Reaching a TON on the Orchy 5

[RTMcB]

Walkin: 07/06/13 1 hr, 2.5km, 550 m ascent
Orchy 5: 08/06/13 11 hr, 27 km, 1927 mascent

Orchy5_08_06_13.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts

This round has been on my must-do list since I saw Monty's http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=7758 report. We're not as fast so opted for a wild camp to break things up, plus would not have enjoyed spending driving 2hrs out and 2 hrs back on top of all that walking.

Left the Bridge of Orchy train station car park at 9pm and made our ascent to the bealach in about 1 hour. We chose our camping spot just a bit out of sight east from the bealach, slightly sheltered and with the gentle sounds of a waterfall not too far away. Decent night's sleep followed by a cuppa tea, sausage, egg and tomato for breakfast then we were off at 8am.

We followed the path south to Beinn Dorain, reaching it at 9am. Felt great to be up here so early! We retraced our trackback to the bealach then up to Beinn an Dothaidh following a decent path at first. The path soon turns into some boggy stuff, then a stalkers path which takes you close to the summit but we had to leave the stalkers path to achieve the summit. Could almost see Ben Nevis in the distance through the haze. An easy descent south-east, then east got us to the bealach where we met a nice couple from Dundee who were in the high 90's but just out to do 2 Munro's. They had come up the path from Achallader Farm.A hard pull up the shoulder of Beinn Achaladair took its toll on us but the path levels out after you reach 1000 m. The sun was beating down on us and I was sweating buckets! About 1.5 km across this high plateau with stunning views across Rannoch Moor. Ben Nevis was poking out through the haze, there seemed to be a lot more snow on the Aonach's compared to the Ben. The summit is a collection of rocks with steep cliffs on the northern side. A steep descent down Beinn Achaladair to the bealach at 813 m was followed by a long boring gradual ascent up to Beinn a'Chreachain. Actually the last 100 m of ascent was over a boulder field, so that broke up the monotony.

On the way up, I had been keeping an eye to the west, trying to figure out a decent route over to Beinn Mhanach. We had run out of water, so decided to do go straight into Coire a'Mhath-ghamhna to find some running water. The long route had taken its toll on SMRussell's feet, thus when we came across an inviting waterfall, we stripped off and got nice and wet! Refreshed we headed up Beinn Mhanach, this Munro sucked - there was a dead body of a fawn just feet from the summit cairn! It was really grim, the only redeeming factor was the 360 degree view from our fifth summit.

The 6km walk back to the tent was fairly quick, we saw some live deer above us either side of Allt Coire a'Ghabhalaich. Rain was starting to drop as we were packing up the tent but not heavy enough to warrant waterproof's. A final brew under Coire an Dothaidh gave us the energy to get back to the car. We finished the day of with a nice pint and decent food at the Bridge of Orchy Hotel before driving back to Glasgow.

Definitely going to do more wild camping this summer!

Looking west at the sunset on our walkin from Bridge of Orchy train station

07 Jun 2013 HX20v-4.jpg by r.t.mcb, on Flickr

Dusk falls on our wild camp

07 Jun 2013 HX20v-14.jpg by r.t.mcb, on Flickr

secluded tent spot

07 Jun 2013 HX20v-8.jpg by r.t.mcb, on Flickr

Morning sun blazing in!

08 Jun 2013 HX20v.jpg by r.t.mcb, on Flickr

Up to the bealach, no-one's seen us yet!

08 Jun 2013 HX20v-2.jpg by r.t.mcb, on Flickr

Getting a brew on, the #2 trowel is in the plastic bag

08 Jun 2013 HX20v-6.jpg by r.t.mcb, on Flickr

View out west from Beinn Dorain

08 Jun 2013 HX20v-9.jpg by r.t.mcb, on Flickr

1st Munro, Beinn Dorain

08 Jun 2013 HX20v-11.jpg by r.t.mcb, on Flickr

SMRussell on Beinn an Dothaidh

08.06.13 A550 55.jpg by r.t.mcb, on Flickr

View of Beinn Dorain (left) and Beinn an Dothaidh (right) from 1002 m top on Beinn Achaladair

08 Jun 2013 HX20v-40.jpg by r.t.mcb, on Flickr

Us on Beinn Achaladair, summit #3

08.06.13 A550 91.jpg by r.t.mcb, on Flickr

Rannoch Moor

08 Jun 2013 HX20v-49.jpg by r.t.mcb, on Flickr

Clach Leathad, Creise and Meall a'Bhuiridh from Beinn Achaladair

08 Jun 2013 HX20v-51.jpg by r.t.mcb, on Flickr

Loch Tulla from Beinn Achaladair

08 Jun 2013 HX20v-52.jpg by r.t.mcb, on Flickr

Loch Lyon

08 Jun 2013 HX20v-53.jpg by r.t.mcb, on Flickr

Looking west, our route thus far

08 Jun 2013 HX20v-54.jpg by r.t.mcb, on Flickr

Beinn a'Chreachain from Meall Bhuide

08 Jun 2013 HX20v-56.jpg by r.t.mcb, on Flickr

The sky was fantastic!

08 Jun 2013 HX20v-61.jpg by r.t.mcb, on Flickr

Cairn on Beinn a'Chreachain

08 Jun 2013 HX20v-74.jpg by r.t.mcb, on Flickr

Ben Chruachan

08 Jun 2013 HX20v-91.jpg by r.t.mcb, on Flickr

and finally, summit #5, Beinn Mhanach (yawn)

08 Jun 2013 HX20v-93.jpg by r.t.mcb, on Flickr

Beinn a'Chaisteil looking awesome

08 Jun 2013 HX20v-104.jpg by r.t.mcb, on Flickr

[Fife Flyer]

Great report & some cracking photo's
If I was a few years younger I could get into this camping lark - would help if I had a tent, though

Congrats on reaching the first ton
I will hopefully be joining you after my walk tomorrow, in for a long day though

[laconic surf]

Looks a great weekend out. The sky was amazing on saturday wasn't it? I was doing the Ben Lui 4 and sat back on Ben Oss and just admired the cloud formations. Hot though, wasn't it?
Congrats to you and the other half on the ton

[RTMcB]

Thanks, aim to do the Ben Lui/Oss 4 in a similar fashion and get the corbett too!

It's so weather dependant

[BlackPanther]

Congratulations on the 100! You couldn't have had better weather for such an adventure.

[SMRussell]

It was a braw wee adventure! And finding that little waterfall for a quick cooling dip was the icing on the cake.

[mrssanta]

Well done to you both, what a cracker!

[simon-b]

Well done to both of you on reaching 100. Great pictures as well.

[L-Hiking]

Well done on the 100, great report and pictures. Especially Loch Tulla

[rockhopper]

Congratulations on the 100 - and what a great way to do it ! - cheers

[Peter913]

Nice shots there i like that loch tulla one nice reflections

Peter

[dooterbang]

Congratulations matey

Fab way to reach the century and a milestone reached.

[CatoTheYounger]

I'm sure I saw your green tent as I passed Coire an Dothaidh cairn, heading towards Beinn Mhanach. You really couldn't have had a better day to climb your 100th Munro, great pictures too, my iPhone really didn't do it justice. The views across Rannoch Moor from Beinn Achaladair in the evening where like something from an oil painting.. Congrats.