- Dark 7.20
- Moon over Ben More.
I had discussed my route, with good friend and mentor, Big Jesper who had suggested taking in the hills in a clockwise circuit. The night before, my various reading made me think, more folk seemed to do it the opposite way. Knowing BJ, I was sure his assertion that the climb up from Lairig a Churain, to Sgiath Chuil, was not as steep as it looked in his photo's, would be true!
Anyway, I followed the north pointing signpost, to "hillwalk" and made my way up various tracks, onto the boggy, (very boggy) ground, rising towards Meall Glas.
- Early sun on Meall Glas.
- Ben Challum
- Meall Glas cairn to Sgiath Chuil.
Took me just under two and a quarter hours to the first top, where the views extended to Dorain and hills of Glen Lochay and Ben Lawers to the east, though getting ever more hazy. There's quite a well worn path from here, over to the trig point on Beinn Cheathaich, where I started to have serious doubts about the chances of my friendship with Big Jesper, lasting much longer! It sure looks steep from here!
- The "not too steep" climb up Sgiath Chuil.
- Beinn Dorain.
- Ben Lui.
Winding my way down to the lairig, I met a hardy soul heading up, with his dog leading the way. He was obviously making faster progress than I, but strongly suggested I don't go straight up, but instead head, almost east and onto the ridge, to the north of Meall a Churain. Sensible advice, one would say, especially as my legs were feeling the pace, however I soon knew that me, being me, would probably just do things the difficult way and so it was.
Much gnashing of teeth and blaming Jesper and myself, ensued as I zig-zagged my way up the steep slope, however I was rewarded and delighted to find a wee Ptarmigan, watching my struggle, as I finally made it onto the level. I made it to the top of Sgiath Chuill in four and a quarter hours.
I was looking forward to a more relaxing descent, however I think my general relief to have got the worst of it out the way, lowered my guard and I foolishly never paid enough attention to keeping to track on the way down, drifting way eastwards onto terrible terrain, thick tussocks of grass, heather and decaying bracken , as well as bogs and more bogs.
- Distant Ben Vorlich and Stuc a'Chroin.
- Ptarmigan, distinctly unimpressed by my efforts to get up Sgiath Chuill.
- Sgiath Chuil from South.
- And Ben More & Stob Binnein through the haze.
- Meall Glas and Ben Challum, looking west.
- Ben More and Stob Binnein
