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With George back off his holidays I was looking for a weather window and Saturday looked the best option, so contacted George and he was kind of keen, secretly he fancied something easier as he hasn't been out since Skye and that was 6 weeks ago. Contacted Parminder but he is on holiday at his top secret location, just north of Inverness.
I volunteered to drive and arranged to pick George up at 6am, the roads were nice and quiet - complete opposite to our return journey.
George partially did the Ring last year and it is 5 years since I was last there, not long after joining WH.
I arranged with George on Friday that we would stop in Tyndrum for our breakfast, that would give us an extra 5 minutes in bed. We both opted for a bacon roll with a coffee, it wasn't until later that we realised having a bacon roll was a big mistake as we were both rather thirsty and ended up getting through all our on board liquid.
We arrived at the end of Glen Nevis at the car park and were met by a squadron of midges who were looking for breakfast, we didn't want to be on the menu so rapidly kitted up and set off on our way. It was at this time that George realised he had forgotten his poles, not a huge problem, but they would have helped crossing the burn under Steall Falls.
Plenty of overnight rain
Glen Nevis from the path
Steall Falls from a distance
Closer view of the Falls
The one and only bridge
George taking a very close look at the water, missing his poles
Nearly back on the old feet
Wet slippy rock and wet boots could = more than wet feet
The falls again
Anyone who has tackled the 'Ring' will sadly remember the swamp
George trying to be twinkle toed
Glen Nevis from a bit higher up
Bit higher up
The 4th hill is in the distance
Grey Corries
The Ben with her hat on
George was struggling on the going up bits, understandable as he hasn't been out for 6 weeks
Our final hill, plenty of going up and down still to be done
Our first summit, An Gearanach looking across to the Ben
The way ahead to the next summit
Looking across to the Eastern Mamores of Binnein Beag & Mor
Yes that is the way ahead
George leading the way
Looking across to where we will eventually get to
2nd summit, looking back to the first
Looking east
The way ahead again
Pretty obvious path all the way round
Still along way to the 4th summit
Looking back, George enjoying the ascending
First glimpse of Blackwater Reservoir
A small herd of deer grazing, zoomed quite a bit
Way ahead again
George admiring the view
Blackwater Reservoir again
Looking west
Looking back
Looking back to the first summit
Looking east, a few pointy hills, Eastern Mamores in the foreground
Pointy hills, lots of them
Stob Ban, fantastic looking hill
Stob Ban zoomed
The fourth and final summit
The way ahead
George about to enjoy a flat bit
Very pointy from this angle
A couple of fellow walkers zoomed
Looking out to sea again
Nearly on the summit George
Ben Nevis, Carn Mor Dearg and the Aonachs
The Ben zoomed
Fort William and Corpach
George eager to start descending
Glen Nevis looking very green and spectacular
For anyone who hasn't visited the Ring of Steall it is a fantastic walks and is literally surrounded by other superb hills, we did the route clockwise. The descent was never ending and absolute torture on my suffering feet, the initial park is over scree and would be challenging to ascend.
Here are our timings for what they are worth.
Start: 0850
1st summit, An Gearanach: 1121
2nd summit, Stob Coire a'Chairn: 1209
3rd summit, Am Bodach: 1308
4th summit, Sgurr a'Mhaim: 1446
Back at the car: 1651
This turned out to be a superb day, many thanks to George for his company and for paying for breakfast and dinner.
