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A'Chralaig and Mullach Fraoch-choire

A'Chralaig and Mullach Fraoch-choire


Postby gman » Fri Dec 28, 2012 5:05 pm

Route description: A' Chralaig and Mullach Fraoch-choire

Munros included on this walk: A' Chralaig, Mullach Fraoch-choire

Date walked: 27/12/2012

Time taken: 7.4 hours

Distance: 13 km

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achralaig 27-12-2012 actual.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts



Fancied getting to 100 before New Year, weather looked not bad in Kintail so I kept the Boxing Day booze to a minumum and set the alarm for 4:30. Snow started around Crianlarich but didn't seem too heavy, got to the layby at 9ish.

After checking Google Maps for the parking spot I was looking for a block of forestry on the hill, but the trees are now gone. Looking towards layby from start of land rover track:
Image

I think the path uphill branches off pretty early, but I missed it and just slogged up on steep grass, over to Am Bathach:
Image

Hard going, but a lot of height gained quickly. Made it to the ridge:
Image

Snow was firm up here so I got the crampons on for the steep bits. View back down to Loch Cluanie:
Image

Sgurr nan Conbhairean:
Image

South Glen Shiel ridge:
Image

Became cloudier now, mainly above the tops but occasional clag too. Nice big cairn on A'Chralaig:
Image

A few flecks turned into light snow, and this stayed on for the rest of the day so the camera was only out briefly. The wind was behind me though, so I didn't get a snow blown face till the way back :D Rest of the ridge to Mullach Fraoch-choire, looks good:
Image

Snow was deep but firm, the descent from Achralaig was pretty steep in places so care needed. Of course, things got much more interesting later on :lol:

Got to the ridge leading to Mullach Fraoch-choire. Plan was: head up to the top then back to the bit of ridge on the far right to descend. I'd read there was a bit of scrambling over towers but there were bypass paths to avoid the dodgy bits. Of course, there weren't any paths in the snow so I went over the top of everything. Climbing the towers was OK, but going down required a lot more attention so I slowed to a crawl here. Bypassed the last one to the left, no path so axe & crampons stuck into the steep snow:
Image

View back to A'Chralaig:
Image

On the ridge to Mullach Fraoch-choire, care needed at cornices etc:
Image

Made it to the cairn after several interesting/dodgy moments. Thought about going back over the towers to get to the descent point, but then had a 'better' idea - back to the ridge then straight down, avoiding the dodgy bits. It was fairly steep, but the snow was grippy. Also there were crags further down, but I reckoned I could traverse a bit and avoid them.
Image


Went down backwards, facing the snow and got round the crags. Eventually got past the rocks so I could bumslide the rest of the way :D
Image

Then onwards to the path/landrover tracks, which were easy to follow. Snow getting heavier now and the path was ice covered with snow in places so had a few slip ups as usual :D Got to the road and I could see cars moving slowly in the snow, so I took it easy on the return.

Snow was off and on during the journey, when I got to Glen Coe the police and mountain rescue were at the Bidean car park and the helicopter was just taking off as I passed, hope they were OK.
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Re: A'Chralaig and Mullach Fraoch-choire

Postby mrssanta » Fri Dec 28, 2012 6:50 pm

congratulations on hitting the century! well done
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Re: A'Chralaig and Mullach Fraoch-choire

Postby Fudgie » Fri Dec 28, 2012 10:25 pm

Well done on the ton :clap:
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Re: A'Chralaig and Mullach Fraoch-choire

Postby PeteR » Sat Dec 29, 2012 12:06 am

Well done on reaching 100 :D A couple of cracking hills to mark the achievement and pretty testing too I would imagine in winter conditions. Wel done. Looks like you had a great day there :D
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Re: A'Chralaig and Mullach Fraoch-choire

Postby Scotjamie » Sat Dec 29, 2012 2:07 am

Now that was an enjoyable report
Thanks gman
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Re: A'Chralaig and Mullach Fraoch-choire

Postby gman » Sat Dec 29, 2012 2:41 pm

Thanks, tried to pick a good 'un for the 100th & this definitely fit the bill :D
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Re: A'Chralaig and Mullach Fraoch-choire

Postby Johnny Corbett » Mon Dec 31, 2012 2:53 pm

gman wrote:Thanks, tried to pick a good 'un for the 100th & this definitely fit the bill :D
Yeah good choice for you're hundreth and sounds like you had to work for it, well done. :thumbup:
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Re: A'Chralaig and Mullach Fraoch-choire

Postby soapy27 » Mon Dec 31, 2012 10:54 pm

Well done on your 100th gman nice report as well :clap:
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Re: A'Chralaig and Mullach Fraoch-choire

Postby simon-b » Mon Dec 31, 2012 11:21 pm

A great report, gman, it sounds like you had an exciting time getting on and off Mullach Fraoch-choire. Congratulations on the century.
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Re: A'Chralaig and Mullach Fraoch-choire

Postby Meatball » Tue Jan 01, 2013 8:38 am

I enjoyed that report!
Cracking day for you and brought back one of my highlights of 2012.
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Re: A'Chralaig and Mullach Fraoch-choire

Postby wilkiemurray » Wed Jan 02, 2013 11:01 am

Great report and really liked your photos - the ridges lookded fantastic !! Well done on the 100 :clap: :clap: :clap: :D
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Re: A'Chralaig and Mullach Fraoch-choire

Postby Klaasloopt » Sun Feb 10, 2013 3:00 pm

Very useful photos of the Mullachs 'gendarmes' under snow. Of course, bypass paths are of no use in these conditions, integrated into the steep snow slopes as they are.

Thanks!
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