Completed by. Dave, Julie, Wilson and Jake
Weather. Clear sunny, 2nd day poor Vis, wind cloud and rain
Time. 13.5 hrs
Distance. 28 km
Ascent. 2260 m
Hills.
Munro’s x 0
Corbett’s x 3
Grahams x 2
Rois Beinn, An Stac ands Sgurr na Ba Glaise
Croit Beinn and Beinn Gaire
Starting from.
Glenmoidart carpark NM 740 722
This was our first outing since we completed the circuit of Munros and Corbetts around The Tarf Hotel.
I had torn rib Tissue while trying to clear blocked drains at home, the injury had got worse over the next few days so I had no option but to pay the Doc a visit. He said 6 weeks would be about the healing time, and that I should take it easy for at least 3 weeks.
So now, with my ribs pretty much as good as new it was time to get ourselves back out to the hills.
4 weeks out does a lot of damage to ones fitness levels, and with our Corsica GR20 trip only a bit more that 2 weeks away panic was starting to set in. (we really needed to get several decent hikes in before then)
Arrived at the car park just before 4pm and were up and going in minutes. Hot sun and Blue skies it sure was looking good. Was much as the weather had forecast for the Saturday, and come the Sunday the forecast predicted poorer weather… again they were spot on.
The plan had been to try and capture the 5 Corbetts and 2 Grahams. But very early into the trip we realised it was going to be a tall order. By the time we approached Assary and had started to climb towards Sgurr a Mheadhain I just knew it was not to be. The hot sun, heavy packs and lack of hill fitness had all ready started to take its toll. We were both struggling and finding it very tough. Wilson and his new mate (bro) Jake were in their element. I forgot to mention Jake; he is a Boarder Collie 8 months old, the new recruit to our gang. As you guessed they were just full of energy.
- loch nan lochan bridge
- Beinn Gaire
- The Corbetts Rois Bheiinn and Sgurr na Ba Glaise
- Eigg and Rum
Once we had skirted around Sgurr a Mheadhain we then headed North making for the West top of Rois Beinn from there it was a short walk East to the summit. Views were pretty good, Eigg, Rum and over to Skye. Moidart was not going to disappoint!
All ready behind schedule we needed to push on. Our plans to camp after the 3rd Corbett Sgurr na Ba Glaise were already shelved due to the late start and lack of energy.
We decided to camp at the Bealach An Fhiona, a suitable spot was found on the South side of the drystane dyke, I would have much preferred to be the other side North side but there were no suitable spots. Anyhow tent gets pitched and all our gear organised for our return from An Stac. Sure was a relief to travel this part pack free, as the drop from the Bealach is pretty steep as is the descent from An Stac.
We return to camp from An Stac at 9.30 ish Fed and watered by 10.30, we were sleeping by 11.00 totally knackered.
- Rois BHeinn West Top
- Looking back to the West top from the summit
- Nearing An Stac summit
- views from An Stac
- Back to Rois Bheinn
- Rois Bheinn and Sgurr na Ba Glaise from An Stac (pano)
- Wilson and Jake
Rude rude awakening at 4am, wind like I have never heard and rain to match, it really was outrageous. How the tent never collapsed or shredded I will never know. If a small hole had appeared am sure that would have been it. But no, the trusty Vango spirit 200+ did us proud and held out well against the fierce weather that was thrown at it.
Plan was to be moving by 5.30 ish, but the hellish weather never abated till after 9pm. We slept on and off until then “there was no way I was going out in that”.
What a contrast in conditions we had for today. Wind, rain and more wind rain and poor visibility that would last for the duration.
- Tent takes a beating for several hours
- Camping Dogs !
- Sgurr na Ba Glaise in the late morning
- Sgurr na Ba Glaise summit
- descending Rois Bheinn ridge
- Croit Bheinn
- Croit Bheinn summit
Upon reaching Sgur Na Ba Glaise we needed to decide on changing our plans…. Beinn Mhic Cedidh and Beinn Odhar Bheag was a total NO NO. So on reaching An T-Slat Beinn we descend the NE ridge and head right up the Steep Graham Croit Bheinn. This turned out to be very tough in the wet conditions, also our packs were getting much heavier with all the rain that they were soaking up (to lazy to stop and put on the waterproof covers).
From Croit Bheinn summit we dropped of to the SW heading for the Bealach and from there it was a 4 or 5 km hike to our final hill Beinn Gaire and its many false summits.
- Beinn Gaire 1
- Beiinn Gaire 2
- Beinn Gaire 3
- Beinn Gaire 4
- Glen Moidart from the slopes of Beinn Gaire
Was pretty miserable by the time we arrive at the final summit. More rain and wind, we were soaked to the skin and extremely tired. And to make matters worse there was no food left, the last 8km was going to be a nightmare.
We carry on SW to meet the outbound path at Glenforslan from here its heads down and try to march the final stretch back to the car, just in time to be devoured by the dreaded midge.
So you may ask did we get much out of this trip, were there any positives? Well we increased our fitness levels for our up and coming GR20 trip, Jake (the Boarder Collie) the new Raw recruit did well and we got a right mixed bag of weather.
All in all it was very tough. We were ever so glad to get to our own beds on the Sunday night. Haha.
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