2015 - 2016 Hibernation Is Over
Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2016 11:57 pmIt's been a long 6 months walking the same tracks at Dunkeld, most of the time early in the day with head torch on doing the miles. Usually I survive till I hear the first cuckoo but this year I've headed out early, the forecast was good (allowing for the wind chill) and I just needed a change of scenery.
For a couple of months I was thinking I would make my 2016 debut on a couple of Lochearnhead Corbetts but for the last few days I had this route in my head so I decided to give it a go and head for Glen Lyon.
I've started a number of walks from Innerwick but never climbed any hills, unless you include two failed attempts on Meall a'Mhuic.
I had looked at a couple of reports that took in these 3 hills so had a rough idea what to expect. I started with Cam Chreag and on a very cold morning I was walking for 7:15am. The track leaves from the top of the car park and it only takes a few minutes to leave the trees behind and hit the open moor.
The gradient is gentle as the track climbs through the narrow glen. After crossing a couple of bridges the climb steepens before arriving at a point where an ATV track heads left. On checking my notes this could be the track I'm after but I'm undecided so climb a further 300 yards on the main track before deciding to head back. Followed the rough ATV track for about 5 minutes but as it started to head away from Cam Chreag I decided to leave it and head for the southern end of the ridge as it had a lot less snow on it.
The initial climb was quite steep and involved hanging on to a few clumps of heather but it didn't take long to reach a point where the gradient eased.
I was surprised to see Lochan Daimh and then Meall Buidhe as I hadn't appreciated they would be so close.
Once up on the plateau the walk to the summit was superb. It was very cold, the wind was blowing strongly but the sun was shining and I seemed to be surrounded by snow capped hills.
I didn't hang around at the top, just took a few photos and headed back the way I came. Again the walk along the plateau was fantastic, sunshine, dark clouds and great views. Didn't really appreciate it at the time but this was the highlight of the walk.
I chose a slightly different route down as I managed to find a less steep route and it didn't take long to get back to the ATV track and then the main track back down the glen. I had considered going cross country to Meall a'Mhuic but my dodgy cartilage was being fed ibuprofen so I decided to stick to the main track back down to the bridge closest to the start of the walk but instead of crossing it I headed down to the Lairig a' Mhuic for a straight forward river crossing.
Once over the river it was decision time, I could head straight for Beinn Dearg or I could look to include Meall a'Mhuic. It only took a few seconds to decide to take on the Graham as well as the 2nd Corbett. Meall a'Mhuic has not been kind to me, two winter attempts and on both occasions I was beaten by waist deep snow and blizzard conditions so hopefully it would be 3rd time lucky.
I used the wide track to gain height quickly then left it behind to head straight up the hill. The climb was drier than I expected and although it was a fairly slow plod it was done without stopping which was pleasing.
By the time I arrived at the summit cairn it was quite overcast and there were hailstones blowing around in the strong winds. I knew I had to continue north for a fair distance before starting to head down towards the right of way that splits Beinn Dearg and Meall a'Mhuic. There were a few boggy bits but it wasn't too bad and eventually I could see the spaced out fence posts that I knew ran parallel to a damp track that would drop me down to the right of way.
Again the obvious thing to do is pick a line and heather bash up Meall Glas but I decided to head further down the track to pick up the track that zig zags up through the woods.
After about a mile I take a left turn and start what feels like a steep climb up on a good track. Once out of the wood there is a track that runs round the side of the wood and I then pick up a path heading directly up the hill.
This is a wet path which makes it a bit more tiring so it was good to summit a rise and hit slightly drier ground.
The remaining mile to the summit of Beinn Dearg is a mix of minor bog hopping, damp grassy sections and drier heather. It took a while but eventually I noticed the fence posts off to my left so wandered over to them and followed them to the top. The views from Beinn Dearg are really good, especially over to Ben Lawes and pals.
One minute the sun is shining, the next there are hailstones pinging in to my face at high speed so it's another quick turnaround as I head back down the hill.
The track down to Innerwick was quite steep in places and it felt as though it was hard going. I was back at the car 8hrs after starting and surprised to see that the total ascent was 1913m. If I had known in advance there would be that much climbing I probably wouldn't have chosen this route to start the new season but now it's done it feels good to have completed it.
Cam Chreag was easily the highlight today, the walk along the plateau with great views in all directions will stay with me for a long time.
For a couple of months I was thinking I would make my 2016 debut on a couple of Lochearnhead Corbetts but for the last few days I had this route in my head so I decided to give it a go and head for Glen Lyon.
