The Magnificent Seven...2 Milestones at Glen Shiel Ridge

[Petr Dakota]

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Finally weekend free and it means for me to afford some longer trip. Close to the milestone of 100 Munros ( 93 done before this trip ), I was thinking about the South Glen Shiel Ridge, where I can reach the 100 in one route - 7 Munros on the ridge Originally I planned complete the 100 in Torridon, especially get the 100 on Liathach, but sumer looks busy for me, working a lot of weekends...not sure when I will be able to do some longer trip, bagging some munros during a week day sometime... and also my Brother will come visit us on september and it would be great to go to the Torridon with him together. The decision about a mountain we will climb is still open yet, but I offered him one of these: Liathach, An Teallach, Suilven, Ben Hope, Bla Bheinn, Aonach Eagach or Crib Goch-Snowdon-Y Llywed. Hope the weather will allow to do some of them
So now it looked good for me to go to Glen Shiel and complete my 100 Munros, before my oncoming holiday. Despite the fact that the weather forecast was not so good for the saturday, I was looking forward to go. The forecast showed clouds, sometime some drops of ligt shower, visibility between moderate and poor, but not wind....Not the best weather, but not so bad as You can't be sure that it will be better in the future and there is not many more free - long days for me to do something bigger Also if I will return there to the area some day later to climb The Brothers and The Sisters opposite side of the Valley, there is still a chance to catch some nice views from Glen Shiel in the future
With the hope and because all the reasons above, I prepared all my stuff for the saturday's trip on friday night, checking the forecast often during the time. Woke up very early I left home at 02:15 headed to the Nort-West via Stirling, Perth, Dalwhinnie and Invergarry. Daylight is early in this time of year so I spent more time on the way - some enjoyable stops to catch some views in the Highland

Parked here, near the Cluanie Inn at the end of Loch Cluanie. I started the walk at 7:10, all the mountains covered by clouds, hidden in the mist

Looking back to the start point, Cluanie Inn in the background on the left

Creag a'Mhaim summit, the First Munro on the ridge - means 1/3 of total done

Between no.1 and no.2: the walk to the nowhere...misty on the ridge

...still misty around

2nd Munro on the route - Druim Shionnach

Munro no.3 Aonach air Chrith, the highest summit on the South Glen Shiel Ridge. Steepy ascent there over hard snow near the top...

Not rain, but continuous drizzle all the time on the ridge made the dillemma if keep the camera out - ready for any shot or put it in my rucksack. I decided to risk it and walked with the camera in the wet condition, keeping wiping... The camera was still working, but after time the self-timer stopped. Since the time I made only shots of the summits, most part of way no visibility and nothing to snap by camera.

Looking down from the misty ridge

Visibility still the same on the top...

Maol chinn-dearg, Munro no.4

the summit of Sgurr an Doire Leathain - Munro no. 5, another steepy ascent before got here...

Some rocky parts of the ridge

Munro no.6 - Sgurr an Lochain summit

a baby Hare scared on the ground very close to the last summit

Creag nan Damh, he Last Munro on the ridge means 100 Munros done and the route completed

The West side of Glen Shiel, zoomed during the descend

Boggy , sliding areas on my way down. Crossed this stream many times

Looking back to the misty tops, you know or guess they are there

Finally down, near the road

Finished and looking back to the Mountains...the South Glen Shiel Ridge is not visible, hidden in the mist behind

on the road...

Cluanie Inn

South Glen Shiel ridge from Cluanie Inn - still in clouds, but much better visibility now

Looking back towards Glen Shiel over Loch Loyne on the way home...Great visibility now, can't compare it with morning

[Petr Dakota]

Report completed now, sorry for the incompletely short version before

[Wanderlust7]

Petr well done you on getting to 100 so quickly and also showing great dedication too, getting up at 0215!!! My wife thinks I am mad getting up at 0430, still I am sorry you did not have a great time of it and the weather was poor, but as you know such is life in this country. I am going there tomorrow and was hoping for the brother and sisters too on a 3 day camp which would take me exactly half way, but the weather is only good for 2.

