A (Black) Carls-berg day :)

[Mrs Scoob]

I've not written a report for the public forum for a while, but thought this one was worth sharing!

Feeling an urge to get back on to big walks I suggested this week's route, knowing we'd have a full 12hrs of daylight: starting from the car park a bit further up the road from the Beinn Eighe Visitor Centre (as per kevsbald), head up Meall a'Ghiubhais then take a direct line down to carry on up the NW shoulder of Ruadh-stac Beag, straight over the summit and down to the lochan at the bealach then bear right to curve around the coire and pick our way up Ruadh-stac Mor (maybe even by way of a snow gully!) then full traverse of Beinn Eighe right around to finish on Creag Dhubh before heading off the North shoulder to join back up with our path back to the car park!

I did ask Scoob for a reality check, which was met with 'we'll see...' I knew we had bail out options though, like heading back after the Corbetts only, or missing out the western Munro if we didn't fancy the off-piste route.

We set off following the signs marked by a mountain picture rather than a tree, then later realised that Kev's route was the one through the woods and might have been quicker/more direct. Nice views over to Slioch though, and it meant we passed by the viewpoint before turning off for Ma'G.

view to Slioch

from the Viewpoint - RsB and the full BE ridge

Meall a'Ghiubhais

from Ma'G summit, heading straight down there to pick up RsB shoulder (RsM seen behind)

took a direct line down from the summit and had no problems with the river crossing :)

fairly broad shoulder up RsB, with more scree and boulders

We were pretty worn out after the Corbetts but instead of bailing, when we saw the pinnacles on Beinn Eighe's eastern ridge we decided to go for it! We didn't even realise until later (thanks to JC and AnnieMacD) that these were the Black Carls Plenty of scrambles and climbs, use of crampons and ice axes, lots of scree (which I haven't quite mastered yet = plenty of 'battle scars'!) and we made it to the end of the ridge before sundown, leaving just the walk out in head torches... this day really had a bit of everything!

heading down RsB, looking over to BE's western ridge - skipping this section for today!

Chuffed to have 'discovered' the pinnacles in the background here

climbing up SCnC, this would be our only Munro for today

still climbing up SCnC... stopped here to put crampons on!

BE looking West with hazy Liatach beyond

our route along BE's eastern ridge

wow we've come a long way! Ma'G in distance with RsB left of centre

getting closer to the Black Carls pinnacles :)

approaching the 'Carls - stunning sky!

dodgy down climb!

across the snow-covered gap

past the pinnacles now but still a bit of ridge walk left - nice colours in the sun setting though :)

nearing the end of the ridge

coming off the shoulder of Creag Dhubh to loop back to our path in, looking towards Ma'G

Night shot to finish with :) Stars over Beinn Eighe (CD on left, RsB on right), a bit blurry as I didn't use a tripod

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

[Scotjamie]

Great report Fi. A superb day out by the look of it. Well done

(ps
the words Scoob and reality check don't sound quite right in the same sentence)

[ChrisW]

Great report Fi.....makes me think I'm going to have to get some practice in before you two get here Some lovely shots of a hellish round in the springtime....half of that would be a hellish round for me

[ceaser]

Fantastic report and pictures Fi , far better than Scoobs videos

[basscadet]

Oh that looked brilliant Fi, Such good weather this weekend

[malky_c]

That's way better than Carlsberg, I'd say . Looked at this route in the past, but not done it. A fine day, especially with some snow

[weaselmaster]

The Carls are a good bit of fun aren;t they.
You got so much better visibility than me for doing them too.
have to drag you both up there again soon for Meall Dearg

[SAVAGEALICE]

Wow! that's some day! the pic of the Down climb looks a bit hard core!? fingers crossed for more bluebird days like these

[MountainHare22]

Great photos - looks like you had a super day, thanks for sharing.

[Mrs Scoob]

Thanks all

... (ps the words Scoob and reality check don't sound quite right in the same sentence)

It's not often, but sometimes I need to balance my half-full glass with Scoob's half-empty one

Great report Fi.....makes me think I'm going to have to get some practice in before you two get here Some lovely shots of a hellish round in the springtime....half of that would be a hellish round for me

Oh please don't use this as a benchmark Chris! While much fun, it was extra-ordinary... now 2 days later and we're both in agony and can hardly move

...far better than Scoobs videos

You know it's coming anyway though!

... Such good weather this weekend

If only they were all like this!

That's way better than Carlsberg, I'd say . Looked at this route in the past, but not done it. A fine day, especially with some snow

We'd checked your route for the Corbetts too not sure there was much in it to have gone to/from the Visitor Centre carpark instead.

The Carls are a good bit of fun aren;t they. You got so much better visibility than me for doing them too. have to drag you both up there again soon for Meall Dearg

Great fun! ..and dragging not necessary - we're happy to go voluntarily

Wow! that's some day! the pic of the Down climb looks a bit hard core!? fingers crossed for more bluebird days like these

It felt pretty hard core at the time too great buzz though! Fingers are crossed

[Alteknacker]

Great report, and great pics of one of the finest places in the Highlands. And what BRILLIANT weather - I'm green with envy .

Every time I've planned to go North, the weather has not played ball (and 10 hours each way is too far to drive for a couple of days in the clag - I'm a wimp that way!).

The scrambles looked interesting too....

[scoob999]

I'm picking the next walk my legs are killing me

[Beaner001]

Wow wee, well done Mrs Scoob, really enjoyed that. It's an area of Torridon I've still to get onto, very much look forward to it now, thanks

[ChrisW]

Oh please don't use this as a benchmark Chris! While much fun, it was extra-ordinary... now 2 days later and we're both in agony and can hardly move

Thank god for that I was going to tell you how great the weather has been recently (18 degrees and sunny ) thought you'd have your choice of hills......then we got a metre of snow in Kananaskis overnight Such are the vagaries of Canadian winters eh

[Huff_n_Puff]

Ohhhh ... stunning, looks a brilliant day, definitely worth exploring. Thanks for posting