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Call me uninformed (I have lived a sheltered life), but I've only just discovered that there is an army of Trig Point baggers out there. Is there no end to the British collecting impulse? This discovery makes me even more inclined to institute a society of Lairig baggers as per my last report.
In fact, my encounter with Trig Point bagging is not unconnected with last week's expedition to Lairig Torran and our failure to persuade The Whippet's paws through the boulderfield beneath the summit of Beinn a' Bhuiridh. With The Whippet smarting at this defeat I had thought to look at the possibility of reaching the summit via the mountain's east ridge. So, when our weekend visitor left at Monday lunchtime, and with mostly blue skies and chilly sunshine, we set off once more up Coire Ghlais for a reconnaissance. Our target was the Trig Point on Monadh Driseig.
This time, however, instead of keeping going to the end of the newly bulldozed track, we left it at NN119292 and headed up toward the bealach near the east end of the ridge at NN124289. But, I hear you cry, why didn't you just go straight up the hillside from the quarry lower down? This is, after all, a standard route of descent from Beinn a' Bhuiridh. Well, for one thing we got an additional 50m of ascent in on the good track before taking off into the bog, rivulets and grass. And for another, looking at the contours suggested that the angled ascent would be less of a slog. Close readers of the map above will note that we did descend by the direct route to the quarry, an experience which confirmed my supposition. I'd prefer our route of ascent any time.
As we climbed we got a reminder of last week's visit to Lairig Torran:
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- Coire Ghlais, Lairig Torran and Beinn a' Bhuiridh's boulderfield slope to the left
And across to the north, Beinn Eunaich and Lairig Lanachain separating it from Beinn a' Chochuill.
Once the bealach was reached views to the east opened up.
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- Strath Orchy and a snow-capped Ben Lui
After that it was just a question of heading up the shoulder in a broadly SW direction, somewhat steeply at first but then easing off around the 450m mark. And there it was, some way across to the left: the trig point at 641m. Bagged! The Whippet, who considers such objects to be specially placed weeing posts, gave it a close inspection.
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- Whippet, trig point, and Loch Awe
And to the NE, another view up Strath Orchy toward Ben Lui.
The Whippet meanwhile had his eyes on an ascent of Beinn a' Bhuiridh which was poised invitingly so near and yet (given that it would be dark soon) so far.
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- Beinn a' Bhuiridh and just beyond it Lairig Torran
After much hanging about taking pictures and enjoying the last rays of sunshine, we were encouraged by a chill wind to head back down toward the bealach. Evening light on Strath Orchy and Loch Awe was spectacular.
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- Kilchurn Castle and the road and rail bridges at the head of the loch
Until the level of the loch was lowered in the early nineteenth century Kilchurn Castle stood on an island with an underwater causeway linking it to the banks of the loch, though I don't know where the causeway ran. Anybody know? Perhaps along the present approach?
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- Not the normal angle of a Kilchurn Castle picture
With darkness now coming quickly we opted for the direct route down from the bealach, heading towards the remains of a building next to the now water-filled old quarry. Much deep grass and unfriendly tussocks to be negotiated and pounced among. As it grew darker, a mysterious rainbow appeared in front of the slopes of Ben Lui.
Then, back down the good track which, happily, is easily negotiated in the dark. As he climbed into the car I had to promise The Whippet that we would return to ensure he could add Beinn a' Bhuiridh to his collection. Me, I'm going for Trig Points.
