Beinn a'Bheithir

[jimandandrea]

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Our last day of walking in Glencoe and we wanted.... please.... that we would see SOMETHING from the tops - even if its just one of them! NWIS - 50% chance of cloud free summits. Well it said 60% two days earlier.... we'll see.
Opted for a circular route starting at South Ballachulish rather than do the ridge Sgorr Bhan.
Signs up again that there was forestry work going on and the horseshoe would not be possible: though how it would not be possible was not really clear. Lead on MacDuff..

The way through the forest, although clearly marked, was not as I had plotted before we left. Oh, dear I hope this is not taking us somewhere else?



Should we not be over there?

Never mind. It'll be reet.

Impressive though and very moody skies.[/size]

The forest path was excellent and I am glad we stuck to our guns. Oh my goodness. Is that blue skies? I think it is you know. Excellent.

Leaving the forest

Looking up to the summit above we could see a lone walker making his way to a cloud free summit - fingers crossed. Maybe today is the day?


Quick, head to the top..... looks like its clearing...... looking good....



Views??? I must be dreaming!


Don't stop..... keep moving. We are going to do it!

As we stopped for the 11.00am nibbles, all was not well with the state of Denmark!

Its all went Pete Tong


Cheeeeze
But wait a minute. Who is this walking towards us from yonder ridge?


Unbelievable - ciderpeter accompanied today by his trusty companion Todd. What were the chances of that?

That's the ticket - another cloud free summit with stunning views and a scene to inspire. Could you take this picture of us ciderpeter? Cheers.



Excellent. Todd does not have opposable thumbs meaning that photography is not going to be one of his pastimes. He does however enjoy rolling in the moss, heather and grass which is a good substitute and he seemed quite unfazed.

Dropping down off Sgorr Dhearg we were once again faced with a possibility that maybe Dhonuill would be cloud free?


Maybe..


Looking back on Sgorr Dhearg


We are going to do it! Quick...


Damn it!

So that is Andrea, ciderpeter and Todd soaking in the views. We had a wee bite to eat and some tea and we hung about ....but it just started raining. OK, lets go. We parted with our company and wished them well as we continued on to find the way down - the horseshoe beckoned.

Can I just say that we should have retraced our steps as the descent here was NOT straightforward and although I normally relish a wee run down a scree slope at a pelt I can assure you this was not for the faint hearted and will not appear in my Top 100 things to do before you die list.
Actually this pic does not do it justice but I really felt quite strongly that my dear wife would not have smiled if I had taken a picture during the descent. No actually, I am positive!

On we went to find the path


The path to the forest


Then back to the car.

One week: 5 Munro's and no views from any of them. Maybe next time?

Just read Rockhopper's post who did this two days on - what a difference two days on. So that's what we should have seen!

[Stretch]

Stunning photos by you guys and Rockhopper. A bunch of us did this in pretty terrible conditions at one of the first WH meet-ups.

[rockhopper]

Good stuff and great pictures to boot - amazing the difference a few days makes in the snow cover. Don't think my pictures of these hills would have been anywhere near as good as yours even if my camera was working - cheers

[Klaasloopt]

I think, seeing these pictures, this trip counts as 'with views'... and I like your style of writing, no tiresome adverbs and adjectives and anthropomorphisms

[mrssanta]

oooh lovely moody pictures. I enjoyed that very much

[Tomsie]

Cracking photo's and scenery, looks nice there

[audreywaugh]

Great report and pics, glad you managed a view! I know exactly what you mean by that scree, I came down that way, was not nice at all. Nice walk back through the forest though

[ciderpeter]

Nice report Jim and Andrea, great pics too... Amazing the difference in our pics, yours are stunning. another reason to get a 7D!! My reports are in progress

Pleasure walking with you both - hopefully catch up with you in the lakes soon

[jimandandrea]

Good stuff and great pictures to boot - amazing the difference a few days makes in the snow cover. Don't think my pictures of these hills would have been anywhere near as good as yours even if my camera was working - cheers

Cheers, but yours were stunning with the snow. AND getting back to IKEA on time! (you did make it.... didn't you?)

I think, seeing these pictures, this trip counts as 'with views'... and I like your style of writing, no tiresome adverbs and adjectives and anthropomorphisms

Thanks.... had to Google anthropomorphisms - have added it to my lexicon.

Great report and pics, glad you managed a view! I know exactly what you mean by that scree, I came down that way, was not nice at all. Nice walk back through the forest though

It came as a complete surprise- we thought we were going down the wrong way. The winter weather must have washed it out.

Nice report Jim and Andrea, great pics too... Amazing the difference in our pics, yours are stunning. another reason to get a 7D!! My reports are in progress )

Don't use me as leverage. I had to wait till I was 50!!

Also thanks Tomsie and mrssanta for the

Stretch - maybe make it one day to a WH walk. Sorry we never go to meet you.

[blanchie]

Great report, Jim. I see the map calls your start South Ballachulish, but I think the residents of Glenachulish might object to that

I was checking for your descent off Sgurr Dhonaill - I went up that gully a couple of months ago when it was full of hard-packed snow. We had a quick chat with a couple who came down that way with their dog - I had been watching them gingerly descend - and they said ok with crampons. It was a lot steeper than I had anticipated, and though I had crampies on etc, I got to the point that my nose was virtually level with the steep cornice at the top........ and pulled out. I can't imagine its any better without the snow as there's nothing to bite into!

[jimandandrea]

Great report, Jim. I see the map calls your start South Ballachulish, but I think the residents of Glenachulish might object to that

I stand corrected.
About the descent - not for the faint hearted. What made matters worse was the route was my decision, so you can imagine my dear wife was far from pleased (She kept saying things in a foreign language in an animated way). I honestly thought we were descending on the wrong route. It may not also have helped that its been so washed out with all the rain of late.
Cheers,