I've started a number of walks from Innerwick but never climbed any hills, unless you include two failed attempts on Meall a'Mhuic.
I had looked at a couple of reports that took in these 3 hills so had a rough idea what to expect. I started with Cam Chreag and on a very cold morning I was walking for 7:15am. The track leaves from the top of the car park and it only takes a few minutes to leave the trees behind and hit the open moor.
- First view of Cam Chreag
- Looking back down to Glen Lyon
- Looking back down to Glen Lyon with the dark clouds gathering
The gradient is gentle as the track climbs through the narrow glen. After crossing a couple of bridges the climb steepens before arriving at a point where an ATV track heads left. On checking my notes this could be the track I'm after but I'm undecided so climb a further 300 yards on the main track before deciding to head back. Followed the rough ATV track for about 5 minutes but as it started to head away from Cam Chreag I decided to leave it and head for the southern end of the ridge as it had a lot less snow on it.
- The climb ahead
The initial climb was quite steep and involved hanging on to a few clumps of heather but it didn't take long to reach a point where the gradient eased.
- Getting easier
I was surprised to see Lochan Daimh and then Meall Buidhe as I hadn't appreciated they would be so close.
- Lochan Daimh
Once up on the plateau the walk to the summit was superb. It was very cold, the wind was blowing strongly but the sun was shining and I seemed to be surrounded by snow capped hills.
- Heading for the summit
- Summit cairn
- View looking back
- View north
I didn't hang around at the top, just took a few photos and headed back the way I came. Again the walk along the plateau was fantastic, sunshine, dark clouds and great views. Didn't really appreciate it at the time but this was the highlight of the walk.
I chose a slightly different route down as I managed to find a less steep route and it didn't take long to get back to the ATV track and then the main track back down the glen. I had considered going cross country to Meall a'Mhuic but my dodgy cartilage was being fed ibuprofen so I decided to stick to the main track back down to the bridge closest to the start of the walk but instead of crossing it I headed down to the Lairig a' Mhuic for a straight forward river crossing.
- Looking back to Cam Chreag
- River crossing
Once over the river it was decision time, I could head straight for Beinn Dearg or I could look to include Meall a'Mhuic. It only took a few seconds to decide to take on the Graham as well as the 2nd Corbett. Meall a'Mhuic has not been kind to me, two winter attempts and on both occasions I was beaten by waist deep snow and blizzard conditions so hopefully it would be 3rd time lucky.
I used the wide track to gain height quickly then left it behind to head straight up the hill. The climb was drier than I expected and although it was a fairly slow plod it was done without stopping which was pleasing.
- Lower slopes
- Summit just in view
- Summit cairn
By the time I arrived at the summit cairn it was quite overcast and there were hailstones blowing around in the strong winds. I knew I had to continue north for a fair distance before starting to head down towards the right of way that splits Beinn Dearg and Meall a'Mhuic. There were a few boggy bits but it wasn't too bad and eventually I could see the spaced out fence posts that I knew ran parallel to a damp track that would drop me down to the right of way.
- Right of Way heading back towards Innerwick
Again the obvious thing to do is pick a line and heather bash up Meall Glas but I decided to head further down the track to pick up the track that zig zags up through the woods.
- The power of water
After about a mile I take a left turn and start what feels like a steep climb up on a good track. Once out of the wood there is a track that runs round the side of the wood and I then pick up a path heading directly up the hill.
- Heading up through the woods
- Over to Meall a'Mhuic
This is a wet path which makes it a bit more tiring so it was good to summit a rise and hit slightly drier ground.
- Summit of Beinn Dearg in the distance
The remaining mile to the summit of Beinn Dearg is a mix of minor bog hopping, damp grassy sections and drier heather. It took a while but eventually I noticed the fence posts off to my left so wandered over to them and followed them to the top. The views from Beinn Dearg are really good, especially over to Ben Lawes and pals.
- Beinn Dearg summit looking over to Carn Gorm
- Loch Rannoch in the distance
- Ben Lawers and pals
One minute the sun is shining, the next there are hailstones pinging in to my face at high speed so it's another quick turnaround as I head back down the hill.
The track down to Innerwick was quite steep in places and it felt as though it was hard going. I was back at the car 8hrs after starting and surprised to see that the total ascent was 1913m. If I had known in advance there would be that much climbing I probably wouldn't have chosen this route to start the new season but now it's done it feels good to have completed it.
Cam Chreag was easily the highlight today, the walk along the plateau with great views in all directions will stay with me for a long time.