You have offered your brother some great hills and I have often looked at Crib Goch myself, if you are going to Skye why not consider Sgurr Mich Chonnich as an option, it is a great hill and fantastic scrambling?

Anyway, congratulations on getting to 100 Petr, hope things improve for us all this summer as it has been rubbish so far. Thanks for sharing your report again.

Steve

[The Rodmiester]

That's better the full version now, already read the shortened one Pity you didn't get a better day to record your 100, Congratulations on the ton, now for your Holiday break, Enjoy

[Fife Flyer]

Well done Petr and many congratulations, quite a way to bring up the ton

We had similar conditions when we did the ridge a couple of years ago, always said I would return if decent weather was on offer.

Hope you have a good time with your brother, am sure he will love the hills as much as you

[Petr Dakota]

Petr well done you on getting to 100 so quickly and also showing great dedication too, getting up at 0215!!! My wife thinks I am mad getting up at 0430, still I am sorry you did not have a great time of it and the weather was poor, but as you know such is life in this country. I am going there tomorrow and was hoping for the brother and sisters too on a 3 day camp which would take me exactly half way, but the weather is only good for 2.

You have offered your brother some great hills and I have often looked at Crib Goch myself, if you are going to Skye why not consider Sgurr Mich Chonnich as an option, it is a great hill and fantastic scrambling?

Anyway, congratulations on getting to 100 Petr, hope things improve for us all this summer as it has been rubbish so far. Thanks for sharing your report again.

Steve

Hi Steve and thank you for your words and I hope and wish you have a good weather condition on your camping there. Enjoy the mountains as the visibility will be better for the 1st two days and especially monday
I am planning the Crib Goch since I was in Snowdon 2013 and then also 2014 again to finish The Three Peaks Challenge there with my Brother and we saw the great ridge from a distance...

[Petr Dakota]

That's better the full version now, already read the shortened one Pity you didn't get a better day to record your 100, Congratulations on the ton, now for your Holiday break, Enjoy

Thank you Rod Some refreshment on the holiday, but also two nice mountains in my schedule

[Petr Dakota]

Well done Petr and many congratulations, quite a way to bring up the ton

We had similar conditions when we did the ridge a couple of years ago, always said I would return if decent weather was on offer.

Hope you have a good time with your brother, am sure he will love the hills as much as you

Thank you I hope my Brother will enjoy the mountains and hope the weather will be good enough

[Petr Dakota]

Here is the morning's pic from the same place as the last photo in the report...some different visibility. ..drizzle, wet, misty morning ( snap by camera ) and sunny, dry and clear evening ( by phone )

[jamesb63]

Hi Petr I hope to do this ridge early next month ,can you tell me will it be ok with the dog
and also will walking the road back be safe enough with him also
PS pity about the weather but I am sure the gods will be kind when you return to do the other side

[Petr Dakota]

Hi Petr I hope to do this ridge early next month ,can you tell me will it be ok with the dog
and also will walking the road back be safe enough with him also
PS pity about the weather but I am sure the gods will be kind when you return to do the other side

Hi James, I have not much experience of walk with a dog, but I think the route is ok if you will take care in the narrow rocky parts ( by the way go there in dry condition )...if your dog is following yours directions hope it would be ok. Maybe you can look at some reports if someone walked there with a dog...or ask Beaner001 or dogploger or Huff n Puff - they are walking with dogs often. On the road you must be really careful as there are some parts where some drivers are overtaking the others very fast and close to the side. Thank you for reading my report(s), glad if it can help you I wish you nice trip there next month, I am sure you will enjoy the beautiful area...hope and wish the weather will be as good as possible with better views than mine

[Petr Dakota]

Here is the 7 Munros ridge - South Glen Shiel Ridge...this shot is made more than one year after the ridge walk...from the opposite side of Loch Cluanie. But it belongs to this report too - at least to see what I missed by the misty "views" there. Here is the whole range...