Beinn Chabhair - a less boggy route

[weaselmaster]

I was on call Friday night (only 2 more nights to do ever ) so didn't finish til 9am. A hill nearby was called for - Beinn Chabhair seemed to fit the bill, having several Simms around it that could be added on. I left home just after 8, fortunately no phone calls, and arrived at Inverarnan shortly after 9. There had been much low level fog on the way up, but by the time I got to the Drovers there was a fine sunny morning in prospect.

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Beinn Chabhair had been the third Munro we did, back in early September 2012. I remembered it as a bogfest, but - having climbed over 130 Grahams - wondered if my perception of bogginess would have been reset I made sure I had my gaiters on anyway. Walked along the edge of Beinglas Campsite , just onto the WHW and then followed the footpath up to the left after the bridge.There had been a lot of rain in the last 2 days, the burn and the falls were replete with white churned water. I lost and re-found the path a few times, crossed over the river and decided to go directly up Meall Mor nan Eag, by means of its notched gully. Steep but steady going to the top - a pleasant view to Ben Glas, the rocky promontary reflected in a still Loch a'Chaisteil. Onwards to Ben Glas, round the loch and again steeply up to the summit. I had to track back north a little to find a safe way down, as there are cliffs and crags on the side of Ben Glas facing my next target, Stob Creag an Fhithich. It would be a day of considerable ups and downs.

Crossing the bridge at Beinglas
DSC01850 by Al, on Flickr

Beinglas falls
DSC01852 by Al, on Flickr

View up to Stob Binnien and pals
DSC01855 by Al, on Flickr

Meall Mor nan Eag
DSC01856 by Al, on Flickr

Ben Glas, Stob Creag an Fhithich
DSC01861 by Al, on Flickr

DSC01862 by Al, on Flickr

DSC01865 by Al, on Flickr

Meall nan Tarmachan was next, more descent then grassy ascent. i stopped at the summit for lunch and could seee the tourist track passing by below - no-one approaching. I reflected that it had hardly been boggy at all on the route I'd taken. Food-filled I dropped down to the track and followed this up towards Chabhair, meeting a man with his dog returning from the summit. Once at the peak I looked to see which hills were next on the menu - Parlan Hill was my destination after I'd dropped over Creag Bhreac Mor. I disturbed a small herd of deer, guarded by a fine stag in the process.

The way ahead, from Meall nan Tarmachan
DSC01869 by Al, on Flickr

Chabhair
DSC01870 by Al, on Flickr

Summit Chabhair, looking towards Ben Lomond
DSC01872 by Al, on Flickr


I was feeling the effects of all the ups and downs - for some weeks I haven't been able to run in the evenings due to my cracked ribs - starting to heal up now I think - so the effort was taking its toll. Made it to the top of Parlan Hill at 666m and was uncertain what my target was - from here the Graham Meall Mor catches the eye, sitting before Ben Lomond. Had Allison been with me it might have been included in today's walk, but I have learned not to do Grahams on my own There was another substantial loss of height down to the power lines then up a fencepost line to Beinn Ducteach. From here my intention had been to head over to the final two Simms - Stob nan Eighrach and Maol an Fhithich then head down the steep western slopes to join up with the WHW. I was concerned about the steepness of the descent route, especially since Maol an Fhithich seemed to have many crags defending its higher areas. After summiting Stob nan Eighrach I could see the rain coming down the valley from the north, noted it was around 4pm and decided not to press on to the final hill. I knew I'd regret that decidion when I got home, but I felt quite tired with the day's walking and didn't relish a further couple of kilometres and a dodgy descent.

Parlan Hill
DSC01874 by Al, on Flickr

Towards Meall Mor
DSC01875 by Al, on Flickr

DSC01878 by Al, on Flickr

Loch Katrine
DSC01879 by Al, on Flickr

Beinn Ducteach
DSC01880 by Al, on Flickr

Stob nan Eoghrach
DSC01882 by Al, on Flickr

Loch Lomond looking to Ardlui
DSC01883 by Al, on Flickr


I decided to head to the west of Lochan nam Muc and make for the easier slopes, following a burn down the hillside. There were lots of dying ferns on the hillside - grab at your ankles they will - and lower down they were joined by their prickly allies the bramble briars. Fortunately the trees were well spaced, no having to fight my way through close-knit forest. Then I was down on the WHW with about 3 miles to go back to Beinglas. I passed a number of walkers of the Way and enjoyed the autumnal colours glowing in the late afternoon sun.

Looking south down the loch
DSC01884 by Al, on Flickr

Original descent route - a bit steep
DSC01885 by Al, on Flickr

WHW
DSC01887 by Al, on Flickr

DSC01889 by Al, on Flickr

[Collaciotach]

Dathan boidheachd ...... smashin colors