walkhighlands

Share your personal walking route experiences in Scotland, and comment on other peoples' reports.
Warning Please note that hillwalking when there is snow lying requires an ice-axe, crampons and the knowledge, experience and skill to use them correctly. Summer routes may not be viable or appropriate in winter. See winter information on our skills and safety pages for more information.

Memories of more pleasant weather: Nevis & Coe (May 2008)

Memories of more pleasant weather: Nevis & Coe (May 2008)


Postby malky_c » Thu Jun 24, 2010 3:44 pm

Munros included on this walk: Bidean nam Bian, Sgùrr a' Mhàim, Stob Coire Sgreamhach

Date walked: 25/05/2008

Time taken: 8 hours

Distance: 18 km

Ascent: 2400m

1 person thinks this report is great.
Register or Login
free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).

Since I didn't bother going out today, I thought I'd pull an old report out of the bag, just for the good weather memories. In May 2008 I headed down to Onich to meet up with Dave B and stay in the hut which belonged to his club. I drove down after work on Friday, and managed to squeeze in a late evening ascent of Garbh Bheinn. It was a bit hazy and overcast though, so I haven't included it here. The next two days were perfect though, so I've put them together in a single report, since I didn't take that many photos.

Saturday
Munros: Sgurr a'Mhaim
Date: 24/05/2008
Time taken: 3 hours
Distance: 8 km
Ascent: 1100m
Weather: Warm, clear, sunny

The next morning, the weather was great, and we headed down Glen Nevis to do a bit of climbing at Polldubh along with Dave's mate Julian. We Did Three Pines, which is a pretty straightforward route for any half-decent climber, but I was struggling. I realised a couple of things here: a) 3 is a crap number for multi-pitch climbing, and b) I didn't really get a buzz out of climbing any more. So after the crux pitch, I took an easy way off the cliff, left them to it and dropped back to the road.

Julian leading 3 Pines, Polldubh:
Image

Image

Stob Ban from Polldubh:
Image


Glen Nevis.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts


I waded across the river to do a quick ascent of Sgurr a Mhaim, which I had been looking at from the climb along with Stob Ban. Some steep grass led me onto a worn path, after which it was just a grind to the top. I'd never been up Sgurr a Mhaim this way before. The previous visit had been a winter circuit of the Ring of Steall, an unforgettable day out that I'd love to write up sometime. Must get a negative scanner!

Back to today, and it was perfect lounging weather, with good views. I decided to head for Sgor an Iubhair and possibly Stob Ban via the Devil's Ridge. The ridge was straightforward but fun, but by the far end, I realised I was short of time, as I'd agreed to meet Dave and Julian by the Polldubh bridge in order to go and pick up some barbeque stuff in the Fort.

The Devil's Ridge and Sgorr an Iubhair, Bidean in the background:
Image

Stob Ban and Mullach nan Coirean with the Ballachulish Horseshoe and Loch Linnhe in the background:
Image

The Ben:
Image

So I settled for dropping down past Lochan Coire nan Miseach onto the great Choire a Mhusgain path. While I didn't get to experience the N ridge of Stob Ban, the views of the E face more than made up for it. I've always felt that this face looks much more European than Scottish, even in the summer.

Lochan Coire nan Miseach:
Image

Stob Ban:
Image

Coire a Mhusgain and Stob Ban:
Image

Image

Polldubh Crags and Carn Dearg:
Image

Down in time to meet the other two (who had gone on to do some classic climbs without me dragging them down), and a lovely little trip down memory lane. We then had a barbeque on the shores of Loch Linnhe :D .

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sunday
Munros: Bidean nam Bian, Stob Coire Sgreamhach
Date: 25/05/2008
Time taken: 5 hours
Distance: 10 km
Ascent: 1300m
Weather: Warm, clear, sunny

The next day, the weather was again brilliant, and Dave and Julian had their sights set on a climb on Gearr Aonach. I didn't fancy joining them, so went for a horseshoe of the Hidden Valley instead. Bidean had been my 3rd or 4th Munro, and this would be my 8th visit to the summit, although the first for a few years.


our_route.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts


A May weekend in Glencoe and the road was heaving. I managed to squeeze into a parking space and followed the usual path into the Hidden Valley. I had forgotten how big the cliffs and gorges were in the area, and initially thought I would get onto the N end of Beinn Fada. That clearly wasn't going to happen from my starting point, so I carried on up onto the floor of the glen. I didn't fancy the eroded path up the back of the corrie, so I made a sharp left and climbed up the eastern face of Beinn Fada. The going was steep and a little loose in places - mainly grass and scree - but much preferable to the trade routes. In retrospect, it may be a little more awkward to find the optimum route back down this way (I suggested this as a descent route to someone before, and they had a bit of bother!)

Across the Hidden Valley to Stob Coire nan Lochan:
Image

Hidden Valley from Beinn Fada:
Image

I hadn't been back up Beinn Fada since my first ascent of Bidean, which was probably in 1993, so I was looking forward to it. The traverse over to Stob Coire Sgreamhach was an excellent walk, with a fun couple of moves of scrambling that I'd forgotten about.

