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Moira and I had one Munro left to climb of the Beinn Dearg group. I first climbed Eididh nan Clach Geala in 1996 with David, Douglas, William and Mike during a family holiday, then again with Moira in 2009 on a day so windy we had to crawl to the summit. We climbed Meall nan Ceapraichean with Chris, Janice and Tim in 2007 and Beinn Dearg for Moira's 100th in 2008. But Cona' Mheall remained unconqered and we were keen to get back up there.
Cona' Mheall's southern cliffs from Beinn Dearg
Nancy was at that time the senior fitness coach at the Inverness Curves (circuit training for women) and had bravely agreed to come out on a hill walk with us. She'd done some serious hiking in her native California so we reckoned she'd be happy with the stalker's path up Gleann na Sguaib to tackle Cona' Mheall. We left the car at the now familiar parking spot near Inverlael Bridge and followed the private road through Inverlael Forest past the ruins at Glensguaib and on to the stalker's path heading up to the high bealach between Meall nan Ceapraichean and Beinn Dearg.
I didn't have my camera with me but Moira had hers. I've been trying to persuade her to write up the report of this walk but she's insisting that's my job so I'm doing this on Moira's behalf as they're all her photos.
View up the glen to the bealach
Nancy in her element
Meall nan Ceapraichean
Eididh nan Clach Geala
Whenever we took a break, fitness trainer Nancy reminded us of the importance of stretching muscles while they're still warm to avoid stiffness the next day!
Nancy and her stretches
The snow was melting but there were still pockets in gullies and snow fields to cross higher up.
Burn partially clogged with snow
Lovely Lochan Lathail
Crags of Coire Mathair Lathail
Nancy on rocky pavement of Bealach an Lochain Uaine
Fannichs behind Moira's head
Nancy had kept up a good pace but she now admitted her knee was playing up and becoming more painful the further we went. She didn't think she could go any further.
I gave her Ibuprofen and an elasticated knee support and we discussed our options. Nancy didn't want to stop us climbing our hill and would have felt bad if we aborted it. The weather was fine, it was excellent visibility and there was a good path. So we made a plan. We would have lunch then Nancy would take the car keys, a map and a compass and start retracing her steps down the stalker's path as slowly as she needed to with lots of rests for the complaining knee while Moira and I nipped up Cona' Mheall as quickly as we could.
At Lochan Uaine shortly before we split up
Meall nan Ceapraichean from Bealach an Lochain Uaine
Cona' Mheall from Bealach an Lochain Uaine
From Bealach an Lochain Uaine there was a slight descent over snow to a lower bealach from where there was a great view down into Coire Ghranda.
Loch a' Coire Ghranda and distant Loch Glascarnoch
I had misgivings about leaving Nancy to start the descent on her own. Although not a novice she was a long way from the car and hadn't done this route before. So I was keen we bag our hill as quickly as possible and get down to rejoin her. The problem for Moira and me when it comes to speed on the hills is that I'm faster going up and she's faster going down so if we stick together the result is slow!
Normally that's fine as speed is not an issue.
But today I was anxious so put it to Moira that we shouldn't stick together for the climb. I would go up as fast as I could and come down more slowly while she went up at her pace and made up time on the descent and we'd meet again at the bealach where we'd parted with Nancy. Moira wasn't ecstatic about the idea and asked what would happen if she broke an ankle (did she have a premonition about what was going to happen a couple of months later?
) to which I replied if she didn't reappear I would go back for her. It was just one of those dilemmas trying to do the best thing in the circumstances.
The snow was soft enough to manage without spikes but I remember carefully traversing a patch as there were rocks at the foot of the slope it would not be a good idea to slide into. Then it was a case of choosing a line up the scree slope, following the grass as far as possible. At the top of the ridge it was a left turn over boulders, giving the cornice a wide berth, and along the ridge to the rocky summit.
Looking south along summit ridge
Beinn Dearg from Cona' Mheall
Zoomed to famine wall
Zoomed north to Cul Mor and Suilven (I think)
For many years Cona' Mheall had the reputation of being one of the only Munros without a summit cairn but there is a small one there now.
Summit cairn and fin of Seana Bhraigh
Moira and I crossed paths briefly as I was walking back along the ridge then I made my way down to the bealach to a vantage point from where I could see her descending to join me. I reckon splitting up and going at our own speed saved us about 20 minutes.
Moira back at Lochain Uaine
Tess waiting for me to cross the burn
All the way down the path we kept our eyes peeled for Nancy who we imagined sitting somewhere in the sun with her leg up.
But there was no sign of her. I wasn't going to relax until I'd set eyes on her so when we reached the track through the forest I jogged most of the way back to the car and arrived there just as Nancy was doing her stretches and taking her boots off. So it was perfect timing and she was none the worse for her adventure!
