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Spring 2019 didn't disappoint. After a cold and windy spell in the first days of April, we were gifted with loads of sunny weather for the whole second week. Lucky us, we could take advantage of good conditions to climb many new hills and re-visit some old friends, too.
We started on Monday with a quick visit to Glen Etive. WE still had three Corbetts left to do in this area, and for a warm-up at the start of our climbing week, we picked the easiest of the trio, Beinn Maol Chaluim. Very appropriate, one might say, to pick Malcolm's hill just after WH Meet
Our route was straightforward, up and down the eastern side from the narrow road in Glen Etive. Of course, it is possible to add this Corbett to a bigger, more ambitious round, but we preferred, at least for the time being, a shorter day with good views and not too much ascent.
"Not too much ascent" still came up to nearly 900m, most of it quite steep, but I suppose it looks like "not so much" compare to what we did in the days that followed. Beinn Maol Chaluim by itself is still a nice walk and at some point on the way up, I realized it was our 150th Corbett. Wow! I never expected to get that far on the list of C's
Finding a good place to park along the road in Glen Etive can be a pain in the *&$$, but as it was Monday and still well before the peak of the tourist season, we found a spot just past the start of the walk, opposite Lochan Urr.
Looking into Glen Etive from the small off-road parking:
Ready to go! The two shepherds in the background:
The first 200m is rather steep, but mostly grassy (the slope would be overgrown with bracken in late summer) and the shapely southern tops of Buachaille Etive Mor and Beag dominate the view:
...but my attention was suddenly drawn to the steep, bold shape on the other side of Glen Etive. Stob Dubh, the black peak. What an intriguing mountain. I couldn't take my eyes of it and promised myself, I'd come back to explore these intimidating slopes soon. Very soon.
Sadly, the day was very hazy. Kevin kept moaning about the haze spoiling his pictures. Indeed, unusually warm weather in spring means hazy air
but I'd rather have that than 50mph winds and heavy rain!
Looking south towards Loch Etive, with Ben Starav to the left and Beinn Trillieachan to the right:
After the initial steep slog, the slope eases off a bit and offers a pleasant ascent on mostly dry grass/low heather, with occasional boulders here and there. Surprisingly grassy as for Glen Etive, noted Kevin, most hills here are pure rock.
As we gained height, more familiar shapes appeared on the horizon. Because of the haze, the very distant views were gone, but the nearby hills were still visible, like Sgurr na h-Ulaidh:
Happy Panther grins while hopping up her 150th Corbett, whereas Lucy appreciates the world from the upside-down perspective
About half way up, we spotted an interesting set of crags. According to the walk description, they can be avoided easily, but...
...but we decided, there was no need to take a detour, might be actually more fun to tackle this little face straight-on!
We investigated a narrow gully in the middle of the cliffs, but we discovered a small stream dripping down the middle, it was wet and slippery, not a very pleasant underfoot for scrambling. We traversed to the left and found a good line for a short scrambling practice. Once above the cliffs, it was back to marching up the grass:
The Buachaille Brothers still very prominent:
The final 100m to the first top had few opportunities for scrambling, just some big boulders, apt for posing on:
When we reached the first top (848m) I said WOW. The final walk to the summit was going to be a superb traverse along a wide, grassy ridge. Something right up my street!
Coire Cearcail and Sgor na h-Ulaidh, Beinn Fionnlaidh peeking out from behind:
Panoramic snap from Kevin's camera:
Zoom to Buachaille Etive Beag ridge:
The walk along the ridge was exactly what I hoped for. An easy stroll compare to the earlier steep going, with mind-boggling views in all directions. And it didn't really matter that the more distant mountains were obscured by haze. The neighbouring hills were good enough!
Bidean nam Bian and Stob Coire Sgreamhach as seen from the south across Gleann Fhaolain:
The way to the summit:
Hazy Loch Etive and surrounding mountains:
Lucy posing on her 88th Corbett, with the mighty Bidean behind:
She means business, mind you! She is on her way to reach the ton on Corbetts as well as on Grahams!
I know maybe I'm beginning to sound boring now, but I simply loved the view to the ridge of Bidean nam Bian:
Sgor na h-Ulaidh to the west, with Ballachulish Munros behind:
Beinn a'Bheithir zoomed:
150 Corbetts in the bag! Hoooray!!!
We didn't have any plans for special celebrations, just sat down by the cairn and toasted our milestone with tea from the flask. It was relatively warm on the summit, so we spent more time than usually stretching our legs, gazing in the distance and discussing plans for the following days. I was excited about the perspective of climbing Stob Dubh and Kevin promised I wouldn't have to wait too long
On the way back, we admired the views again. We met another couple of walkers, heading for the top. I was surprised to see other people on this hill on Monday, especially when there are so many iconic Munros around. Obviously, Corbetts are getting more popular and in some aspects it's great, but on the other hand, it would be now more difficult to find solitude anywhere. Well, we might try a remote Graham on a cloudy day
Panoramic view taken on the way down, with Stob Dubh dominant above Glen Etive:
This Corbett can be easily done in 5 hours (plus time to sink in the vistas) so theoretically, one could climb the neighbouring Beinn Mhic Chasgaig which is also a half-day walk, but we decided to save energy for the following day, which as marked in our calendar as" the day to tackle the mental face"
More details soon.
