Back up the Bookle - David's Compleation!
Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2019 9:57 amDavid’s munro journey was set to culminate on Saturday – although I’m not really into the concept of “Bagging” I was looking forward to David’s big day (cannae resist a party, and I'd made cake!), until my alarm went off at 6.30am that was 
We were virtually packed already and were on the road only 10 minutes behind schedule. We told David not to wait and that we’d catch them up – and we would have made it too had it not been for a couple of slow drivers and a caravan that had marooned itself across the parking area at Altnafeadh 
Soon we were on our way, quick marching to try to catch them up – we could see a big group just ahead of us.
Playing catch up!
Given the forecast earlier in the week, it was a stunning day
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After a few minutes we met David’s new puppy with who I assumed was his mum (it was) and then we caught the group and were able to slow down to a sensible pace. Still, although fitness is nowhere near where it was and injury still niggling, it was nice to be able to put on a bit of a shift and actually make it
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The ascent into the corrie is steep and unrelenting and we were glad of a relaxing of pace. There was one moment where we thought David was ahead of us so we sped up to catch up…only to realise he was much further back and probably cursing us
The autumnal colours are on their way already
Looking back to Altnafeadh
The last time I’d been up here had actually been on another compleation – Andy’s (londonwalker) although the weather hadn’t been as good on that occasion! But I had vividly remembered the upper sections of the corrie being loose and unpleasant. I think plenty of work had been done in the last couple of years as there was a decent path up the steep section (for those who chose the follow it!) and the final ascent was up a rocky spine where we were able to gather the stragglers and add layers before popping out onto the bealach.
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From here some folk were tempted to have a munch before we set off for the summit of Stob Dearg, David’s 282nd munro (I dislike final munro, because why would you stop climbing them just because you’ve done them all once?!
)
The final ascent
The cloud was a bit in-and-out but we could tell the views were there…
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Looking back along the other end of the ridge (later!)
We climbed over all the false summits (more than even I remembered!) and finally arrived at the summit overlooking Rannoch Moor (perhaps not quite the highest point in hindsight but definitely the best viewpoint!) where we were able to celebrate with some fizz and lemon cake
Johnathan, David & Andreas
The group
Looking down Glencoe
Malky and I went for a wander to have a look at the top of Curved ridge (one for another day!) and Crowberry tower (probably not one for any day!)
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Crowberry Tower
Beinn a' Chrulaiste
Feed the birds
Although it was a beautiful day there was a cold wind and folk decided it was time to head down. We accompanied the others to the top of the corrie before heading off along the ridge – too nice a day not to!
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Off on our own (although we were looking forward to meeting up with the others later) we continued along the ridge towards the next summit – Stob na Doire
The way ahead
Slabby mcslabface
Looking back to Stob Dearg
Stob na Doire
Rannoch Moor
It was a bit of a climb to the top of Stob na Doire (so much so that we felt it ought to have been a thing, but alas it wasn’t, unless you happen to be counting Simms or something, maybe )
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Bidean almost visible
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Loch Etive
It was a steep descent from Stob na Doire and as we reached the bealach we could feel a few spots of rain.
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Malky laughs in the face of rain (this is his laughing face
)
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It never actually amounted to anything other than mild annoyance and we made our way along to the final summit, Stob na Broige, where the cloud chose that moment to descent and blanket us in white
Summit of Stob na Broige
We walked a few metres further and decided to wait it out – 5 minutes later we were rewarded with lovely views down Glen Etive to Loch Etive
Loch Etive
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We had fish and chips to look forward to so got going – the sun was making more of an effort now and the views back along the ridge were magnificent
Although they don’t come out so well on the wee camera we were able to make out the Grey Corries and the Loch Treig hills in the distance behind the Blackwater reservoir
Glen Etive – Corbetts and the back end of Stob Ghabhar
Looking back to Stob na Broige
A last glimpse of Stob Dubh
Soon we were back at the bealach where the path drops from – it was looking pretty steep!
