Graham: Sgorr a'Choise
Distance: 32km approx
Ascent: 2,000m approx
Time: 11hrs approx (move 8hrs 40mins, stop 2hrs 20mins)
Attendees: me
Parked in the car park beside the visitor centre in Ballachulish, cycled back a few kilometres to Glencoe and locked the bike up in some trees at the roadside. Probably only saved about 1/2hr in the end though.
Set off down the Gleann-leac-na-muidhe road and took the detour at the sign to avoid going through the gardens of the houses. Back to the road then through a farmyard after which the road stopped and became a track. Think the ice axe was likely to be a bit superfluous today.
Reached the Allt na Muidhe which wasn’t difficult to cross.
Initially followed to the left a fence uphill before heading west and south to the side of a ridge. Was following a faint path before starting more steeply to gain the ridge. Went up a gully which looked doable but couldn’t quite make the last bit so had to drop down a bit then back up a little to the south. Success this time and got up on to the ridge.
Looking back
Ben Nevis and CMD, Stob Ban
Up over Creag Bhan looking towards Sgurr na h-Ulaidh - stopped for a while to have a look over and round it with the camera at full zoom but couldn’t see anyone
Westwards to the summit
Glen Creran
BEB - Stob Coire Raineach in the distance (I think)
Beinn a’ Bheithir on the left, Sgorr a'Choise mid right
Fraochaidh looking rather far away
Set off northwards following an old line of fence posts
Down past the trees then back uphill to Sgorr a'Choise
AE ridge
Looking upwards
Crossed a deer fence by a high stile then quite steeply up to the summit
Beinn a’ Bheithir
Zoomed
Ballachulish
Ben Nevis and Mamores
Stopped at the summit for an early lunch. Very nice and warm in the sun so lay back for a snooze – hadn’t intended to but must have dozed off for quite a while before waking up – spent a little too long up there and still had quite a way to go so got ready and set off.
Route to Fraochaidh
Straightforward, if a little steep at times, descent down to meet the path up from Ballachulish
Looking back
A lot of ups and downs en route to the summit – a bit harder going than expected
Creach Bheinn, Beinn Resipol and Garbh Bheinn
Final up and down before the summit
Quartzite band
Cairn
Could just see Ainshval, Askival and co in the hazy distance (click to enlarge)
Panoramas (click to enlarge)
Self portrait (absolutely no need for an ice axe today…….)
Loch Linnhe
A couple of zoomed shots
Reluctantly started back on the long return route – more ups and downs to get back to the track which then drops down into Gleann an Fhiodh and alongside the river.
Moon
Pap
Sgorr a'Choise
Back to the car park in Ballachulish. It had taken quite a bit longer than expected – lot of stops for photos and falling asleep after lunch probably didn’t help.
Who said Corbetts and Grahams are dull?
