Nine Foxy Fannichs.
Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2011 1:29 pmThe elusive Sidewinder (Gordon), Monty and myself had decided that we would tackle 9 of the 10 Fannichs in one big loop.
Sidewinder had walked 57k last weekend in the Cairngorm taking in 6 Munros - 17hours, Monty was back on form taking in the CMD and Grey Corries in an epic outing. . . .last weekend i updated my TR, would i be fit enough to keep up with these big baggers
Monty travelled up alone Friday, and i with Gordon Friday night. Monty and Gordon had the luxury of a tent whilst i slept in the back seats of a Transit van
. Well i think i slept for 3 hours in all!!
Up at 5am and we drove to the finish to meet Monty, picked him up and again drove the 10mile to the start. Montys car was left at the finish which would enable us to drive to the start to Gordons van, saving us cycling 10 mile which Gordon and i had planned if Monty wasnt coming.
Got to the start at 6.15am and off we went. The weather forecast hadn't been favourable, but we didn't mind as insanity had crept into our psyches long ago
Our route for today
The start
This way
You follow a well defined path for 2k through woodland in a SW direction before picking up a boggy path along side the Abhainn a Ghiuthais Li, crossing 2 foot bridges.
Continue SW across undulating boggy wet moorland, keeping West of Loch Odhar and Loch Gorm
Loch Odhar
Loch Gorm
Once passed Loch Gorm you begin the ascent to Munro 1 - An Coileachan
We reached the summit after 2hrs 15mins. The 7k to reach this was testing due to the boggy terrain, but we were pleased with our efforts. The cloud base was low at this point so views non existent.
Sidewinder Summit Pose
Meall Gorm was Munro 2 and only 2k away, it presented no difficulties. Navigation was required due to the thick cloud. Head in a NW direction for 1k then NNW for the last k. When we left Munro 1 Monty walked off in the wrong direction, he did this on Munro 2 also Get the paper map out Monty, stop relying on your GPS 
I used map and compass all day with the help of Gordons GPS veryfing location. This combo worked well for us.
Meall Gorm
To reach Munro 3 continue NW for 2k to the top of Meall nan Peithirean. Continue NW for 500M and contour round the SE face of Sgurr Mor (munro 4). Munro 3 - Beinn Laith Mhor Fannaich is 2k away in a NE direction
The cloud was starting to clear and bursts of sunshine trickled the landscape, the mountains appeared and stood rugged and tall. We even got a rainbow
Rainbow
To summit Munro 3 required scrambling over a boulder field, if careful it should present no difficulties.
At the summit we met 3 ladies from Glasgow who would be spreading the route over 2 days.
One of them kindly took a photo of the 3 amigos on Munro 3 - poor woman must be mentally scarred
Back along the ridge SW before turning NW to the steep pull up Munro 4 - Sgurr Mor
I was feeling pretty good and found this a good work out
Loch an Fhuar Thuill Mhoir - you can just make out Monty & Sidewinder
I reached the Summit quickly and took a quick photo
Summit Sgurr Mor
Looking back i noticed the guys ascending the South face of Sgurr mor which provided a good photo opportunity.
zoomed
We had some food and rested at Munro 4. Monty had found the ascent to Sgurr Mor testing and would struggle from now on, his knees inflamed and cramp setting in. . . .poor guy
To reach Munro No 5 - Meall a Chrasgaidh descend NW 1k and follow the plateau west for 500M before again heading NW for 1.5k.
There didnt seem to be a path up Munro NO 5 so Gordon and i just took a steep line and went for it, Monty followed behind.
Views South to Munros 6 & 7 - Sgurr nan Clach Geala & Sgurr nan Each
Ascending to Munro 5 - Meall a Chrasgaidh the sun had shone and the heat was intense. I rolled up my trousers and was bare chested. 2 minutes later and the heavens opened and again the cloud appeared. At this point i chose to put all waterproofs on, this would turn out to be one of my better decisions. Gordon didnt and would pay the price later.
Summit of Meall a Chrasgaidh - Munro 5
The next 2 Munros are along a very nice ridge - head south for 4k to bag both.
Monty on Summit of Munro No 6 - Sgurr nan Clach Geala
Looking back North along the ridge to Munro No 6 - Sgurr nan Clach Geala
Monty was really struggling by now and had decided that after Summiting munro No 7 he would call it quits, he was fine with this as had bagged Munros 8 & 9 in a previous outing.
