WH meet: clag but who cares :)
Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2016 6:57 pmA bit late posting my WH Meet report, so apologies for the delay! Because everything has already been said about this momentous event in hillwalking history, not much to add from me 
Because Kevin worked on Friday, we could only come for one night and we decided to camp as that would make us more flexible. Surprisingly, it was mild enough that we didn't even get cold in the tent (I was worried I'd have cold feet and calf cramps... As an old Polish proverb says: old age - no fun!). But first thing in the morning, we drove to Ratagan hostel to join other Walkhighlanders and pick the route for the day
Because we have already done almost everything in this area (apart form an odd Graham here and there) we didn't mind a repeat. Sadly, the clag was low and no chance for views
Sgurr Mhic Bharraich was the target, we had done it once in winter conditions and loved it - it's a good half day hill.
It is possible to do a circular here (as WH route suggests) but because the ground was rather wet, we decided to stick to the path:
The walk starts from the campsite car park. After much deliberation, Kevin decided to leave his precious camera behind, as it was too bulky to carry with little chance of taking any decent photos... but of course first he had to show it around!
The path into Gleann Undalain must have been recently used by quad drivers, as it was mucky-yucky to start with, later it improved:
Our target, not much hope for full panoramas:
A five minutes re-grouping break
Coire Caol:
Kevin happy despite the cloud - first time for ages he didn't have to carry the heavy photographing equipment up the hill!
The ridge of Biod an Fhithich form the upper slopes of "our" Corbett:
We followed the path all the way to the high col, where we turned right just before a wee lochan (Loch Coire nan Crogachan). From now, it was wild vegetation and quite steep, but hoah! Nothing can stop a wild WH bunch
With the steep crags above me and wind picking up, I looked a bit on the wild site, too
When we entered the clag, good navigation was necessary to find the true cairn among the lumps and bumps of the summit ridge...
...but we succeeded! A repeat for us but since it was a repeat in great company, we can even forgive the clag for hanging around!
On the way down we took a slightly different line of descent towards the col and the path:
The scary cliffs again:
Weather improving ever so slightly:
Back at low level - Loch Duich from just above the campsite:
We were back down in just over 4 hours - in less cloudy circumstances it would probably take longer, as this hill is a superb viewpoint, such a shame we didn't get the views. To see the true beauty of Sgurr Mhic Bharraich, here is my old TR with photos.
We were glad to be back in the campsite so early, we had plenty of time to pitch the tent, pump up airbeds and cook dinner (when Rodmiester and Mountain Thyme went on to climb a second Corbett!). OK, we were not very ambitious, maybe a bit lazy, but we got enough leg exercise from airbed pumping
The campsite is small but very neat, despite an interesting "des res" in the corner
Cooking gear:
After a meal of tinned curry and pot noodles, it was time for the crazy evening in Ratagan Hostel, full of fun, games and additional entertainment
Many thanks to everybody on the meet, all friends, old and new ones, it was great to have met you all and I hope I didn't get on anybody's nerves too much - I know I'm an annoying, meowing creature!!!
...........
Hope to see you all in April
Because Kevin worked on Friday, we could only come for one night and we decided to camp as that would make us more flexible. Surprisingly, it was mild enough that we didn't even get cold in the tent (I was worried I'd have cold feet and calf cramps... As an old Polish proverb says: old age - no fun!). But first thing in the morning, we drove to Ratagan hostel to join other Walkhighlanders and pick the route for the day
Because we have already done almost everything in this area (apart form an odd Graham here and there) we didn't mind a repeat. Sadly, the clag was low and no chance for views
Sgurr Mhic Bharraich was the target, we had done it once in winter conditions and loved it - it's a good half day hill.It is possible to do a circular here (as WH route suggests) but because the ground was rather wet, we decided to stick to the path:
The walk starts from the campsite car park. After much deliberation, Kevin decided to leave his precious camera behind, as it was too bulky to carry with little chance of taking any decent photos... but of course first he had to show it around!
The path into Gleann Undalain must have been recently used by quad drivers, as it was mucky-yucky to start with, later it improved:
Our target, not much hope for full panoramas:
A five minutes re-grouping break
Coire Caol:
Kevin happy despite the cloud - first time for ages he didn't have to carry the heavy photographing equipment up the hill!
The ridge of Biod an Fhithich form the upper slopes of "our" Corbett:
We followed the path all the way to the high col, where we turned right just before a wee lochan (Loch Coire nan Crogachan). From now, it was wild vegetation and quite steep, but hoah! Nothing can stop a wild WH bunch
With the steep crags above me and wind picking up, I looked a bit on the wild site, too
When we entered the clag, good navigation was necessary to find the true cairn among the lumps and bumps of the summit ridge...
...but we succeeded! A repeat for us but since it was a repeat in great company, we can even forgive the clag for hanging around!
On the way down we took a slightly different line of descent towards the col and the path:
The scary cliffs again:
Weather improving ever so slightly:
Back at low level - Loch Duich from just above the campsite:
We were back down in just over 4 hours - in less cloudy circumstances it would probably take longer, as this hill is a superb viewpoint, such a shame we didn't get the views. To see the true beauty of Sgurr Mhic Bharraich, here is my old TR with photos.
We were glad to be back in the campsite so early, we had plenty of time to pitch the tent, pump up airbeds and cook dinner (when Rodmiester and Mountain Thyme went on to climb a second Corbett!). OK, we were not very ambitious, maybe a bit lazy, but we got enough leg exercise from airbed pumping
The campsite is small but very neat, despite an interesting "des res" in the corner
Cooking gear:
After a meal of tinned curry and pot noodles, it was time for the crazy evening in Ratagan Hostel, full of fun, games and additional entertainment
Many thanks to everybody on the meet, all friends, old and new ones, it was great to have met you all and I hope I didn't get on anybody's nerves too much - I know I'm an annoying, meowing creature!!!
...........
Hope to see you all in April
