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four big wild hills

PostPosted: Mon Nov 13, 2017 2:30 pm
by past my sell by date

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It's a long walk whichever way you do these hills, and I reckoned that it would be easier if I included a bivouac . I had an early evening meal in Spean Bridge, drove to Moy and set off initially on the path to Loch Pattack, taking the RH branch round the back of Beinn a Chlachair beside the Alt Cam and where that ended pushing on up into Coire na Cosaig in the general direction of the munro top of Meall Glas Choire . I walked for about 4 hours until it got dark and then bivouaced.
It drizzled for much of the night but I set my large poly bag with the mouth downhill, and climbed into it head first but keeping the mouth open with my rucksack and poles.
However it wasn't the most comfortable of bivouacs :( and as soon as it was light I made a brew, ate some breakfast and pushed on in steadily improving weather - although the high tops remained covered in mist some time.
There was no real problem getting to Meall Glas Choire and Beinn Eibhinn and by keeping to the North edge continuing over Aonach Beag to the top of Geal Charn (the Anquet 1:50,000 calls it Gael Charn). The mist began to lift here, but I deliberately "aimed off" L across the snowy plateau in case it reappeared. I had no trouble finding the narrow descent path over Diollaid a Chairn to Carn Dearg. which was in bright sunshine :D
From here it was an easy descent to the Loch Pattack track and over the Bhealaich Leamhain back to the car.
I have just recently had all my old Highland slides scanned and here they are in the order they were taken - It's taken me a while to work out where they are but I think I've got it now. If anyone knows better please feel free to comment.
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Views North from Geal Charn over Beinn a Clachair - the distant snow is the Coire Ardair face of Creag Meagaidh
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Anoach Beag and Beinn Eibhinn L from Geal Charn
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Looking NW to the Western part of Loch Laggan
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Looking back across the Geal Charn plateau
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Various views looking back to Loch an Sgor and Sgor Iutharn

Re: four big wild hills

PostPosted: Mon Nov 13, 2017 11:04 pm
by Alteknacker
Nice one! It's surely a fine area for a good wander.

Shocking amount of snow about for June, mind. I don't much envy you the bivvy :roll:.

Re: four big wild hills

PostPosted: Tue Nov 14, 2017 1:00 pm
by past my sell by date
Alteknacker wrote:Nice one! It's surely a fine area for a good wander.

Shocking amount of snow about for June, mind. I don't much envy you the bivvy :roll:.

There always was more snow in those days Alteknacker - but as you can see the southern slopes of the hills to the North are snow-free except Meagaidh. Bivouacs are fine in early summer when there's only a few hours of darkness. They've enabled me to do so much more - though you seem to be able to go non-stop almost for "ever" :lol: