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The idea of west-to-east traverse of Canisp first occurred to us last year when we revisited the Corbett via the usual route. This Assynt hill is one of my favourites in this area, I can't really say why, I just like it
When sitting on the summit, we were gazing down the western ridge, admiring the cliffs on the northern side of it, and the question was dropped, can we climb the mountain up this ridge? It looked steep but doable, but first we would have to walk around the mountain (from the usual starting point, the layby by the northern tip of Loch Awe), then turn around and face the ridge itself. We toyed with this idea through winter months and eventually decided to do it in April, when weather was decent enough and snow wouldn't be an issue. Or so we thought
Kevin had a few days of holidays to use (his company runs on May to May schedule, so he always ends up with spare days off to take in spring). We spent these mostly climbing Munros via alternative routes, and bagging Munro tops, but one of the last days off the weather patterns seemed to favour the far north, so Canisp traverse came back onto the table. I had plotted the most suitable route: contouring below the southern side of the Corbett and then traversing back over the summit. We ended up with something like this:
It had snowed the night before and the highest tops of Assynt hills were topped with a thin layer of snow, which we didn't really mind, quite the opposite. We found the perspective of snow ridgewalking rather exciting! Plus pictures looked much better with the white topping on the summit of every hill
Canisp from the starting point (the wee footbridge crossing the stream flowing out of Loch Awe visible to the left):
Snow-topped ridge of Conival across the road:
We followed the main path for a short time, but soon left it to contour around the southern side of the mountain. Initially we walked along a little stream:
This tiny lochan, not recorded on any maps, marks a good spot to leave the main ridge path and start contouring:
The plan was to find the less steep area below the cliffs but above Lochan Fhada, which is seen here as a flatter part of the slope between Canisp and Suilven, and follow it all the way past the Corbett:
The advantage of this approach is a clear view of the mighty Suilvan for most of the way:
We basically walked with GPS in our hands, keeping to the height of roughly 400m. A wide, grassy "ramp" allows to sneak through the gap to reach the western ridge of Canisp. There are some deer paths to follow and the ground is relatively easy to walk on, well, maybe a tad squelchy, but that's something we are used to, having scaled over 500 Scottish hills...
Looking up the mighty cliffs above our heads...
Suilven once again:
Eventually, we reached the point of turning around, now we could see the ridge in question, it was covered in snow higher up but we believed there was nothing too technical up there. Well, nothing to scare a determined cat anyway
The initial stage was grassy but the higher we went, the more rocky the ridge became. There is no unavoidable scrambling on this ridge and in summertime one can follow a faint path (we lost it higher up under snow). And views to the Menace Mountain, as I used to call Suilven in the past, are simply stunning:
Higher up, Suilvan again with Lochan Fhada in the foreground:
A man on the mission:
About half way up the ridge with the steepest part still above us, but we were confident that we could do it:
There's always a ptarmigan about... This one already changing to summer plumage:
Charging up the ridge, with the lochan-studded Assynt landscape behind me:
Kevin posing with Quinag:
Ok, it's getting trickier now! Nothing we couldn't handle though...
As I have already mentioned, there's no necessary scrambling on this ridge, but you know me, fellas... Panther always looks for an opportunity to get herself into trouble!
The final stage of the ridge just below the summit is less steep and it looked easy enough, even covered in snow:
Distant Quinag and a snow drift topping the ridge:
It didn't take us long to reach the summit and soon we were hiding inside the large stone shelter, as the wind has now picked up and the top of Canisp felt rather cold...
Kevin on the summit, gazing in the distance:
The ridge we had just climbed:
Quinag once again:
Weather now started to deteriorate quite quickly and having had a quick sandwich and cuppa, we decided there was no point waiting for a better light for photos... It was time to run down before we got caught in a shower!
The descent route was the one we knew well, having climbed the "tourist path" several times before:
The descent was uneventful, apart from passing snow showers...
...but typically, as soon as we were down, the conditions improved and the summit was now basking in sunshine. The usual case of "bad weather always follows me wherever I go"
Despite getting snow-showered on the way down, we still enjoyed this route very much. The western ridge is an absolute cracker and so worth making the effort of traversing below the hill. This may be the more difficult way to tackle Canisp but highly recommended for anyone who is not afraid to go off piste.
It seems that my mojo for writing is slowly returning so hopefully I'll be able to drop more of my past stories in the near future. Also keep up to date with our current adventures... Last Saturday I was seen and probably heard meowing all over Glen Affric... TR to follow.
#life.will.prevail
#embrace.Ukraine
