidating but there's nothing there that will cause you any bother... The scenery remains stunning - looking back along the ridge just gone before...
By this time I'm acutely aware the western side of the mountain is on fire... Talk amongst the hikers is whether our descent from the western end of the ridge will be blocked... As if the Pinnacles weren't enough to contend with I'm now facing fire...
The pinnacles didn't look as intimidating as I was expecting; but there was an excited buzz on the munro top about what lay ahead.
The pinnacles as it happened were straightforward enough; all the talk was to stay on the main ridge; I agree; nothing too challenging; just be careful!! They start with a steep scramble; about halfway up the bypass path can be seen running to the left. I wanted to give going over the top a go though. The first scramble / climb is easy enough; there are plenty of holds for the hands and ledges for your feet. Keep to the worn line just to the left side. For those of you a bit apprehensive (and I was!) I've drawn the line on the image (apologies for tainting it); the blue line shows the bypass path, and the red line the scramble up to the top of the pinnacles.
Looking back at the descent to the first pinnacle; again it's fairly steep; but not technically difficult. If you're nervous, just stay calm; the holds are there...
Close up of the previous shot; some hikers descending toward the first pinnacle...
View of the path along the top of the pinnacles...
In what feels like no time at all you've completed the steep descent off the final pinnacle and are left with an easy stroll up to the western munro. I took a detour to the right to see the state of the fire; and it became fairly obvious that the fire was going to meet me on the descent path... Just as one hurdle was completed; another had arrived...
A straightforward ascent to the Mullach an Rathain and time to have my wee shandy to psyche up for the descent... I didn't stay long at the top; I was worried about the scree descent and more so the fire.
And so to the descent; a fairly horrible initial 400 metres or so on steep scree; not scary; but it was uncomfortable; and you could feel it in the legs!! Here's a shot looking back up...
And then came the fire... And what a fire...
THe whole western end of the mountain was burnt to a crisp...
Having now gone 'through the fire' the landscape was burnt; hot; and smoky! The route down looked just as smoky...
As it turned out my main worry became dumped on with what I imagine must be a fair few tonnes of water...
My route... Straight over the Pinnacles; that was the word of mouth; the bypass path not being the fancied option... As it happened nothing to tricky on the pinnacles in any case; some easy scrambles.
I'll add more to this report tomorrow; including some more scenic shots; but knackard now... Needless to say my new favourite mountain; and what a walk...
The day I conquered Liathach... And the day it burned...
I make short work of the drive; the roof is down; the music on; and I'm indulging in my thoughts... I love 'me' time; when what anyone else wants doesn't matter. Driving down Glen Torridon in early morning the weather was beautiful and I was looking forward to the day ahead...
I'd chosen to ascend the hill from the eastern end walking to the west; mainly because of the scree exit on the west. Not something I wished to climb!!
The ascent on the east initially follows a well constructed path, but higher up as the slopes steepen it changes to a less well constructed path. You may even see some deer...
There's nothing uncomfortable on the ascent, just good views; and if anything; the beast that is Liathach seems tame... Though you'll be conscious of the pinnacles to come... Most of the ascent is walking, but there's the odd place near the ridge you'll need / want to use your hands...
In an hour and a half or so of climbing you'll find yourself on the summit ridge. I headed east the eastern top Stuc a'Choire Dhuibhe Bhig where the views of Beinn Eighe are sensational...
In fact the views in all directions are sensational... I've decided this is one of the most beautiful places on the planet...
Looking west along the ridge the highest point of Liathach dominates the view. I'm cursing the smoke which is ruining the views over the Horns of Alligin - little did I know at that time that the mountain was on fire...
After absorbing the view it was time to head to the eastern munro and the highest point of Liathach; Spidean a'Choire Leith... There's nothing difficult on the ascent; just easy walking / scrambling across some rocky terrain; and the ascent is not as steep as it is on to the ridge. It may look a touch intimidating but there's nothing there that will cause you any bother... The scenery remains stunning - looking back along the ridge just gone before...
By this time I'm acutely aware the western side of the mountain is on fire... Talk amongst the hikers is whether our descent from the western end of the ridge will be blocked... As if the Pinnacles weren't enough to contend with I'm now facing fire...
The pinnacles didn't look as intimidating as I was expecting; but there was an excited buzz on the munro top about what lay ahead.
The pinnacles as it happened were straightforward enough; all the talk was to stay on the main ridge; I agree; nothing too challenging; just be careful!! They start with a steep scramble; about halfway up the bypass path can be seen running to the left. I wanted to give going over the top a go though. The first scramble / climb is easy enough; there are plenty of holds for the hands and ledges for your feet. Keep to the worn line just to the left side. For those of you a bit apprehensive (and I was!) I've drawn the line on the image (apologies for tainting it); the blue line shows the bypass path, and the red line the scramble up to the top of the pinnacles.
Looking back at the descent to the first pinnacle; again it's fairly steep; but not technically difficult. If you're nervous, just stay calm; the holds are there...
Close up of the previous shot; some hikers descending toward the first pinnacle...
View of the path along the top of the pinnacles...
In what feels like no time at all you've completed the steep descent off the final pinnacle and are left with an easy stroll up to the western munro. I took a detour to the right to see the state of the fire; and it became fairly obvious that the fire was going to meet me on the descent path... Just as one hurdle was completed; another had arrived...
A straightforward ascent to the Mullach an Rathain and time to have my wee shandy to psyche up for the descent... I didn't stay long at the top; I was worried about the scree descent and more so the fire.
And so to the descent; a fairly horrible initial 400 metres or so on steep scree; not scary; but it was uncomfortable; and you could feel it in the legs!! Here's a shot looking back up...
And then came the fire... And what a fire...
THe whole western end of the mountain was burnt to a crisp...
Having now gone 'through the fire' the landscape was burnt; hot; and smoky! The route down looked just as smoky...
As it turned out my main worry became dumped on with what I imagine must be a fair few tonnes of water...
My route... Straight over the Pinnacles; that was the word of mouth; the bypass path not being the fancied option... As it happened nothing to tricky on the pinnacles in any case; some easy scrambles.
I'll add more to this report tomorrow; including some more scenic shots; but knackard now... Needless to say my new favourite mountain; and what a walk...
The day I conquered Liathach... And the day it burned...