Loch Lochy Munros

[rockhopper]

Family and other commitments meant that I hadn’t been near a hill since the start of October. Plans for the weekend meant again that I couldn’t get out until a last minute change freed up Sunday. Late night on Saturday and an early rise on Sunday meant little sleep but nothing that couldn’t be fixed by some strong coffee and breakfast. Drive up took a lot longer than usual – icy stretches and a problematic glow plug warning lamp necessitating frequent stops meant that I didn’t get away from Kilfinnan until 9am.

Cycled down the forest path until I got to the start of the Cam Bhealach track – the boot had disappeared from the post though.



After the initially steep section through the forest, the track is then in more open ground - from then on it was a fairly gradual incline all the way up to the bhealach. Track was a bit icy in places with a little snow but nothing serious.







When I got to the bhealach, another walker shouted down to me from the lower slopes of Sron a Choire Ghairbh. Turned out he’d come over from Blairgowrie the previous night, had set off at 6am (his was the only other car parked when I arrived) and he’d already been up Meall na Teanga.

Looking back east


Looking west


Walker in the distance


Meall Dubh and Meall na Teanga


We followed the zig-zag path using previous footsteps in the snow and chatted on the way up to the summit of Sron a Choire Ghairbh. Despite the good weather, we were amazed to be the only people on these hills that day.





Some great views from the top although it was a little cloudier over to Knoydart.





Took a bit longer to take photos though as my camera wouldn’t work in the cold until I could warm it up.















We then headed back down to the bhealach – didn’t take long at all. As he was then heading back down, we said our goodbyes and I set off southwards to skirt round Meall Dubh en route for Meall na Teanga.





Once round Meall Dubh, the going got a bit steeper with soft, deep snow which didn’t really hold any kicked steps. Following previous steps and after floundering around a wee bit in the snow, I got up through the lower cornice edge and then the easier walk up to the summit cairn. Had the hill to myself – no-one else around at all.





It was a bit colder here with a little wind starting to pick up. Same problem again with the camera which switched itself off each time I tried taking a picture – tried changing batteries but to no avail. So then followed a period of holding the camera under my fleece to warm it up and bringing it out to get a photo then back under the fleece to do the same again. [Have now checked the instructions which state a lower operating limit of 0 degrees ].





Had lunch and hung around for a while just looking at the view.





Could’ve stayed there all day but it was starting to get really cold so I headed back the way I’d come. Much easier descending in soft snow and then followed the straightforward walk back down to the forestry path.

Faint traces of the zigzags up Sron a Choire Ghairbh



Back at the car the mist was still down in the glen



Slow drive back to Glasgow as the engine problems kept reappearing. Glad I managed to get out on such a day.

[Fudgie]

Excellent pictures, particularly the one with the axe. I'm off work next week so I'll add these to the "maybe" pile

[soapy27]

Awesome pictures there rockhopper:clap:

[Graeme D]

Awesome pictures there rockhopper:clap:

Indeed. Some fantastic light and contrast!

[Meatball]

Nice!
Also on the to do list!

[pigeon]

Nice one RH,good to see you back out,still to do these as well so this will re visit your report soon

[ChrisW]

What a cracker Rockhopper, seems like everything came together just right for the day....brilliant I could feel your slog through the deeper soft snow as that is the norm around here now The camera thing was interesting but at least you got around the 0' degree issue buy keeping it under your fleece to get some beautiful photos, lovely day

[Scotjamie]

Really enjoyed that - pics great as always!!

[jonny616]

jammy git

[Collaciotach]

Great photos and i now see what i missed in all that Céo ..... can't beat the Winters day R

[PeteR]

Nice report rockhopper, and some great photos too I was up this way a few weeks back to pick of Sron a Choire Ghairbh, as I had done the neighbour a couple of years before. Never quite got round to posting my report though, so good to see yours instead I like these two hills, even though they have done their best to make me work harder than I should have for the two ticks

[jimandandrea]

Fantastic. Great weather and walk with pics to reflect on a crackin day.
Loved the axe/summit/sunset - excellent.

[Johnny Corbett]

Kim and i got no views whats so ever when we did these so nice to see what it looks like from up there

[simon-b]

Well done for persevering with the camera, Rockhopper, it was well worth it. Those look like a nice couple of hills, the views are certainly good.

[Simo]

Awesome adventure, like the angle of Aonachs, CMD and Ben Nevis