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Months had passed since i was able to get out on a decent walk and it felt like i hadn't walked in years....never mind completed half the Munros
This was due to a knee injury training for the Glasgow Half Marathon in September then shortly after getting keys to a new flat which i spent every spare hour of the day refurbishing for 6 weeks, on top of a demanding job. To say i was stressed would be an understatement. I needed a big walk to sort me out
This was all last minute stuff for me with 3 options. I chose to walk with MountainThyme as she was doing 3 near Loch Arkaig which i had still to do. The other 2 options i had walked this summer. I had visited Loch Arkaig at the start of May and it held lovely memories for me. I loved the remoteness of the area so a revisit and the chance to walk 3 Munros was a no brainer. The only problem was that MT was meeting her regular walking partner Saturday night (Michael - MGMT) as they would be doing the Aonach Eagach ridge Sunday. MGMT had offered his experience to support MT over AE as she was a tad scared. I would do it with them, it would also be good to catch up with MGMT who i last walked with in May doing the Forcan Ridge where he kindly led the way. This meant i had to camp at the Red Squirrel Campsite Glencoe Saturday night and share with MT. Now im not akin to sleeping with Strangers at the weekend, although i hear its a regular occurrence in Glasgow City Centre, but needs must. I brought wax ear plugs incase she snores, its not unheard of that the female species can grunt loudly
.
I really didn't sleep much Friday night (again!) but i was ready and waiting at our agreed pick up time. We left Glasgow at 5.20am and headed North, the buzz and excitement was back flowing through me....not unlike a dodgy curry
At the start we discussed our options of route and decided that doing the route clockwise would mean a shorter walk out of only 8k and a walk in of 10k
However this meant we would have to make sure we had some daylight for the steep descent of Sgurr nan Coireachan as we knew it would be difficult in darkness, we realized the last 2 hours of this walk would require a headtorch. We also chose to bypass the woodland altogether.
Our Route
Loch Arkaig
Stags
The drive up had been ok and we started walking at 9am, hoping to finish by 7pm.
Head West 800m and take the path that leads NW - follow this for 9km till reaching the Gully that leads to Feadan na Ciche.
The path is very wet and extremely rocky, oh did i mention the bog - knee deep in places!!
The first Rainbow of our day
From a bright start the weather soon changed, it continued to fluctuate throughout the day.
Nearing the gully presents stunning views West to Loch Nevis
It had taken just over 3 hours to reach the gully
View from above
At the Gully we met a nice chap from Cambuslang who provided some interesting chat. We would walk together till the 2nd Munro.
At Feadan na Ciche and the views NE - i remember standing on Spidean Mailach in Glorious sunshine in May looking to Sgurr na Ciche knowing i would be standing on its summitt one day.
At the bealch we ditched our rucksacks and headed 500M NW to the summit of Sgurr na Ciche
At the top i just managed to get a photo of Loch Quioch before the clag set in from the south
We met a lovely group from the Lake District that had came in by boat via Loch Morar - how the other half live
It was then the first of many broken spectres appeared
This was the first time i had witnessed such a thing and felt privileged to do so. I now had been fortunate to witness a broken spectre, inversion and snow roller on my many walks. Before i started walking i probably couldnt tell you what any of these where, how them hills educate you.
It had taken 4.5hrs to summit Sgurr na Ciche so we wasted no time and headed the 1km SE that would take us to the summit of Garbh Choich Mhor....in clag.
Garbh Choich Mhor - and getting colder.
From here another broken spectre or 6 appeared.
It was now 2.5k to our 3rd and last munro of the day - Sgurr nan Coireachan
Follow the wall
Nice little ridge walk this with plenty of ups and downs....and another rainbow.
Looking back West along the ridge with Loch Nevis in the distance
MT found the last ascent to Munro no 3 tough but being her 270th Munro she had a smile on her face, her face sweating profusely
We had reached summit number 3 at 4pm. We had about 45 minutes to descend a steep boggy 2km south which would take us to the boggy path leaving 6k East to the end in darkness.
The descent from Sgurr nan Coireachan was horrendous and we both fell/slid on our backsides a dozen times. Luckily no injuries prevailed. We just managed to reach the path as darkness fell.
The last 6k back was dark and very boggy but we just got on with it. I was in my element and relishing being back out in the wilderness. The day had been fantastic and all the stresses of the previous months simply evaporated.
Reached the car at 7pm and it took us 90mins to get the boots off and drive to Glencoe. The single track leading out of Loch Arkaig requires due care.
I had been texting Mountainlove (Maja) as she was camping in Glen Etive and asked if she would like to join us tomorrow for the Aonach Eagach and perhaps show us her now not so secret recipe
I had walked a couple of months ago with Maja and she is great company with a passion for mountains - well she has visited base camp twice. ML had decided to take on the wee bookil on Sunday - im sure her trip reports will be fruity. She did Starav and Bien Mhor Saturday.
It was then we found out MGMT couldnt make it Sunday to assist MT across the AE
We would do it anyhow if dry as i had previously had a go in the wet and felt confident.
MT then tells me she has never pitched her new tent, WTF!!
It was only 10minutes however to get it up - it was freezing.
We showered, had pasta and a drink. Leffe Bruin for me
We turned in around midnight. The tent was spacious but the temperatre had plummeted and i spent a very cold night on my 1st camping experience. I had 4 pair of socks on and still felt the cold
We both woke around 8.30am, not having slept well, and MT decided that she would leave AE for another day when feeling tip top as yesterdays exersions had caught up with her. Hopefully MGMT will assist her next time.
We headed back to Glasgow. Glencoe full of sunshine and clear views looked majestic.
It was fantastic to be back out and i will be doing it all again next week, and probably for weeks to come
.....bring on the snow