When I’d been up here for Andy’s compleation a few years ago, weather and time hadn’t really allowed for the full ridge so the last time I’d been down this route had been with my Dad about 10 years ago and I had no memory whatsoever of this section
which was extremely awkward with lots of damp sections!
Back on slightly easier ground, and a long walk out
Looking back up
The way…
The final hurdle – a river crossing!
Although the walk out left long, it was actually nothing compared to last weekend’s final few miles from Coire Fionnaraich bothy
Finally at the road we met the hoardes of people and then had to endure a slightly unnerving walk back along the road to the car
And we were back where we started
Fortunately the marooned motorhome had been removed and we were able to head down the road and pitch the tent before joining the others for fish n chips, followed by tea, bubbly and cake in Ballachulish
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Sunday 29th September 2019
Corran-Lochaline cycle
69.08km
679m ascent
4 hours 10 minutes
Although we weren’t keen to get up on Sunday morning we eventually did, and decided that the rain was definitely going to stop so we could enjoy our cycle.
A few cups of tea later we were on our way, dumped the car at Corran and jumped on the ferry with the bikes
Sgurr na h-Eanchainne
On dry land again we were off – Beinn Leamhain looked enticing (but not enticing enough!)
Looking down Loch Linnhe
The mighty Garbh Beinn
Definitely autumn colours!
We took the wee road down to Glengalmadale which was pretty cool
Malky is not impressed…
Now he’s just being a pain!
Beinn Meadhoin
Top of the pass means lunch stop!
At the…
Out towards Lochaline and Dun da Gaoithe on Mull in the distance
We were toying with the idea of a wee Marilyn along here, but I managed to persuade Malky that he would much rather buy me tea and cake in Strontian
Beinn Resipol and Loch Sunart
Beinn Dhomuill
Garbh Bheinn
Strontian was a few miles in the wrong direction but definitely worth it for a lovely wee energy boost before the last 13 miles, all either uphill, into the wind or both
We were virtually packed already and were on the road only 10 minutes behind schedule. We told David not to wait and that we’d catch them up – and we would have made it too had it not been for a couple of slow drivers and a caravan that had marooned itself across the parking area at Altnafeadh Soon we were on our way, quick marching to try to catch them up – we could see a big group just ahead of us.
Playing catch up! Given the forecast earlier in the week, it was a stunning day
DSC06871 After a few minutes we met David’s new puppy with who I assumed was his mum (it was) and then we caught the group and were able to slow down to a sensible pace. Still, although fitness is nowhere near where it was and injury still niggling, it was nice to be able to put on a bit of a shift and actually make it
DSC06872 The ascent into the corrie is steep and unrelenting and we were glad of a relaxing of pace. There was one moment where we thought David was ahead of us so we sped up to catch up…only to realise he was much further back and probably cursing us
The autumnal colours are on their way already
Looking back to Altnafeadh The last time I’d been up here had actually been on another compleation – Andy’s (londonwalker) although the weather hadn’t been as good on that occasion! But I had vividly remembered the upper sections of the corrie being loose and unpleasant. I think plenty of work had been done in the last couple of years as there was a decent path up the steep section (for those who chose the follow it!) and the final ascent was up a rocky spine where we were able to gather the stragglers and add layers before popping out onto the bealach.
DSC06882 From here some folk were tempted to have a munch before we set off for the summit of Stob Dearg, David’s 282nd munro (I dislike final munro, because why would you stop climbing them just because you’ve done them all once?!
)The final ascent The cloud was a bit in-and-out but we could tell the views were there…
DSC06884 Looking back along the other end of the ridge (later!)
