Gulvain, slog up, lovely ridge.

[mrssanta]

This is part three of a 3-part walk, cycle camp trip making the most of a weather window which MWIS was kind enough to grant us. Good that it also coincided with a week off work!
We had got back to the Glenfinnan car park at 6pm leaving us very little time to find a camping place before dark. We needed some water as well, so it was a quick turnaround, parking in the small layby at the start of the turnoff to Strontian. We set off up the glen by bicycle looking for the first flat place with water. It was a tough climb up the first part of the track and we had to push the bikes a good bit. By the time we came down the other side of the slope, it was almost dark, and we were relieved to find water and a flat bit of bog, pitching our tent by torchlight and eating our tea in the dark.
It was a clear, quiet night with the most amazing stars and some ice on the tent at 2am, but by morning the frost was gone and the tent was just sodden with condensation.

not a bad camp spot considering it was quite dark

Again we were serenaded by bellowing stags, and as we ate our breakfast, one passed close enough by us to take his picture. Not quite close enough for a good quality picture but beggars can't be choosers! My camera does lovely close up shots but not zoom.

Hello Mr Stag! I'd shut up if I were you, with that kind of noise you might end up getting shot!

The sodden tent didn't matter as we had no plans to carry it any distance so we stashed the camping gear and set off by bike up the glen. The WH guide suggested that we might need to abandon the bikes at Uachan but actually we managed another couple of km (admittedly with some cursing from me) to about 980835 before stashing the bikes in a stand of bracken.
Glen Fionn Lighe is very beautiful but I didn't get any photos as I was too busy cycling and needed both hands. You'll just have to go yourself!
We set off walking with the intention of filling our water bottles at the burn marked on the os map at a height of about 250m but when we got there the burn was dry and we had to go downhill about 30 metres - this was embarrassing as it was just at this point that the two chaps we had met yesterday caught up and passed us.

all looking autumnal now

sun coming out

straight up. There are some helpful zigzags in the bottom steepest section

From here it is a long, steep climb up the nose to reach the ridge and it felt like it was going to go on for ever.

view down the glen aka let me catch my breath

nice bit of sunshine and a lovely view over to where we were yesterday. Streap on the left, Sgurr Thuilm on the right and Sgurr nan Coireachan sticking up between them

But all things come to an end eventually, and after about a year we reached the small top at 855m where there is a good sized cairn. From here the slope flattens out to become a rather lovely ridge.

ah, we are getting somewhere! The 961m top coming into view

View down to Loch Shiel

The weather was cold but fine, with little wind, but not the same superb views and clarity that we had had the previous day.
When we reached the summit at last, it was still and quiet and we had an extended stop including freeze dried rice pudding and a lie down.

Rudolph on the summit at last

and me with Loch Shiel behind

having a wee snooze with my peppermint tea ( I ran out of milk)

And then it was a matter of retracing our steps to the bikes and cycling out.

looking the way we came and the way we go back

Rudolph thinking by the trig point.

I stood and watched this wee guy for a while - this is the best bird picture I am ever likely to get. I believe it is a Snow Bunting

Looking down to Ardgour

rowan berries

hairy caterpiller on a heather twig

The cycle out was FUN! even though I did have to push the bike a bit for the final climb after crossing the river.
This was the end of our adventures, and probably our last Munro-bagging trip of 2019. Just nicely timed for the Kingussie Chippie on the way to Rudolph's folks in Deeside.

[dogplodder]

Remember that slog up in the heat. Just wanted to lie down and go no further.

[gammy leg walker]

Never took the bike on this one, absolutely loved the walk in,never saw anything on the summit.

So it's gonna need to be next year before we hopefully cross paths.

[past my sell by date]

It's a long slog up this lovely hill, but an eagle swooping just above me livened up my ascent about 20 years ago
I've seen huge flocks of Snow Buntings in the highlands at this time of year - I guess they're migrating somewhere. In the Alps they can be quite tame - I think people feed them

[PeteR]

My therapist advises me not to read reports on Gulvain I found the slog up this one to be really draining.....then the disappointment that the trig wasn't the summit quite deflating.....took me far longer to do the there and back again than I suspect it should have done.

[mrssanta]

Remember that slog up in the heat. Just wanted to lie down and go no further.

Glad it's not just me then

Never took the bike on this one, absolutely loved the walk in,never saw anything on the summit.

So it's gonna need to be next year before we hopefully cross paths.

One day our paths will cross... There were some lovely bits of river in the Glen that we never stopped at right enough

It's a long slog up this lovely hill, but an eagle swooping just above me livened up my ascent about 20 years ago
I've seen huge flocks of Snow Buntings in the highlands at this time of year - I guess they're migrating somewhere. In the Alps they can be quite tame - I think people feed them
]

Ooh lovely pictures thank you

My therapist advises me not to read reports on Gulvain I found the slog up this one to be really draining.....then the disappointment that the trig wasn't the summit quite deflating.....took me far longer to do the there and back again than I suspect it should have done.

Lol do I'm not the only one, good to know!