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Sunny Knoydart Exped Route 2024 carried out 9th-12th June.
Attendee : Sunny and the Big Agnes. the Exped covers all the remote munros, tops and Corbetts from KinLochourn to Knoydart on feet with zero transport aid. Total 104.3k 7777m 41hrs. 13 hard to get peaks. Hill lists Ladhar Bheinn, Stob a’ Choire Odhair, Beinn na Caillich, Sgurr Coire Choinnichean, Beinn Bhuidhe 855.4m, Meall Buidhe SE top 940m, Meall Buidhe 946m, Luinne Bheinn East top 936.1m, Luinne Bheinn 939m Ben Aden 887m, Sgurr a Choire Bheithe 913m, Slat Bheinn 700m, Meall Nan Eun 667m, Sgurr Nan Eugallt 897.5m. Details to follow.
It is my 2 weeks Annual Leave for June. Lots of things happening lately a combination of work and walking club, plus informatory arthritis was diagnosed a year ago and undertaking treatment for almost a year with no sign of improvement, but deteriorating symptoms. Rheumatology appointment the day before the holiday and they decided to increase immunosuppressant treatment by adding on more toxic drugs to depress my immune system. Had a mental breakdown by reading the drug information.
Life need to go on. Although no motivation but had to stand strong. Weather forecast not great , so hang about doing short walks for 2 days then commence Sunny Knoydart Exped Route 2024..
Parked up at KinLochourns car park and left the note of my routes of 4 days. Rucksack packed 8.25k for 4 days Exped. Set off early morning 9th June attempt Sunny Knoydart 2024. All went well the first day, got to inverie as planned. Was happy, next morning got up phone not charged properly and the battery bank only got half the capacity left and I felt rotten, plus weather forecast not as it was expected, increased anxiety thinking of not going to make it in this weather and not enough battery to keep my phone in working condition. All the panic and anxiety rushing in. Thought if could stay at inverie for another night and delay the trip for a day, but things not always falls as want to. End it up set off the day at midday around noon, and weather not great. Made an effort and a big mistake trying to shorten the route by descending early after Sgurr Coire Choinnichean, Do Not Do it! It was awful after half way down., high bracken in steep down then wet high vegetation, took ages to get down to the track, not worth it, ended up took a lot longer than go the normal route, typical Sunny short cut lol, and got everything wet, very very bad decision!!!
Got on track heading to Beinn Bhuihe the Corbett. Just walking on the track looking at phone for the route, the a giant horn appeared in front of me! Honestly I screamed and jumped back, and turned around to walk back as I felt the horn going to stab me- a highland cow standing in the middle of the track . Then had to come off the track to walk on the field to bypass the track where the cow was standing , honestly scared the **** out of me. Back on track and continue to going up the valley. Expecting weather to be cleared and sun will come out, but none of those happened, untill the night time to pitch. Got up to Meall Bhuihe around 9:30pm and planned to pitch . Aye typical, weather never improved and wind strong , temperature 0 degrees. Tried to find a sheltered pitch, but things not always as planned. Agnes got blown up twice while I was trying to peg it down. Agnes got lifted up in air and peggs flying out 10 meters away in air, lucky they are red and I spotted them. Thougt had to abandoned everything and walk out of the wilderness to get in safe civilisation. Took rucksack up 1 shoulder and grab Agnes and chasing the ground sheet which was blowing away. Honestly though I was not going to survive that night. Eventually got Agnes pegged down then realized a giant cow shite right in the middle of the pouch! How wonderful! Do you know what? I could not careless at that point! Just wanted to get into the shelter out of the wind! and got into it all shivering with uncertain thought. Survived!!!! The next morning still not goes the forcast, still wet , got everything packed around 10:30 and started to walk towards Luinna Bheinn in mist and carrying the wet Agnes. A long day and eventually pitched Agnes at Sgurr a' Choire-bheithe summit around 10pm, still not seen sun, but seams to be less windy then the night before. The last half day was not too bad although with all anxiety of not getting out safely. After so many years Knoydart still classified as the toughest due to its remoteness and the ingredients of the hills, mustn’t take it for granted and must respect!!!