We climbed over all the false summits (more than even I remembered!) and finally arrived at the summit overlooking Rannoch Moor (perhaps not quite the highest point in hindsight but definitely the best viewpoint!) where we were able to celebrate with some fizz and lemon cake
Johnathan, David & Andreas The group Looking down Glencoe Malky and I went for a wander to have a look at the top of Curved ridge (one for another day!) and Crowberry tower (probably not one for any day!)
DSC06898 Crowberry Tower Beinn a' Chrulaiste Feed the birds Although it was a beautiful day there was a cold wind and folk decided it was time to head down. We accompanied the others to the top of the corrie before heading off along the ridge – too nice a day not to!
DSC06908 DSC06909 DSC06912 Off on our own (although we were looking forward to meeting up with the others later) we continued along the ridge towards the next summit – Stob na Doire
The way ahead Slabby mcslabface Looking back to Stob Dearg Stob na Doire Rannoch Moor It was a bit of a climb to the top of Stob na Doire (so much so that we felt it ought to have been a thing, but alas it wasn’t, unless you happen to be counting Simms or something, maybe
)DSC06920 Bidean almost visible
DSC06921 Loch Etive It was a steep descent from Stob na Doire and as we reached the bealach we could feel a few spots of rain.
DSC06924 Malky laughs in the face of rain (this is his laughing face
)DSC06927 It never actually amounted to anything other than mild annoyance and we made our way along to the final summit, Stob na Broige, where the cloud chose that moment to descent and blanket us in white
Summit of Stob na Broige We walked a few metres further and decided to wait it out – 5 minutes later we were rewarded with lovely views down Glen Etive to Loch Etive
Loch Etive DSC06935 We had fish and chips to look forward to so got going – the sun was making more of an effort now and the views back along the ridge were magnificent
Although they don’t come out so well on the wee camera we were able to make out the Grey Corries and the Loch Treig hills in the distance behind the Blackwater reservoir
Glen Etive – Corbetts and the back end of Stob Ghabhar
Looking back to Stob na Broige
A last glimpse of Stob Dubh
Soon we were back at the bealach where the path drops from – it was looking pretty steep!
When I’d been up here for Andy’s compleation a few years ago, weather and time hadn’t really allowed for the full ridge so the last time I’d been down this route had been with my Dad about 10 years ago and I had no memory whatsoever of this section
which was extremely awkward with lots of damp sections!Back on slightly easier ground, and a long walk out
Looking back up
The way…
The final hurdle – a river crossing!
Although the walk out left long, it was actually nothing compared to last weekend’s final few miles from Coire Fionnaraich bothy
Finally at the road we met the hoardes of people and then had to endure a slightly unnerving walk back along the road to the car
And we were back where we started
Fortunately the marooned motorhome had been removed and we were able to head down the road and pitch the tent before joining the others for fish n chips, followed by tea, bubbly and cake in Ballachulish
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday 29th September 2019
Corran-Lochaline cycle
69.08km
679m ascent
4 hours 10 minutes
Although we weren’t keen to get up on Sunday morning we eventually did, and decided that the rain was definitely going to stop so we could enjoy our cycle.
A few cups of tea later we were on our way, dumped the car at Corran and jumped on the ferry with the bikes
Sgurr na h-Eanchainne
On dry land again we were off – Beinn Leamhain looked enticing (but not enticing enough!)
Looking down Loch Linnhe
The mighty Garbh Beinn
Definitely autumn colours!
We took the wee road down to Glengalmadale which was pretty cool
Malky is not impressed…
Now he’s just being a pain!
Beinn Meadhoin
Top of the pass means lunch stop!
At the…
Out towards Lochaline and Dun da Gaoithe on Mull in the distance
We were toying with the idea of a wee Marilyn along here, but I managed to persuade Malky that he would much rather buy me tea and cake in Strontian
Beinn Resipol and Loch Sunart
Beinn Dhomuill
Garbh Bheinn
Strontian was a few miles in the wrong direction but definitely worth it for a lovely wee energy boost before the last 13 miles, all either uphill, into the wind or both
