1 goes for 2, 1 goes for 4 - Accidental 6 in Lawers epic

[147cjl]

Mountainlove and I arranged to meet in Killin on Sunday with a loose plan for a walk in the Lawers area. ML was keen to do Greigh, Garbh, An Stuc and Lawers and although that was ML’s plan, sadly I failed to read the instructions in typical male fashion . After meeting in Killin we decided to leave one car on the west side and one at the Lawers hotel where we’d begin. I duly drove all the way past the NTS car park, past the dam and parked up at the cairn on the path which would bring us back from Meall Coire Leith, with a slightly confused ML behind me.

With nothing said, we drove round and set off from the Lawers hotel as arranged and enjoyed the walk up to the first slog up Meall Greigh. The weather at this point was outstanding, blue skies and bright sunshine, though we were aware there was a small risk of some rain later on that evening. Suncream duly applied. By the time we reached half way up Meall Greigh I could see the skies to the south looking a bit ominous, but we were now committed come whatever weather.

Lawers Burn

Sunny start

ML was still pondering how many we were actually doing – it did cross my mind that doing 6 in a day was a bit of a mission, but thought that’d be fine nonetheless, if that’s what ML wanted to do to. Little did I know her plan was only the 4, missing out Beinn Ghlas and returning to the NTS car park hence the puzzlement at why we’d parked so far up the road.

Eventually the question was asked, “so...what’s the route?”. I cheerily replied that we’ll do the 4, go round the back of Ghlas and then do Corrainach and Leith. This was news to ML, however wasn’t an issue and we carried on regardless. I was still oblivious to the fact that the plan had ever been any different.

The top of Meall Garbh held a little surprise in store for us, as there were a number of timber fence posts waiting to be used (they were their last year!).

top of Meall Garbh

Not wanting to miss some good photo ops ML soon had one picked up and brandished it like a spear as if hunting for lunch, along with a couple of gym moves. After a bit of tossing the caber, I couldn’t resist – (boys will be boys) and before long the piece of timber was between my legs and held triumphantly aloft to hoots of laughter from ML. No photo posted as my mum will probably read this. What I didn’t know is that the group of three who we met at the summit hadn’t gone far, they were eating their lunch round the corner, probably wondering if we were on day release . A walk with ML seems to involve a good bit of nonsense along the way, which makes for a fun day out.

Gym move

Catching lunch?

The Caber

I had done these in November last year and at the bottom of An Stuc had spent 20 minutes wondering if I should go for it. As a relative novice at the time it looked pretty daunting, this time I thought how easy it looked and couldn’t believe I’d even had an issue with it. While I followed the standard route, true to form ML sought out a harder scramble and we were both at the top in no time.

An Stuc

Halfway up

ML route finding

The top of Lawers also held some laughs in store. The cloud had moved in and there were a couple of ladies at the top who marvelled at ML’s planking ability and had a chuckle at my feeble attempt. In no time, one of these ladies, with a bit of egging on from us gave it ago...we left the summit to the sound of squeals and laughter as these two discovered the delights of planking for themselves . As we followed the obvious path off Lawers I suddenly thought it was odd that the wind had completely changed direction, and the feeling set in that something just wasn’t right. After a while the ridge narrowed and didn’t resemble what I remembered of the path. A quick check on ML’s GPS showed that we’d come off in the wrong direction – SE instead of SW. A wee reminder that in clag there’s no harm in taking a quick bearing at the top.

Nil points for style

ML shows how it's done

Soon back on the path we skipped round the back of Beinn Ghlas, by now in pouring rain and cloud all around. ML offered the option of just doing Ghlas as well - my reply was to offer to sit down and watch if she wanted to go for it. The path up the south of Corrainnach was easy to find and pretty good quality and didn;t take long to get to the top.

Still smiling in the rain, bottom of Meall Corrainach

Leith was straightforward too, but even though I knew we should stay right to get on to Leith it’s amazing how the hill draws you left, along the wrong ridge. Corrected again we headed up to the pudding of a munro that Meall a Choire Leith is. What a rubbish dull munro. By this point I was struggling, my heart was pounding, my lungs were bursting and we were both pretty soaked. We decided then that there should be officially two munro lists – good munros and rubbish munros like these two.

On Mars?

ML on Meall Corrainach

The long walk back to the car was far less fun than any of the rest of the walk. Soaking wet, midge infested, I fell on my backside and stepped knee deep into the bog, much to ML’s amusement . At this stage the only thought was PINT and it kept us going. The mantra was CPP: Car, Pub, Pint. I was gutted that where I expected the road and the car to be, there was a river to cross and another rise to walk over before getting out of the quagmire. I’ve never been so happy to see my car, and chips and pints were happily scoffed in the cosy Lawers hotel. The good news is that because of the misunderstanding over the route, neither of us have to go back there again.

The Bog

Reward

One to remember!

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[LaurenAlexandra]

Sounds like a doozy of a day! Well done.

[Fudgie]

I had a great if tiring day on the same range when I just took it as it came and changed my plans as I went along. Sometimes those are the most enjoyable days

[Mountainlove]

One to remember indeed Specially after 'nearly' forgetting the keys for the second car ...

Or your 'taking a rest' ...as one could not get any more soaking wet

[pollyh33]

Well done you two on this epic excursion

Lots of fun and frolics despite the dreichy keichy weather- loved this

[147cjl]

Thanks Lauren, was still a right laugh though and as you say Fudgie, sometimes they're the best ones. Cheers Polly, was still worthwhile despite the rain.

...and I really need to thank Mountainlove for posting the pic of me lying in the mud