We were staying in the lovely Strawberry Cottage (thanks to An Teallach MC!) with our walking group for a weekend. Four of us tackled the 'Sgurr nan Chrysanthemum' group of 3 Munros the day before (that's Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan) - it had been a 31km, 12-hour circuit from Strawberry Cottage and lots of ascent, full sunshine but plenty of soft snow still around. So we were pretty tired when we set off next day at 9am and didn't push the pace. The Bruce and I headed off alone to do the Carn Eighe Munros, a shorter day but still a strenuous one. (Hats off to those who walk in from the car park, a long day indeed!)
- Strawberry cottage, our line of ascent in the background
It was a cloudy start but forecast was good for the cloud to get above Munro height.
- Having a rest, view down Glen Affric to the west
I never particularly enjoy the first stages of initial height gain on a walk, a case of gritted teeth and getting on with it really, enjoying the view as you go! Love it when the summit ridge is reached.
- Fairly steep grassy slopes to the summit ridge.
- Summit ridge at last, cloud lifting
Stopped just below Mam Sodhail for lunch around 12.30 by a wee howff, wonder what the history of that place is? We then carried on and scooted past the summit cairn without stopping, it wasn't very conducive to a long break. Cornices on the eastern side of the corries were spectacular - I had vaguely thought about heading down this way, returning down Coire Leachavie, but there was no way you could get through the snow to the path.
- Wee howff on the way up Mam Sodhail, our first lunch stop
- Carn Eighe looms out of the mist
- The Bruce strides out for #3, Beinn Fionnlaidh
- View down Loch Mullardoch from the summit
It was at the summit of Beinn Fionnlaidh, reached about 2.30, that the trip became more interesting - with some marital conflict arising. I wanted to return the way we'd come, along the ridge but just bypassing the 2 summits, then taking the path down to Bealach Coire Ghaidheil. The Bruce, on the other hand, is totally allergic to regaining height once it has been lost, and wanted to skirt around to the Bealach on a traverse of about 850m. I fully admitted that his route would result in less height gain, but it would be dull - no views, no lovely airy ridge walk (and the clouds had lifted up high by now, great views to Torridon and surrounding mountains), and traversing is so hard on the side of the feet! We're both pretty stubborn - who would win?
Well, he did, of course. The Bruce isn't a Munro-bagger, though he's done a good few now. He mainly comes along at my behest, so I finally felt it was up to me to compromise or he might not come up another mountain with me. And as suspected, the route back wasn't as straightforward as it looked from the far summit.
- The traverse, Bealach just seen in the distance
Yes, sore feet from 4.5km of traversing, lots of steep gullies to climb in and out of (many full of snow which we had to totally bypass by climbing higher - could hear water running underneath and didn't fancy falling through), and lots of corries to walk around. By the time we reached the Bealach, The Bruce admitted that, just possibly, it would have been easier and quicker to go along the ridge. Ladies, I don't know how I managed to stop myself from saying 'I told you so' ...
- Putting a brave face on it! Nearly at the Bealach
- Finally at the Bealach, path homewards beckons
Anyway, marital harmony semi-restored, we finally got there and trudged down the path to the main track along Glen Affric. The last 2km back to Strawberry Cottage seemed to last forever, got back 6.30pm for a huge group meal of pasta - with wine. Great hills, really good day out (and no rain!).