Sidewinder on Summit of Munro No 7 - Sgurr nan Each
....and Monty on his final Munro of the day - a great effort considering not feeling great.
We all headed back along the ridge North for 1k to Cadha na Guite and headed west desending to the base of Munro No 8 - Sgurr Breac. Monty would take a Northenly path back to the car.
At this point the heavens opened and the rain lashed, the wind was up and the cloud thicker than my ex partner - it really was that thick 
The ascent to Sgurr Breac was long and i was glad to reach it. I did at one point though i had over shot and missed it.
Gordon arrived 5 minutes after me. His trousers soaked and boots filled with water, he realised he should have whipped on those waterproofs a while back. . . .these young/old pretenders
Summit Cairn Munro No 8 - Sgurr Breac
We didnt hang around as the weather was not relenting in its ferocity, we charged onwards to the final Munro of A Chailleach. To get to this summit was one of the easier ascents and a welcome relief.
We posed for Munro No 9 - A Chailleach
We quickly descended the 1.5k back east to Bealach Toll an Lochan and started our final 5k to the finish.
4k of this was across undulating, pathless, wet, boggy, steep, rocky ground and visibility was poor due to the thick cloud. The rain was still lashing and at one point hail stones the size of golf balls battered us. . . .but Gordon and i enjoyed it all as we just loved being outside on these hills and experiencing whatever they threw at us.
After what seemed like an eternity we reached the final very steep descent down the NE face of Sron na Leitir Fhearna.
This was very dangerous and not fir the faint hearted. As we got lower the cloud cleared and we spotted the finish line, our spirits lifted.
The last 2k was across flattish wet boggy ground before reaching a bridge at Loch a Bhraoin which presented a lovely final 1k via a wooded area.
The Bridge
Loch a Bhraoin
Boat House
Final look to our last descent down Sron na Leitir Fhearna
Sron na Leitir Fhearna
Monty was waiting in his car, had been for 2hours, and drove us to Gordons van. Monty wished us well and sped off. Gordon and i changed into dry clothes before heading to Inverness for a chinese take away to replace the mammoth amount of calories used. After our food we headed down the A9 to Glasgow, we got home at Midnight.
This was a fantastic route/day with 2 extremely nice people who provided great banter and encouragement.
I look forward to more big bagger experiences with the old guard
Sidewinder had walked 57k last weekend in the Cairngorm taking in 6 Munros - 17hours, Monty was back on form taking in the CMD and Grey Corries in an epic outing. . . .last weekend i updated my TR, would i be fit enough to keep up with these big baggers
Monty travelled up alone Friday, and i with Gordon Friday night. Monty and Gordon had the luxury of a tent whilst i slept in the back seats of a Transit van
. Well i think i slept for 3 hours in all!!Up at 5am and we drove to the finish to meet Monty, picked him up and again drove the 10mile to the start. Montys car was left at the finish which would enable us to drive to the start to Gordons van, saving us cycling 10 mile which Gordon and i had planned if Monty wasnt coming.
Got to the start at 6.15am and off we went. The weather forecast hadn't been favourable, but we didn't mind as insanity had crept into our psyches long ago
Our route for today
The start
This way
You follow a well defined path for 2k through woodland in a SW direction before picking up a boggy path along side the Abhainn a Ghiuthais Li, crossing 2 foot bridges.
Continue SW across undulating boggy wet moorland, keeping West of Loch Odhar and Loch Gorm
Loch Odhar
Loch Gorm
Once passed Loch Gorm you begin the ascent to Munro 1 - An Coileachan
We reached the summit after 2hrs 15mins. The 7k to reach this was testing due to the boggy terrain, but we were pleased with our efforts. The cloud base was low at this point so views non existent.
Sidewinder Summit Pose
Meall Gorm was Munro 2 and only 2k away, it presented no difficulties. Navigation was required due to the thick cloud. Head in a NW direction for 1k then NNW for the last k. When we left Munro 1 Monty walked off in the wrong direction, he did this on Munro 2 also
Get the paper map out Monty, stop relying on your GPS I used map and compass all day with the help of Gordons GPS veryfing location. This combo worked well for us.
Meall Gorm
To reach Munro 3 continue NW for 2k to the top of Meall nan Peithirean. Continue NW for 500M and contour round the SE face of Sgurr Mor (munro 4). Munro 3 - Beinn Laith Mhor Fannaich is 2k away in a NE direction
The cloud was starting to clear and bursts of sunshine trickled the landscape, the mountains appeared and stood rugged and tall. We even got a rainbow
Rainbow
To summit Munro 3 required scrambling over a boulder field, if careful it should present no difficulties.
