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I'm sitting at home gnashing my teeth as I had planned to go to the Cairngorms but had to cancel & now the weather looks really good there! To pass the time I'm writing up an ascent of Gairich on 5 November by the route described on walkhighlands. Actually it is the only sensible route for a quick ascent as the Loch Quoich reservoir has submerged most alternatives, but luckily it's a very pleasant route with fantastic views, in good conditions.
On 5 November there was a heavy inversion over the Great Glen and Glen Garry, so I drove up to Loch Quoich in zero visibility. When I found the dam I could see nothing, but as I set off, the sky above me transformed into a perfect sunny day, but the heavy cloud remained solid in the glens all day. Phew.
- View down Glen Garry - Ben Tee far right
I was a bit surprised to find the gate onto the dam locked. Aren't access routes across dams supposed to be left open these days? Luckily the gate is easy to jump over. The walk along the reservoir and then across to the forest is always described as boggy but was not as bad as I expected. The views of Gairich from here are excellent.
- Gairich from Quoich reservoir.
From the forest the route westwards up the long E ridge is obvious and easy as far as Bac nam Foid, after which it becomes suddenly steeper and more dramatic. A good path wends its way through and up some rocks and along the corrie lip - very helpful if condtions were bad. The views were amazing, with peaks in every direction, including Nevis, the Cuillins, Knoydart peaks.....I could go on. One peak that looked unusually interesting from here is Fraoch Bheinn (a Corbett) across Glen Kingie. Eventually dragged myself away and strolled slowly down to the reservoir again.
- Gairich again - mid afternoon