Quarter of the way there
Posted: Sat Mar 04, 2017 1:11 am
I'd been on that wonderful number 69 for a couple of weeks since my last outing (viewtopic.php?f=9&t=70041) and it was slightly annoying to be honest.
It was annoying because percentage wise I hanging marginally below 25% which would allow me to boast that I'd done a quarter of the current Munros.
A frustrating weekend of poor weather pretty much meant I was grounded with only the Forth and Clyde canal to stretch my legs along but to be fair it wasn't all bad. I seen a Grey Wagtail for the first time ever around lock 27. A number of other species as well but this is a hill forum not a bird one so I'll spare you the bird chat.
Luckily for me I was also off the Monday Tuesday too so I was keen to make the most of the promising weather forcast. I consulted with Pieplough, he was keen to get the day off work and go with me BUT on one condition, he'd be driving! My good friend whom I trust dearly would now be responsible with my life for you see he has recently passed his driving test...it'd be his first experience of driving the A82.
Minus the few squeaky bum moments along the road by the loch everything went ok. The contents of my bowels were in place, my knuckles hadn't turned white and the car was intact.
We arrived at an already busy car park around noon, Pieplough was calling the shots with regards to times today (drivers privilege). He elected for an afternoon walk because the weather was to break in the afternoon and boy oh boy it did. A drive through Glencoe is never a bad drive but the sun beamed down on snow capped hills things just sermed that extra bit special, taking in the views I was happy to be the passenger
Oh, got carried away there. Yeah, as I was saying, we arrived at the busy car park opposite the massive cairn in Glencoe where we would ready ourselves to tackle 2 of the top 10 easiest Munros that make up Buachaille Etive Beag.
Pigplough
Research was done and we were confident we could do these in 4 hours or so.
Setting off just after 12 on the decent path in bathed in glorious sunshine it didn't take long for the first photo opportunity to present it's self...
No fear dear
Aonach Eagach
Massive lump
The path was as reported many times over is decent and makes for easy walking but we did encounter thin ice on most of it and then very compacted snow and ice on the steps which made the going a little slower than we would have liked.
The sun was hanging high in the sky and for the first time in ages I was actually worried about getting sunburnt
Blazing
Aonach Eagach
Come on Pieplough
Aonach Eagach
Me (photo by Pieplough)
Once we were at the bealach we spent a wee while checking out the views/taking a rest. The hill was busy with guided walking groups. It looked like they had already been to up SCR and were heading to Stob Dubh, not before learning some winter skills...cracking day for playing in the snow
We decided to head up Stob Dubh first.
Pieplough at Mam Buidhe
Stob Coire Raineach
Big sister
The first steep section was taken pretty fast. The snow was powdery but the foot steps were almost solid enough to hold my weight We were walking without crampons, the snow was powder so they remained in the bag.
The couple in the below picture were using a confidence rope.
The ridge to Stob Dubh
Walking party
From here Bidean nam Bian looks like a complicated walk.
Bidean nam Bian
A busy approach
I hadn't noticed the wind at all thus far in the walk but on the final steep curving approach to the summit it was very strong. The picture below was taken at this point but the wind was making my eyes water and I couldn't actually see very well
I had to rush just after taking my snap because a larger walking party was now very close behind me and I didn't want to cause an Everest style traffic jam.
Loch Etive & Ben Starav
We lingered on/around the windless summit for a good while (ages actually) soaking in the views but what we were really waiting for was the large amount of folk to get off the second top
The second cairn was pretty busy...
The big yin
Views South Eastish
Glen Etive
Buchaille Etive Mor
Big Bookle & Beinn a' Chrulaiste
Now we were ready to head back along the ridge to the second Munro of the day. The risk of a fall was a greater on the way down so the ice axes came out but the crampons stayed in the bag. Once off the steep curve the risk was over really but we'd walk back to the bealach axes in hand.
Looking to Stob Coire Raineach
The walk had been a lot of fun so far, super enjoyable, I chuffed to bits to be out. We raced down the powdery slope to the bealach where again we stopped for a wee minute to ready ourselves for the push up the next summit.
Pieplough gave me a Snickers bar (A Marathon bar for those who can remember it's old name) as I had chosen to leave my piece in the motor for after the walk but I needed a little something about now.
I was having a mini struggle up the last bit of the walk, it was roasting or I was roasting whatever way it was the hat and gloves came off, then I took a seat on a rock for a wee 30 seconds or so before setting off to catch up with Pieplough who by now was a good bit in front. By the time I arrived at the summit he was sitting eating his piece, he'd only been there a couple off minutes before me but managed to find a comfortable rock to chill on.
We had the summit to ourselves, the light was nice and the sun was far less intense. I can fully understand why so many walkers love Glencoe, I've done the 4 easiest Munros here but I there's better to come and I can't bloody wait!
I was aware that this summit would take me over the 25% and I celebrated in silence, because who celebrates their 71st Munro??
I hadn't realised until I was looking back through my pictures that I didn't take any photos on the walk between the 2 summits so here's a selection of cairn shots from the summit of SCR
Stob Coire Raineach's summit
Looking up Glencoe
Looking to BEM
Looking to Aonach Eagach
Looking to Nevis
Looking to the Blackwater Reservoir
Panorama
Pieplough & Stob Dubh
A final Aonach Eagach shot on the way down
The greatest feeling
After another lengthy stay on a summit we headed down, it was time to leave the mountain. I hadn't been looking forward to the walk down the icy steps but unbelievably I managed these without a single fall
What a difference between this outing and the last one.
