Pap of Glencoe – Walk between failure and success

[Beekeeper]

It was our first time in Glencoe and we thought the Pap will be a nice opening. The weather on the 26th was brilliant, warm and sunny. So Mrs. Beekeeper and me have a early start from our cottage in Glencoe village.
Up to the col the path was a steep but pleasant walk with some fine views. The sight of the final ascent on the dome makes my wife looking scary. She is a wee bit afraid of heights and doesn't feel very comfortable in scrambling but she loves to be on summits to enjoy the views. We go on to climb up the last part to the Pap. The path was rocky and strenuous to walk and Mrs. Beekeeper do her best, but half the way it looks very difficult to continue. The rock were quite steep and going further seems to be a serious scramble. After a look in the face of my wife I decide to break up he walk and go back and I was annoyed about the walk report. In my opinion the walk was grade 4 with tricky scrambling and not grade 3 as indicated on the report.
Back on the col we have a rest with a cup of tea and if we are sitting there, the rush hour is starting. Lots of people coming up the path and heading on to summit, including a family with children around 10 years old. All of them seems to have no problems to go up. What a shame! The report on Walkhighlands was right it was me making the fault.
On the way back there were all the time thick black clouds over my head and the following days I can't see the Pap without feeling a deep anger.
The 30th was our last day at Glencoe and it was clear what we have to do. Walk the Pap again! The weather wasn't as good as the first try but good enough for a hill walk. To the col again it was a good walk and interesting to see the same way in different weather conditions.
The ascend on the dome began and we were a bit excited how it will be. F..., half the way the same situation as the last time steep rocks and no way. I can't believe what's happen again.
After a short distance back I have a look around and surprisingly behind a rock a wee bit hidden was a little cairn marking the ongoing path to the summit. Happy to find the right way we continue the way up. This final part of the ascend was a hard work for Mrs. Beekeeper. It was steep and the fine views down to Loch Leven gives a good feeling of height and makes her scary. But she do her job very well and both of us enjoy the great Views from the Summit.
In the end the walk on the Pap was a successful day out and we remember now this Graham as a fine mountain and not as a fiasco.

The Pap from Glencoe Lochan

The walk up begins

Little burn on the way

View to Glencoe in different weather cnditions

Glencoe Village and Ballachulish from the way

The dome of The Pap

Deer crossing the col of the Pap

Loch Leven from the height (dedicated to Mrs. Beekeeper )

The Summit and it's views

[skuk007]

Well done for not giving up, bet you're glad you made it on such a good day. Cracking views and great photos to remember your day.

[Beekeeper]

Well done for not giving up, bet you're glad you made it on such a good day.

Yes, I was happy to get the chance to do the walk again.
Always when I saw the Pap in that time I feel a grumble in my stomach because I want to now how was my mistake. A short step in the wrong direction led us in a dead end. In the end it was so silly.

[mountain coward]

Love one of those photos of Loch Leven... I got some photos very similar to the other ones when I was up there. I know what your wife means about the feeling on the summit - I wasn't keen either as it felt what we call 'airy'! But the path up is okay providing you find it, which eventually and happily, you did

[Beekeeper]

...I know what your wife means about the feeling on the summit - I wasn't keen either as it felt what we call 'airy'!...

Thanks from Mrs. Beekeeper
Its good to know that she isn't alone with her feelings.

[mountain tortoise]

It is worth remembering that although the Pap is only a Graham because you walk it from sea level you climb as high as some Munros and it is very steep too. 2400 feet up!! Just up the road Buachille Etive Beag sexy Munro status 2200 feet up from the car park which is 890 feet or so up the pass.

So a very worthy and not easy climb well done!!!

[Beekeeper]

Thanks, we have done the Buachille Etive Beag a day after our first try walking the Pap. It's graded 4 but we found it easier to walk it than the Pap. Only the last ascend on the Stob Dubh was a wee to much for my missis, so I have a quick solo run to the summit.
I think quite often Grahams and Corbets are a wee bit underestimated .