Sgurr a' Mhaoraich
Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2015 11:06 pmDay seven of our holiday. One more mountain to do, and one more day to do it in.
To be honest I was Kn***ered but there was no way I was going to chicken out!
It was not a particularly warm day and there was quite a bit of cloud cover so we decided we were not going to do the circuit as described in WH but go straight up and down again. As Rudolph had to go home again the next day the plan was that we would camp again overnight then I would go to Islay to visit my mum for a week as I still had another week off work
Surprisingly enough, for a not too gorgeous day in the middle of the week (Thursday) we met more people on this hill than we had on all the previous six days!
I forgot to switch the GPS on until we had walked a bit so it looks like we were helicoptered in
There is a brilliant constructed path which takes you pretty much all the way to the top. I was very grateful.
I spotted these flowers on the way up, does anyone know what they are?
We hit a snow patch just before the top of Sgurr Coire nan Eiricheallach which was easily crossed or bypassed but we had a bit of fun with it.
After Sgurr Coire nan Eiricheallach the path becomes rougher across boulders and steep slopes, but still easily found and well constructed with no real difficulty. There is a steep pull up to the summit along a ledge which looks like it has been dug out many years ago, where there was wood sorrel growing.
Views of the surrounding hills came and went, but we had some fun trying to identify which hill was which with some healthy disagreement and I am sorry to say I cannot remember which pictures show which hills!
I really slowed down for the last km or so of the ascent and Rudolph went ahead; he was going to put the kettle on for a brew, but when I got to the summit he was busy chatting so my tea was not ready.
however there was a lovely sheltered spot just below the summit which was ideal for a kitchen and a wee sit down out of the cold wind.
We stopped there for lunch and a rest and chatted with a few folks who came and went.
Then we went down again!
We reached the bottom of the hill at about half past three and had hatched a plan to go to the Real Food Cafe for tea, then camp at Bridge of Orchy or thereabouts and go our separate ways in the morning. However, Rudolph received a message from his spies that there was an extra Islay ferry that evening (which had been put on in case the Friday strike was still going ahead, although the strike had been cancelled). So I hot footed it down the road to Kennacraig while Rudolph went back to Yorkshire (poor dear).
I had my tea on the boat and I must have looked hungry and bedraggled because the steward gave me extra chips with my curry!
Just for your amusement:
http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/soci ... 0724100476
and here are some more flower pictures from the last two days.
.
To be honest I was Kn***ered but there was no way I was going to chicken out!
It was not a particularly warm day and there was quite a bit of cloud cover so we decided we were not going to do the circuit as described in WH but go straight up and down again. As Rudolph had to go home again the next day the plan was that we would camp again overnight then I would go to Islay to visit my mum for a week as I still had another week off work
Surprisingly enough, for a not too gorgeous day in the middle of the week (Thursday) we met more people on this hill than we had on all the previous six days!
I forgot to switch the GPS on until we had walked a bit so it looks like we were helicoptered in
There is a brilliant constructed path which takes you pretty much all the way to the top. I was very grateful.
I spotted these flowers on the way up, does anyone know what they are?
- what is this flower?
- This was taken from about 680m height - you can see right to the top
- Looking back to yesterday's hills, Spidean Mialach and Gleouraich
We hit a snow patch just before the top of Sgurr Coire nan Eiricheallach which was easily crossed or bypassed but we had a bit of fun with it.
- Rudolph on the snow patch
- looking over Loch Quoich
After Sgurr Coire nan Eiricheallach the path becomes rougher across boulders and steep slopes, but still easily found and well constructed with no real difficulty. There is a steep pull up to the summit along a ledge which looks like it has been dug out many years ago, where there was wood sorrel growing.
Views of the surrounding hills came and went, but we had some fun trying to identify which hill was which with some healthy disagreement and I am sorry to say I cannot remember which pictures show which hills!
- I believe this is Garbh Chioch Mor, Sgurr na Ciche and Ben Aden.
- I think this one is looking up to the head of Wester Glen Quoich
- looking north
- Looking up to the top again, this time from the west side of Sgurr Coire nan Eiricheallach
- Rudolph going on ahead across the boulders
- Wood sorrel flowering just a few feet below the summit
I really slowed down for the last km or so of the ascent and Rudolph went ahead; he was going to put the kettle on for a brew, but when I got to the summit he was busy chatting so my tea was not ready.
however there was a lovely sheltered spot just below the summit which was ideal for a kitchen and a wee sit down out of the cold wind.We stopped there for lunch and a rest and chatted with a few folks who came and went.
- Getting the kettle on
- Looking back the way we came with yesterday's hills in the middle distance, Ben Tee just to the right of them, Easter Glen Quoich on the left and the South Glenshiel ridge on the far left
- the kettle is on!
- Happy dinner, I just realised this was my 150th Munro!
- Rudolph on the top, identifying hills
- Honest, I touched the cairn on the way past, I'm comfy here!
Then we went down again!
- Ben Nevis showing his (or her?) head at last. This is one hill you can't see Schiehallion from though!!
We reached the bottom of the hill at about half past three and had hatched a plan to go to the Real Food Cafe for tea, then camp at Bridge of Orchy or thereabouts and go our separate ways in the morning. However, Rudolph received a message from his spies that there was an extra Islay ferry that evening (which had been put on in case the Friday strike was still going ahead, although the strike had been cancelled). So I hot footed it down the road to Kennacraig while Rudolph went back to Yorkshire (poor dear).
I had my tea on the boat and I must have looked hungry and bedraggled because the steward gave me extra chips with my curry!
Just for your amusement:
http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/soci ... 0724100476
and here are some more flower pictures from the last two days.
- Dwarf Cornel
- cow wheat
- starry saxifrage.
- nice bit of useful fungus
- alpine lady's mantle
- violet
- butterwort
.