At the summit we met 3 ladies from Glasgow who would be spreading the route over 2 days.
One of them kindly took a photo of the 3 amigos on Munro 3 - poor woman must be mentally scarred
Back along the ridge SW before turning NW to the steep pull up Munro 4 - Sgurr Mor
I was feeling pretty good and found this a good work out
Loch an Fhuar Thuill Mhoir - you can just make out Monty & Sidewinder
I reached the Summit quickly and took a quick photo
Summit Sgurr Mor
Looking back i noticed the guys ascending the South face of Sgurr mor which provided a good photo opportunity.
zoomed
We had some food and rested at Munro 4. Monty had found the ascent to Sgurr Mor testing and would struggle from now on, his knees inflamed and cramp setting in. . . .poor guy
To reach Munro No 5 - Meall a Chrasgaidh descend NW 1k and follow the plateau west for 500M before again heading NW for 1.5k.
There didnt seem to be a path up Munro NO 5 so Gordon and i just took a steep line and went for it, Monty followed behind.
Views South to Munros 6 & 7 - Sgurr nan Clach Geala & Sgurr nan Each
Ascending to Munro 5 - Meall a Chrasgaidh the sun had shone and the heat was intense. I rolled up my trousers and was bare chested. 2 minutes later and the heavens opened and again the cloud appeared. At this point i chose to put all waterproofs on, this would turn out to be one of my better decisions. Gordon didnt and would pay the price later.
Summit of Meall a Chrasgaidh - Munro 5
The next 2 Munros are along a very nice ridge - head south for 4k to bag both.
Monty on Summit of Munro No 6 - Sgurr nan Clach Geala
Looking back North along the ridge to Munro No 6 - Sgurr nan Clach Geala
Monty was really struggling by now and had decided that after Summiting munro No 7 he would call it quits, he was fine with this as had bagged Munros 8 & 9 in a previous outing.
Sidewinder on Summit of Munro No 7 - Sgurr nan Each
....and Monty on his final Munro of the day - a great effort considering not feeling great.
We all headed back along the ridge North for 1k to Cadha na Guite and headed west desending to the base of Munro No 8 - Sgurr Breac. Monty would take a Northenly path back to the car.
At this point the heavens opened and the rain lashed, the wind was up and the cloud thicker than my ex partner - it really was that thick
The ascent to Sgurr Breac was long and i was glad to reach it. I did at one point though i had over shot and missed it.
Gordon arrived 5 minutes after me. His trousers soaked and boots filled with water, he realised he should have whipped on those waterproofs a while back. . . .these young/old pretenders
Summit Cairn Munro No 8 - Sgurr Breac
We didnt hang around as the weather was not relenting in its ferocity, we charged onwards to the final Munro of A Chailleach. To get to this summit was one of the easier ascents and a welcome relief.
We posed for Munro No 9 - A Chailleach
We quickly descended the 1.5k back east to Bealach Toll an Lochan and started our final 5k to the finish.
4k of this was across undulating, pathless, wet, boggy, steep, rocky ground and visibility was poor due to the thick cloud. The rain was still lashing and at one point hail stones the size of golf balls battered us. . . .but Gordon and i enjoyed it all as we just loved being outside on these hills and experiencing whatever they threw at us.
After what seemed like an eternity we reached the final very steep descent down the NE face of Sron na Leitir Fhearna.
This was very dangerous and not fir the faint hearted. As we got lower the cloud cleared and we spotted the finish line, our spirits lifted.
The last 2k was across flattish wet boggy ground before reaching a bridge at Loch a Bhraoin which presented a lovely final 1k via a wooded area.
The Bridge
Loch a Bhraoin
Boat House
Final look to our last descent down Sron na Leitir Fhearna
Sron na Leitir Fhearna
Monty was waiting in his car, had been for 2hours, and drove us to Gordons van. Monty wished us well and sped off. Gordon and i changed into dry clothes before heading to Inverness for a chinese take away to replace the mammoth amount of calories used. After our food we headed down the A9 to Glasgow, we got home at Midnight.
This was a fantastic route/day with 2 extremely nice people who provided great banter and encouragement.
I look forward to more big bagger experiences with the old guard
