Sgurr a' Mhaoraich 1027m. Gaelic for "soaked to the sgurr"

[JimboJim]

Was time for another hike. Jaf, was keen to get Gairich and Sgurr a' Mhaoraich on the same day. I had done Gairich earlier in year, so invited Marina along to accompany me on Sa'M, while he and Lawrence galloped round the pair. Seemed like a decent plan, though forecast was a bit dubious from midday on.

The bridge.

Marina, heading for the top.

Fortunately there was to be no landslide, such as was to befall the road only 5-6 months, or so, later. Marina and I got dropped off at the bridge, while I entrusted my motor to Jaf, to return to the dam to do Gairich. Our aim was to do the loop clockwise, returning round Coire a' Chaorainn, while Jaf and Lawrence would go straight up to the summit and back. I was sure that we would finish ahead of them, but never underestimate Big Jasper!

Time for some serious scrambling.

Ok. Just kidding!

Queen of the castle.

A look back to Gairich, which Big Jasper and Lawrence, would be bounding up!

View lower down of Sgurr Mor and Sgurr na Ciche.

Looking down to the bridge.

Summit, still a good way off.

Sgurr Mor and Sgurr na Ciche.

Pano of Loch Quoich.

I don't remember much in the way of problems on the way up. Main concern was watching the increasingly darkening skies, as the mist slowly began to envelope the summit. Still, no sign of the lads behind us. What was keeping them?
Sure enough the cloud beat us to the summit, as did the smir. Took a few pics, but alas, not much to see.

Marina, summit, 1027m. Weather just about holding off.

Me, at the summit.

Up to the damp looking, knobbly ridge of Am Bathaich.

This was on our way up to Am Bathaich.

We were both happy, in fact keen, to carry on and complete the circuit, so off we went. Was a bit tricky finding route down to Bealach Coire a'Chaorainn. Equally, it took a bit of huff and puff, to get us up onto the ridge, by which time the wind and rain were starting to worsen Nothing much to be done except add clothing and get the head down. Despite it being pretty awful, I enjoyed the challenge of navigating us round and off the ridge.

The airstrip.

Pano toward Gleouraich and South Glen Shiel hills.

I think this was us somewhere along Am Bathaich.

Gradually, we began to see the road and small airstrip at Alltbeithe, which was an encouraging sight. It would have been nice to get a direct flight home right then, as we were both now feeling the rain getting where it shouldn't. I quietly admired Marina's tenacity and spirit, despite the now lousy conditions. We rather miserably trudged our way back along the lochside to the bridge, then the other half mile where, to our delight, the car was waiting. Not only that, so were the keys Not only, not only that, but Jaf and Lawrence were not

Airstrip from Bealach Coire a'Chaorainn.

We were just shaking off the wet gear, trying to get dried off a bit, when these two figures descended from the murk, down to the road beside us. That was Charles and Lawrence back already, just five minutes behind us. Pretty amazing lads! It was hard to estimate, but I had thought we might have had an hour, or so to spare, but I guess, maybe I hadn't allowed for the scent of the chase and weather affecting things
Anyway, it was good they were back as we didn't have to hang around. So ended my wettest day on the hills, in fact one of the very few rain hit days out of about 190, or so, as it was then. Not bad going

Marina, still putting on a brave smile. Not long to go now.