Walkhighlands

Weather window opportunity, so after advertising my intentions I had 2 willing volunteers to join me in tackling the Eastern Mamores. Karen, who was with me last week tackling the biggest of the Mamores and Paul who seems to be making a habit of meeting up with me on an annual basis
The weather was forecast to improve as the day progressed so I opted for a "lie-in", arranged to meet Paul in Dunfermline at 7.15 and he had offered to drive for the day and we would pick Karen up in Crianlarich, with a scheduled start time of 9.30ish
It wasn't overly warm when we pulled up in the car park at Kinlochleven, I had 2 layers on and was still cold but was expecting to warm up fairly quickly once we started moving
For those of you who have tackled the mamores from Kinlochleven will understand where I am coming from, once you leave the car park there are umpteen paths going in a variety of directions, there are a couple of sign posts which are sort of useful and after last weeks 'off piste' start I was hoping we would select the correct set of paths We were almost successful and only had to make a slight adjustment, however on our return we actually found the 'proper' path, so out of 4 attempts, we have tried out 4 different paths
The initial stroll uphill through the wooded area is steepish and the path is badly eroded, but you do gain height fairly quickly and one plus. is you also warm up quite quickly.

DSCF2621 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/126167535@N05/,

DSCF2618 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/126167535@N05/, Karen shouting on Paul and telling him to get a wiggle on

DSCF2626 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/126167535@N05/, Looking back at the familiar sight of Loch Leven, looks greener than last week

DSCF2627 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/126167535@N05/,

As Karen & I were familiar with the path and the initial route, we were expecting it to be quite an easy day and couldn't quite fathom out why the WH route suggests it would take between 9-11hrs to complete the 2 hills, we would realise before too long why

DSCF2631 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/126167535@N05/, Both of todays targets in one photo, Binnein Beag (1st) on the left with Sgurr Eilde Mor on the right

DSCF2633 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/126167535@N05/, Sgurr Eilde Mor looking rather splendid

The initial part of the walk takes you to the foot of Sgurr Eilde Beag, the path then traverses round it and then you get your first views of Sgurr Eilde Mor. We had opted to leave that hill as our second target and plodded on past. We could see a couple (fae Aberdeen) up ahead and after a while we managed to catch them up, like us they had problems with the path/s at the start and had opted to tackle the same hills as us. However they were going up Sgurr Eilde Mor first. Once we passed the Lochans between Elide Mor & Eilde Beag we could obviously see our first target Binnein Beag, it was then we realised why the day was going to be quite so long Coire a' Bhinnein loomed in front of us and it looked to be a fair bit of a descent and then ascent to get back the height we were already at

DSCF2636 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/126167535@N05/, This gives you an idea of the descent you have to make before going up again and this has to be done twice

DSCF2641 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/126167535@N05/, The snow line can be seen quite clearly, about 800m on the ridge heading towards Binnein Mor

DSCF2644 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/126167535@N05/, Paul demonstrating how to cross a burn

The path could seen quite clearly all the way along to the foot of Binnein Beag and the burn at the foot of Coire a' Bhinnein didn't pose a problem. Once we reached the first 'serious' uphill bit, it was then just a matter of following one of the paths that snake up the hill through the boulder fields.

DSCF2651 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/126167535@N05/, Binnein Beag, looks quite easy from this angle

DSCF2663 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/126167535@N05/, Looking down from half way up, Binnein Mor in the background

DSCF2666 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/126167535@N05/, Kind of indicates the angle of ascent

DSCF2671 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/126167535@N05/, NE flanks of Binnein Mor, rather white

The summit was quite large by Mamore standards, with a cairn and a stone shelter, however as summits go it was still on the small side
After taking quite a few photo's, I decided to get the tripod set up to take a group shot, no point in carting it up and down hills and never using it

DSCF2681 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/126167535@N05/, Looking north towards the Aonachs

DSCF2685 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/126167535@N05/, Summit shot 1

DSCF2686 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/126167535@N05/, Summit shot 2

DSCF2687 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/126167535@N05/, Summit shot 3 with Binnein Mor in the background

DSCF2690 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/126167535@N05/, Zoom to Schiehallion

DSCF2697 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/126167535@N05/, The Ben zoomed, fence posts on the summit? At first I thought it was walkers

DSCF2701 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/126167535@N05/, Arty shot taken from the foot of Binnein Beag with the Ben peeking above the horizon

The descent off Binnein Beag was fairly easy it was then a matter of following the path before commencing the ascent of Sgurr Eilde Mor.

