Buachaille Etive Mor,,,Check!
Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 9:20 pmOn a slightly grey day, we departed Chryston just after 7 to head for Glencoe and a bit of a lifetime achievement for me. Buachaille Etive Mor!
This is a hill I have stared up at in awe for many years,, normally under a cover of cloud in the Glen of Tears. Margaret and I were using this as a starting point of a wee adventure week, Glencoe, then Skye (initial plan was to include Nevis at the end but Skye was so glorious,,we just stayed another day there instead)
The weather turned a bit grey with heavy downpours as we kitted up at the Altnafeadh car park. But there were plenty of people heading out on the path across to the Coire Na Tulaich gully. We have been told of the Curved Ridge ascent and while we gave this some thought at the time,,on the day,,we decided to err on the side of caution and use the tried and tested (and obviously very popular route)
Before long, the rain had stopped and although the clouds swirled low above us, the wind was strong enough to keep it moving and the going was good. After the move across the footbridge to the bottom of the gully, you again have to cross the river running down the hill, no easy task and we enlisted the assistance of another pair to get across. We then start to climb the rocky gully, no let up in this until you reach the plateau at the top. We met several groups of climbers, some forces guys on their way to visit a memorial to one of their comrades.
Seriously strong winds up here but dry and clear skies and views between the clouds. Couldnt believe I was now right on the top of Stob Dearg, looking down on the cars full of people looking up. (phoned mum from here, and waved from the pic of the hill on her living room wall, could she really see my wee orange jacket, way up there?)
The walk back down off Dearg back over to the ridge was easy going, the wind made our waterproofs like sails,,really strong but thoroughly enjoyed it.
Back over the Coire Cloiche Finne, where the views over to the Devils Staircase were bright and clear. Was thinking back to my journey on the West Highland Way earlier this year, now looking down on it.
We carried on over the top of Stob Na Doire, which at 1011 mtrs was little short of Dearg but isn't a Munro.
We continued round over Stob Coire Altrium and met the two who helped us over the river earlier in the morning. After a brief discussion about the windy conditions, we wished them well and carried on up to the second Munro (at 956 mtrs) on the ridge, Stob Na Broige. The views down Glen Etive from here were incredible.
We could see for miles and looking all around, we could see Rannoch Moor, Buachille Etive Beag, the Aonach Eagach ridge.
We stopped here for a fuel top up and headed back over the top of Altrium to the path of descent. The path down follows the Altrium burn and is very steep to start with, think this is where Margaret had her first fall of the day,,not sure why she left it so long
So far, we had stayed dry and comfortable but as we got to the valley floor and had to cross the River Coupall to reach the path down, the water was very high so we followed a directive that says stay on this side of the river back down to the footbridge we crossed on the way up......simple? no, boggy wet, muddy and downright flippin awful. We started picking our way across this by clumps of grass and rocks etc, but by this time we'd been out for a good 7 hrs and eventually we just traipsed through whatever the soggy ground threw at us. But the sun was shining and hey, we were heading for a hot shower, dinner and live music night at the Clachaig,,so who cares?
Reached the footbridge and the wee white cottage, sun on our backs and smiles on our wee faces. What a great sense of achievment.
This iconic symbol of Scotland at its monumental rocky best......under our belts. Wonderful! And to see Glencoe and the surrounding lands without its shroud of rain and cloud was even more inspiring. Great day. As I said,,we then headed for the Red Squirrel campsite behind the Clachaig for a welcome dinner of Haggis, Neeps and Tatties (with a Drambuie pepper sauce) all prepared on our wee stoves,
by the river under a sunny Sgorr nam Fiannaidh,
few beers then off to the pub for a boogie,
Smashing stuff.
This is a hill I have stared up at in awe for many years,, normally under a cover of cloud in the Glen of Tears. Margaret and I were using this as a starting point of a wee adventure week, Glencoe, then Skye (initial plan was to include Nevis at the end but Skye was so glorious,,we just stayed another day there instead)
The weather turned a bit grey with heavy downpours as we kitted up at the Altnafeadh car park. But there were plenty of people heading out on the path across to the Coire Na Tulaich gully. We have been told of the Curved Ridge ascent and while we gave this some thought at the time,,on the day,,we decided to err on the side of caution and use the tried and tested (and obviously very popular route)
Before long, the rain had stopped and although the clouds swirled low above us, the wind was strong enough to keep it moving and the going was good. After the move across the footbridge to the bottom of the gully, you again have to cross the river running down the hill, no easy task and we enlisted the assistance of another pair to get across. We then start to climb the rocky gully, no let up in this until you reach the plateau at the top. We met several groups of climbers, some forces guys on their way to visit a memorial to one of their comrades.
Seriously strong winds up here but dry and clear skies and views between the clouds. Couldnt believe I was now right on the top of Stob Dearg, looking down on the cars full of people looking up. (phoned mum from here, and waved from the pic of the hill on her living room wall, could she really see my wee orange jacket, way up there?)
The walk back down off Dearg back over to the ridge was easy going, the wind made our waterproofs like sails,,really strong but thoroughly enjoyed it.
- Told you it was windy!
- Me on Mor, with Beag and A E Ridge behind.
- View down to the Devils Staircase
We carried on over the top of Stob Na Doire, which at 1011 mtrs was little short of Dearg but isn't a Munro.
- Back end of Stob Dearg
- Margaret and Glen Etive from Broige
- Glen Etive from Broige
We stopped here for a fuel top up and headed back over the top of Altrium to the path of descent. The path down follows the Altrium burn and is very steep to start with, think this is where Margaret had her first fall of the day,,not sure why she left it so long
So far, we had stayed dry and comfortable but as we got to the valley floor and had to cross the River Coupall to reach the path down, the water was very high so we followed a directive that says stay on this side of the river back down to the footbridge we crossed on the way up......simple? no, boggy wet, muddy and downright flippin awful. We started picking our way across this by clumps of grass and rocks etc, but by this time we'd been out for a good 7 hrs and eventually we just traipsed through whatever the soggy ground threw at us. But the sun was shining and hey, we were heading for a hot shower, dinner and live music night at the Clachaig,,so who cares?
Reached the footbridge and the wee white cottage, sun on our backs and smiles on our wee faces. What a great sense of achievment.
- Bagged!
- Yum!
- View from the tent,,how good is that?
- I can hear the band from here!
The Buachaille is a great mountain to conquer! It's amazing how good food (and beer!) tastes after a day like that! 