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Loch Laggan 2/2 - a'Chlachair, Charn and Pitridh

PostPosted: Sun Sep 25, 2011 10:24 pm
by rockhopper
Date: Monday 19 September 2011
Distance: 26km (bike – walk – bike)
Ascent: 1,350m approx
Time: 7.3hrs
Attendees: me

Stayed overnight after yesterday’s Creag Meagaidh walk so was off early. Weather looking better than the previous day (but this wasn’t to last :shock: ). My current walking boots were wearing down a fair bit and I’d bought a new replacement pair – today’s shorter route seemed like a good first outing for them.

Took the standard route for these three hills starting at the car park layby at NN433831 and crossing the river near Luiblea.

The loch was very calm with almost no wind at this time. Early photos are a bit grainy due to the low level of early morning light necessitating using a higher film speed setting. Cycled the first part up to around Lochan Na H-Earba.

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Initially followed the track and then took a detour down towards loch Laggan to get a better view of Creag Meagaidh but in the end probably not really worth the extra 1km.

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Cycled on up past the next lochan with the sun starting to appear over the hilltops.

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It wasn’t long before I reached Lochan Na H-Earba. Still little wind but the sun was now higher up.

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Locked up the bike and started off up the track which goes eventually to Loch Pattack. I followed the Allt Coire Pitridh up to 479802 and then broke off more or less due South.

Beinn a’Chlachair clearly in the distance.

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No track to follow (at least I couldn’t find one) but the mix of heather and moorland made for straightforward, if a bit boggy, walking conditions.

Headed up the shoulder and round the top of the corrie and then got a view of the route to the summit.

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View looking back northwards.

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Straightforward walk from there. Light rain on and off but not too bad in between showers. It was rocky under foot for the last part of the way – tended to be a bit slippery as they were wet.

Occasional views over to the Aonach Beag group.

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And to the North West

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Got to the summit with weather a bit improved.

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Now had a good view of the route to Geal Charn

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With some interesting light through the clouds over towards Ben Alder

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Headed initially back the way I’d come before going more NE and over the 972m point at 486790.

Closer view of Geal Charn

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The clag then rolled in and the rain started again. The rest of the way to the summit was shrouded in mist and couldn’t see anything.

Got to the summit cairn of Gael Charn

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With no views whatsoever

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Waited a bit to see if it would clear but no such luck. Headed off towards Creag Pitridh but took a bit of a detour to try to avoid the wet, slippery rocks on the way up. Managed to cover much of the way on grassy, moorland but this added a bit of time so probably not really worth it in the end.

Further down the mist cleared and I could see Creag Pitridh.

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My legs were certainly feeling the effect of almost no exercise for the last four weeks and yesterday’s Creag Meagaidh trip – reckoned I was taking a bit longer than planned. On the plus side, I’d only had some light rain spells with no deluges....yet.

Straightforward walk from here to the summit.

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View down Lochan Na H-Earba and the north end of Loch Laggan.

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Then headed SW down from Creag Pitridh staying to the east of the crags. Rejoined the track at 472805 and walked back down to get my bike. The rain then came on very heavily and I was thoroughly soaked by the time I got back to the car – didn’t matter by this time and at least it had stayed largely dry for most of the walk.

Re: Loch Laggan 2/2 - a'Chlachair, Charn and Pitridh

PostPosted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 10:33 am
by Frogwell
I'm liking this! Really atmospheric photos. :thumbup:

Re: Loch Laggan 2/2 - a'Chlachair, Charn and Pitridh

PostPosted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 12:34 pm
by ChrisW
At least some improvement on yesterdays weather, those first two sunrise pics are beautiful. the pano of the Aonach Beag group with the cloud shrouding the tops is another stunner, in fact I could go on and on.

Nice walk, great walk report :D

Re: Loch Laggan 2/2 - a'Chlachair, Charn and Pitridh

PostPosted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 2:02 pm
by monty
Well done Rockhopper another three bagged. Love the pano.. with the clouds blanketting the hills. :D

Re: Loch Laggan 2/2 - a'Chlachair, Charn and Pitridh

PostPosted: Wed Oct 05, 2011 9:33 am
by dooterbang
Well done Rockhopper.

Interesting how the fitness goes when not out regular. Been 8 weeks since i walked, i'll be bagging Grahams to build up my fitness :shock: :lol:

Re: Loch Laggan 2/2 - a'Chlachair, Charn and Pitridh

PostPosted: Wed Oct 05, 2011 1:33 pm
by Johnny Corbett
i'll be bagging Grahams to build up my fitness :shock: :lol:[/quote]

Going by the Grahams i've did so far most of them are pathless through some rough terrain, might be easier sticking to the Munros for fitness Dooterbang :D

Like the report Rockhopper of a favourite area of mine, that huge cairn on Geal Charn is a great wind breaker.

Re: Loch Laggan 2/2 - a'Chlachair, Charn and Pitridh

PostPosted: Wed Oct 05, 2011 1:59 pm
by Graeme D
Brilliant sky shots! :D

Re: Loch Laggan 2/2 - a'Chlachair, Charn and Pitridh

PostPosted: Fri Oct 07, 2011 12:00 am
by Bod
Yes, very nice Rockhopper........ Loved being up these on my 100th trip. Great pictures :D

Re: Loch Laggan 2/2 - a'Chlachair, Charn and Pitridh

PostPosted: Fri Oct 07, 2011 7:02 am
by MarilynMunro
Really great shots you've got there, seemed to catch the essence of your walk. Could almost feel the weather, ooh hark at me. Naw lets just say, great report.

Re: Loch Laggan 2/2 - a'Chlachair, Charn and Pitridh

PostPosted: Fri Oct 07, 2011 12:50 pm
by jstalker66621
Its nice to see what this looks like on a decent day. I did it a few months ago in the most horrendous downpour, possibly the wettest I have ever been on a Munro trip, not only did my jacket wet out but my pockets were full of puddles and the drybag I kept my mobile in had filled up (through a tiny hole I had failed to spot when I dropped it the previous week in Glen Etive)...thank the lord for insurance cover!!

Re: Loch Laggan 2/2 - a'Chlachair, Charn and Pitridh

PostPosted: Tue Aug 07, 2012 9:22 am
by cairndiver
Heading up this way for the expected high pressure on Friday to combine this walk with Creag Meagaigh and an overnight camp near Loch Pattack. Looks like a good walk though and your photos were excellent and captured that area well. Did your big Loch Ossian round last week, it was excellent! Hard work with the big pack at times! Keep up the good work!
Cairndiver