Fannichs plans go a bit awry

[JWCW2014]

Sgurr Morr

On a very cold winter day, hunched over out of the wind and taking on as much tomato soup as could be swallowed, a friend and I hatched a plan for this weekend later in summer. I’m fortunate to have many weekends free - he is mostly booked out so we secured the slot, partly I think dreaming of warmer temperatures and imagining sun filled days. Optimistic, I know.

Our plan was, by having two vehicles, to do much of the full traverse of the the Fannichs on the Saturday, camp somewhere along leaving a few hills and a walk back to the second car on the Sunday.

After much procrastination at home and some dire traffic on the A9 (a recurring theme) I arrived around 7ish. Helpful advice from this forum was spot on in that there are good pitches by the Abhainn an Torrainn Dubh and if you head towards the river it’s easier enough to pitch slightly out of sight behind the concrete structure, just by the burn. There was another person pitched up the river a bit and a few vans, but likely plenty of room if busy if you head upstream.

Dinner, just before the midge

My friend was held up by an accident in the west, and planned to arrive after 10. After getting dinner made, the midge descended and I retreated to the tent, though as many made it in as were out mostly through sticking to my fleece which has material seems to trap every insect it can find.

I went out to meet my pal who’d brought his van - he looked a bit pallid and worse for wear but thought he was just a bit knackered. After a quick jog back to the tent I got off to sleep quickly.

My wife had kindly bought me a new sleeping mat - I think after getting tired of my constant complaints of hip and leg discomfort on return from trips - and I slept right through to 5am when the light woke me.

Looking east towards Loch Glascarnoch early morning

After a quick few cups of coffee I packed up and got back to the car. My friend was looking very pale and had spent the night with the kind of illness one prefers not to have in a van. He apologetically called off and had a 5 hours drive back down the road, poor fella.

Looking at the map it was clear that plan A was probably unlikely, given the 12k+ walk back up the road to the car without a second vehicle, if I wanted to return at a reasonable hour and get stuff sorted for a very early start to drop the kids off at their grannies the day after.

The eastern 4 fannichs looked a sensible compromise - much less ambitious and scaled back itinerary, but still worth the drive up and not something I could reasonably complete in a day trip from home.

I set off up the road and turned off onto the track that heads up through the trees. The sun was out and it was fairly mild despite temperatures being fairly low over night. The cloud was clearing all around, a good sign, and Beinn Dearg looked spectacular looking north.

Beinn Dearg

The track climbs and then drops I think about 70-80m - noted for the return journey…

Soon you cross a bridge and there’s a well walked path that heads up the shoulder towards Creag Dubh Fannich. From there it’s easy enough to go fairly directly up a steeper section and up onto the top. I was passed by a guy and then by a woman with a dog on way to the top of Beinn Liath Mhor. They were both at the top so after a quick chat and a breakfast flapjack I set off again.

Loch a’Mhadaidh

It’s easiest to head slightly east from the top on gentler ground and contour round on a path than what I did -more directly heading towards the bealach and reaching a fairly steep section of boulders.

Up the shoulder to the top of Sgurr Mor

Sgurr Mor now in cloud but conditions were good with breaks of sunshine and pretty good visibility. On the way up Sgurr Mor the woman with the wee dog caught me up again and it became one of the days where the three of us (including the man that had overtaken us) walked mostly together as pace fastened and slowed. Really nice company for the day though I didn’t catch either of your names.

Heavily zoomed so slightly grainy but looking west despite the haze some excellent views

No views from the top of Sgurr Mor so we set off together, retracing steps slightly before picking up the route towards Meall nan Peithirean. After dropping down the cloud cleared and the sun was out, keeping it warm despite a fairly brisk breeze.

Looking back at Sgurr Mor, now clear.

It’s fairly easy and pleasant walking along the tops towards Meall Gorm and with a clear day, great views in all directions.

Sgurr nan clach Geala

Before long a bit of height drops and it’s a well trod route up towards Meall Gorm. I recall the final pull up being a bit bouldery but there’s nothing at all difficult.

From Meall Gorm looking south over Loch Fannich

Top of Meall Gorm

From Meall Gorm the route heads west towards the 922pt before dropping down to bealach ban. After a wee slog up the top of An Coileachan is reached, and it was probably the clearest view of the day,

864 top An Eigin and Garbh Choire Mor looking west from An Coileachan

Near the top were a group of younger guys with their camping gear aiming to walk all 9 munros. They were waiting on their friend who’d dropped the car at the other end of the route. On the way down I saw what I assumed was their friend quick marching uphill. He certainly had copped the short straw!

We took a fairly direct route downhill and then headed slightly west to avoid some of the steepness. Soon we picked up the track which is easy to follow for the most part, passed Loch Gorm.

Creag Dubh a’Gorm Lochan

The wind now picking up as I headed back to the car

We lost the track and just headed down alongside the burn - this was fine though no doubt in much wetter underfoot conditions would be a bit of a pain.

Over the bridge and then back on the track, the 80m slog back uphill through the trees isn’t really the ideal walk out given the height is dropped again. It was joe very warm with the wind receding as we’d dropped height.

Back at the car in 8hrs45mins with quite a leisurely pace overall and some extended stops at various points, this could probably be done in less than 8 hours at a steady pace.

It wasn’t quite the plan I’d had, but with generally good conditions, good visibility and some good company it was an excellent trip.

[weaselmaster]

Fannichs plans often seem to go wrong. Our first attempt was a bit ill advised - trying to do 7 in a loop in February was challenging enough without there being a proper storm as well Hope your mate recovered alright - that's not what you want to have in the hills.

[JWCW2014]

Fannichs plans often seem to go wrong. Our first attempt was a bit ill advised - trying to do 7 in a loop in February was challenging enough without there being a proper storm as well Hope your mate recovered alright - that's not what you want to have in the hills.

I can imagine that was an all together different proposition. The last time we drove up passed here was summer last year and the clouds were down, high winds and horizontal rain (July) - a much different character to the relatively rolling hills I experienced on a good day - can imagine adding winter conditions that might be ‘interesting’!

He recovered in a few days - the timing worked out well in that onset wasn’t when awakening in the middle of the night in the tent which would have been less than ideal.