Along Beinn Fada to Stob Coire Sgreamhach and Bidean:
Image

Bidean and Stob Coire nan Lochan:
Image

Glen Etive, Ben Starav, Ben Cruachan:
Image

Black Mount and Stob Gabhar:
Image

Bidean from Stob Coire Sgreamhach:
Image

Stob Coire nan Lochan, and across the Aonach Eagach to the Ben:
Image

Then the usual route onto Bidean. Plenty of people about, most using the horrible scrabble up the back of Coire Gabhail. Sadly my camera batteries ran out shortly before the summit.

Up the SE ridge of Bidean:
Image

Down the Hidden Valley:
Image

I was unsure of my descent route initially, but decided to loop back over Stob Coire nan Lochan to complete the horseshoe. The best descent from here is the N ridge, but I opted for the less defined E ridge, as I thought I might meet Dave and Julian on the top of Gearr Aonach. I didn't, but I had a nice break there before heading down the corrie. A phone call to Dave later that evening revealed that they hadn't managed the climb, as despite the low grade, the approach was across slimy, loose, mixed terrain which was more difficult than the climb itself! They admitted defeat and backed off, heading home early.

I drove home after this - great weekend re-visiting the haunts of my summer holidays while growing up.
User avatar
malky_c
 
Posts: 6342
Munros:282   Corbetts:222
Fionas:219   Donalds:80+37
Sub 2000:315   Hewitts:281
Wainwrights:140   Islands:39
Joined: Nov 22, 2009
Location: Glasgow/Inverness

Re: Memories of more pleasant weather: Nevis & Coe (May 2008

Postby malky_c » Mon Jan 02, 2012 7:13 pm

BUMP - full report and photos added.
User avatar
malky_c
 
Posts: 6342
Munros:282   Corbetts:222
Fionas:219   Donalds:80+37
Sub 2000:315   Hewitts:281
Wainwrights:140   Islands:39
Joined: Nov 22, 2009
Location: Glasgow/Inverness

Re: Memories of more pleasant weather: Nevis & Coe (May 2008

Postby Johnny Corbett » Mon Jan 02, 2012 7:19 pm

You're turning the clock back now Malky, you're just trying to cheer us all up after the terrible weather we've been getting recently :D
User avatar
Johnny Corbett
Mountain Walker
 
Posts: 2983
Munros:25   Corbetts:214
Fionas:168   Donalds:74
Sub 2000:302   Hewitts:1
Islands:14
Joined: May 14, 2010
Location: Livingston

Re: Memories of more pleasant weather: Nevis & Coe (May 2008

Postby Gavin99 » Mon Jan 02, 2012 8:26 pm

Ahh .. so that's what Scotland looks like , I'd almost forgotten :o
User avatar
Gavin99
Mountaineer
 
Posts: 1283
Munros:280   Corbetts:134
Fionas:78   Donalds:70
Sub 2000:38   Hewitts:13
Wainwrights:16   
Joined: Jul 26, 2011
Walk wish-list

Re: Memories of more pleasant weather: Nevis & Coe (May 2008

Postby gammy leg walker » Mon Jan 02, 2012 8:39 pm

Wonderful pictures malky,great to see Bidean at its best,cheers.
User avatar
gammy leg walker
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 3464
Munros:282   Corbetts:7
Fionas:4   Donalds:3+0
Sub 2000:2   
Islands:7
Joined: Jan 30, 2010
Location: Central Region
Walk wish-list

Re: Memories of more pleasant weather: Nevis & Coe (May 2008

Postby Lastofthesummerwine » Mon Jan 02, 2012 8:55 pm

Just cheers you up to see scenery like this again, roll on the spring and summer. Brilliant photos.
User avatar
Lastofthesummerwine
Mountain Walker
 
Posts: 60
Joined: Dec 26, 2011
Location: Near Aberlour, Morayshire

Re: Memories of more pleasant weather: Nevis & Coe (May 2008

Postby clivegrif » Wed Jan 04, 2012 10:48 pm

Cheers Malky - as one of the other guys says - So thats what it looks like!

Did Stob Ban in the murk, and almost had a 'navigational misplacement' by walking down the wrong ridge for a short way.

Bidean nan Bian via Ben Fhada & the lost valley was also a great walk.

Thanks for excellent photos!

And if you are due back in Shifnal soon, the Severn is in flood.....
User avatar
clivegrif
Rambler
 
Posts: 1452
Munros:282   Corbetts:37
Fionas:15   Donalds:3
Sub 2000:6   Hewitts:194
Wainwrights:50   Islands:3
Joined: Nov 28, 2010
Location: Worcester

Re: Memories of more pleasant weather: Nevis & Coe (May 2008

Postby malky_c » Thu Jan 05, 2012 3:17 pm

Thanks all - just providing a little break from the weather :) :lol:

clivegrif wrote:And if you are due back in Shifnal soon, the Severn is in flood.....


Going to cycle down to Ironbridge this evening to have a look...if I don't take off first!
User avatar
malky_c
 
Posts: 6342
Munros:282   Corbetts:222
Fionas:219   Donalds:80+37
Sub 2000:315   Hewitts:281
Wainwrights:140   Islands:39
Joined: Nov 22, 2009
Location: Glasgow/Inverness

1 person thinks this report is great.
Register or Login
free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).




Can you help support Walkhighlands?


Our forum is free from adverts - your generosity keeps it running.
Can you help support Walkhighlands and this community by donating by direct debit?



Return to Walk reports - Scotland

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Terriestheberries and 73 guests