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Set off slightly later, leaving the car at 10am at Giorra Dam heading towards Stuchd an Lochain. The top was in the clouds and it rained most of the way up (turned to snow at the top), although there was a path all the way. Left the ice axe in the car (again!) but only crossed one small patch of hard snow/ice. Closer to the top the wind picked up just to make it a bit more challenging
- Stuchd an Lochain in the clouds from starting point
- ascending Stuchd an Lochain looking down through clag
Didn't hang about at the summit, even for a photo, but carried on parallel with Loch an Daimh to find a more sheltered spot for lunch. Clouds moved around quickly, making views come and go as if they were stage curtains, until they pretty much cleared and the sun came out as we headed across the pathless, marshy, peat bogs for the Corbett.
- sheltered from the wind
- same view 2mins later
- heading up the Corbett looking back to Stuchd an Lochain
- heading up Sron a'Choire Chnapanich
- Loch an Daimh from summit of Sron a'Choire Chnapanich
- sun shines over Rannoch Moor
The wind wasn't so bad at the top of the Corbett, but I hadn't quite appreciated 'picking up' the next Munro meant heading back down to the loch and starting the climb all over again
Still no paths on this hill, so it just meant going straight down, across the flat at the end of the loch then heading straight back up the other side...
- from Sron a'Choire Chnapanich to the start of the climb for Meall Buidhe
- steep descent from Sron a'Choire Chnapanich!
By this time my knees and soles of my feet were reminding me I'd just spent almost 6hrs in heels without sitting down
Luckily my brain hadn't quite registered the <3hrs sleep I then had before setting off on this outing!
Choosing to see the next Munro as the way back to the car (so close anyway, no point in even considering the easier option of walking back along the side of the loch!) The start of the final ascent was really tough though! Very steep, no path, through patches of heather, and the rain came back on
- heading straight up the middle
- passing a cairn on Meall Buidhe looking across to Stuchd an Lochain
Must have been close to 5pm when we reached Meall Buidhe summit. The clag was back and the wind was up again, so we quickly headed back towards the car at the dam. The path disappeared after a short time but it was straightforward, although very boggy, getting back down. Made it without head torches but by the time we were changed and ready to drive off it was nightfall. HUGE sense of achievement with this mammoth outing but I was definitely ready to go for a Lyon down!