It was annoying because percentage wise I hanging marginally below 25% which would allow me to boast that I'd done a quarter of the current Munros.
A frustrating weekend of poor weather pretty much meant I was grounded with only the Forth and Clyde canal to stretch my legs along but to be fair it wasn't all bad. I seen a Grey Wagtail for the first time ever around lock 27. A number of other species as well but this is a hill forum not a bird one so I'll spare you the bird chat.
Luckily for me I was also off the Monday Tuesday too so I was keen to make the most of the promising weather forcast. I consulted with Pieplough, he was keen to get the day off work and go with me BUT on one condition, he'd be driving! My good friend whom I trust dearly would now be responsible with my life for you see he has recently passed his driving test...it'd be his first experience of driving the A82.
Minus the few squeaky bum moments along the road by the loch everything went ok. The contents of my bowels were in place, my knuckles hadn't turned white and the car was intact.
We arrived at an already busy car park around noon, Pieplough was calling the shots with regards to times today (drivers privilege). He elected for an afternoon walk because the weather was to break in the afternoon and boy oh boy it did. A drive through Glencoe is never a bad drive but the sun beamed down on snow capped hills things just sermed that extra bit special, taking in the views I was happy to be the passenger
Oh, got carried away there. Yeah, as I was saying, we arrived at the busy car park opposite the massive cairn in Glencoe where we would ready ourselves to tackle 2 of the top 10 easiest Munros that make up Buachaille Etive Beag.
Pigplough
Research was done and we were confident we could do these in 4 hours or so.
Setting off just after 12 on the decent path in bathed in glorious sunshine it didn't take long for the first photo opportunity to present it's self...
No fear dear
Aonach Eagach
Massive lump
The path was as reported many times over is decent and makes for easy walking but we did encounter thin ice on most of it and then very compacted snow and ice on the steps which made the going a little slower than we would have liked.
The sun was hanging high in the sky and for the first time in ages I was actually worried about getting sunburnt
Blazing
Aonach Eagach
Come on Pieplough
Aonach Eagach
Me (photo by Pieplough)
Once we were at the bealach we spent a wee while checking out the views/taking a rest. The hill was busy with guided walking groups. It looked like they had already been to up SCR and were heading to Stob Dubh, not before learning some winter skills...cracking day for playing in the snow
We decided to head up Stob Dubh first.
Pieplough at Mam Buidhe
Stob Coire Raineach
Big sister
The first steep section was taken pretty fast. The snow was powdery but the foot steps were almost solid enough to hold my weight We were walking without crampons, the snow was powder so they remained in the bag.
The couple in the below picture were using a confidence rope.
The ridge to Stob Dubh
Walking party
From here Bidean nam Bian looks like a complicated walk.
Bidean nam Bian
A busy approach
I hadn't noticed the wind at all thus far in the walk but on the final steep curving approach to the summit it was very strong. The picture below was taken at this point but the wind was making my eyes water and I couldn't actually see very well
I had to rush just after taking my snap because a larger walking party was now very close behind me and I didn't want to cause an Everest style traffic jam.
Loch Etive & Ben Starav
We lingered on/around the windless summit for a good while (ages actually) soaking in the views but what we were really waiting for was the large amount of folk to get off the second top
The second cairn was pretty busy...
The big yin
Views South Eastish
Glen Etive
Buchaille Etive Mor
Big Bookle & Beinn a' Chrulaiste
Now we were ready to head back along the ridge to the second Munro of the day. The risk of a fall was a greater on the way down so the ice axes came out but the crampons stayed in the bag. Once off the steep curve the risk was over really but we'd walk back to the bealach axes in hand.
Looking to Stob Coire Raineach
The walk had been a lot of fun so far, super enjoyable, I chuffed to bits to be out. We raced down the powdery slope to the bealach where again we stopped for a wee minute to ready ourselves for the push up the next summit.
Pieplough gave me a Snickers bar (A Marathon bar for those who can remember it's old name) as I had chosen to leave my piece in the motor for after the walk but I needed a little something about now.
I was having a mini struggle up the last bit of the walk, it was roasting or I was roasting whatever way it was the hat and gloves came off, then I took a seat on a rock for a wee 30 seconds or so before setting off to catch up with Pieplough who by now was a good bit in front. By the time I arrived at the summit he was sitting eating his piece, he'd only been there a couple off minutes before me but managed to find a comfortable rock to chill on.
We had the summit to ourselves, the light was nice and the sun was far less intense. I can fully understand why so many walkers love Glencoe, I've done the 4 easiest Munros here but I there's better to come and I can't bloody wait!
I was aware that this summit would take me over the 25% and I celebrated in silence, because who celebrates their 71st Munro??
I hadn't realised until I was looking back through my pictures that I didn't take any photos on the walk between the 2 summits so here's a selection of cairn shots from the summit of SCR
Stob Coire Raineach's summit
Looking up Glencoe
Looking to BEM
Looking to Aonach Eagach
Looking to Nevis
Looking to the Blackwater Reservoir
Panorama
Pieplough & Stob Dubh
A final Aonach Eagach shot on the way down
The greatest feeling
After another lengthy stay on a summit we headed down, it was time to leave the mountain. I hadn't been looking forward to the walk down the icy steps but unbelievably I managed these without a single fall
What a difference between this outing and the last one.