DSCF2703 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/126167535@N05/, Sgurr Eilde Mor, path can be seen if you look closely

DSCF2704 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/126167535@N05/, Looking back

DSCF2706 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/126167535@N05/, Looking back zoomed

DSCF2712 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/126167535@N05/, Binnein Beag with the Ben & the Aonach's behind

The path takes you round to the north side of Sgurr Eilde Mor and once the 'going up' begins in earnest the surface changes from tufty grass to boulders and scree. The going wasn't too bad, however as we got onto the higher slopes soft snow made things rather tricky. It was almost a case of two steps forward one step back, it was very difficult to get any grip underfoot. Thankfully this carry-on didn't last too long and we soon reached the narrow ridge that leads to the summit. Having only seen the hill from the west I didn't realise there was a ridge

DSCF2715 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/126167535@N05/, Angle of ascent up Sgurr Eilde Mor with the patchy snow which thickened as we got higher

DSCF2716 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/126167535@N05/, Looking across to Sgurr Eilde Beag

DSCF2721 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/126167535@N05/, The western end of the summit ridge looking across towards Sgurr Eilde Beag

DSCF2728 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/126167535@N05/, Paul opted to try and avoid the slippery snow by coming up a slightly different way

DSCF2731 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/126167535@N05/, Paul zoomed

DSCF2736 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/126167535@N05/, Karen approaching the 2nd summit. looking quite pleased

DSCF2737 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/126167535@N05/, Summit shot

After a few photo's it was time to think about the descent, I was hoping to descend off the south side of the summit, however after venturing towards the edge of the descent it was difficult to assess the gradient etc, so safety first we decided to retrace our steps & head down the way we came up. None of us were looking forward to it, especially on the higher snow covered slopes. To our surprise, it was actually an easy descent

DSCF2739 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/126167535@N05/, Descending demonstration by Paul

DSCF2740 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/126167535@N05/, Concentration

The descent back down to the car park was a bit tedious and as usual never ending, the knees and feet were starting to feel the effects of the day

DSCF2744 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/126167535@N05/, Bum sliding, wasn't quick enough with the camera to capture Paul

DSCF2745 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/126167535@N05/, Karen enjoying herself

DSCF2746 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/126167535@N05/,

DSCF2747 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/126167535@N05/,

DSCF2748 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/126167535@N05/,

DSCF2750 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/126167535@N05/, Water feature

After just under 9 hours we arrived back at the car park and we were all in agreement, this had been yet another fantastic day. Hopefully the photo's do the 2 hills justice as the views from both summits are unbelieveable in all directions
Forecast not looking too clever for a few days, am hoping to hit Glen Etive next to get myself onto an even number My cunning plan is to reach 200 on Macdui, as usual the weather may try and disrupt my plan

Grand pair of hills and you got a decent day

I did Binnien Beag with the Binnien Mor and Na Gruagachain and mind the Coire well

Nice one, great report and pictures of what looked like a great day

Hoping to stay in Kinlochleven in July for a night or two, and will definitely put this into my plans now

That looked like a great day FF.

Looks like a super day out. Are you planning on compleating this year? Great photos.

That drop down to the Coire is not a pleasant discovery is it Martin? I remember that when from when I visited these two. My heart always sinks when I see any significant height loss on a route having just hauled my body up there in the first place Good to see you fleeing through the Munros. You'll soon have caught me up and overtaken me the way things are going.

Yes, definitely a heart-sinker to see how far down to the valley floor. Great report and photos, Martin.

It was a(nother) brilliant day!

Another fab WR and some super pics as usual Martin. Well done!

Thanks, too, for a great day on two amazing hills. Some stunning scenery in what feels like a really remote area. We were blessed with the weather – just right; not too warm, and not too cold. A couple of dodgy moments for me on the climb through the snow/slush-covered scree up Sgurr Eilde Mor - but not nearly as difficult as we’d feared on the way down.

Sorry we didn’t manage this in under four hours as you’d hoped. I’m sure if you didn’t have to drag myself and Ms Hippy Chick (sorry, I forget her name ) along with you, you’d have done these two in a far more respectable time!

Enjoyed the report and I'm glad you got a good day for these - The mamores are brilliant, especially with a peppering of the white stuff

I'm looking forward to going back as I think Dougie still has a couple round here to do

Fine one there Martin - it really is a deceptively long way out to Binnien Beag

Look forward to reading about you hitting the double ton

OD

Thanks to everyone for the kind comments

AnnieMacD wrote:Are you planning on compleating this year?

Hi Annie, no is the answer, my aim was 230 by the end of the year, should reach that, compleat next year - fingers crossed

old danensian wrote:Look forward to reading about you hitting the double ton OD

Hopefully in the next couple of weeks Nigel, carefully planning to make it Macdui

Hi Martin
Another great report in great weather!
Fantastic pics.
I was hoping to make it, but had a work 'do' at 7pm and couldn't miss it.

Hopefully catch you for 200 on Macdui........
At least we know, if you're going, the weather will be good.

Chris

Well done, beating 9 hours with all that snow still around. I've yet to set foot on the Mamores, bur that could change soon.

This end of the Mamores looks fantastic, really must get it done! Thanks for sharing.

Enjoyed that and great photos. Incredible amount of snow for almost the longest day!