Gairich - a good day

[Frigate]

Just two today, made good time to Fort William where it looked like the cloud was starting to clear. Except for the snow showers through Laggan into glen Garry, this is not the clear skies as forecast. Arrived at the dam at 08.45 and was off to the hill at 09.00 with no views and low cloud - bummer.

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The ground on the track round the bottom of the loch up to Bealach na Faire was mainly frozen except for the odd soft patch as Pidge can attest to as he sunk to his left knee at one point.

Loch Quoich dam

The path up the ridge of Druim na Geid Salaich was covered in sheets of ice but was fairly easy to negotiate.
As we entered the cloud proper on Bal nam Foid the temperature dropped appreciably and we stopped for 10 mins to layer up and have a quick breakfast.
Then it was follow the path straight up, large patches of snow covered the path and these were glassy and hard so on with the spikes. Made the top in 3 hours dead.

How high was your last hill

As we cleared the ridge up to the cairn the odd patch of sunlight was trying to break through, we hung around the summit for about 25 mins waiting for the cloud to break and give us some views.

Cloud breaking

Gleouraich and Spidean Mailach

We were rewarded by clearing skies but we started to get very cold in the strong wind.

Glen Kingie

Who needs holidays abroad

Loch Quoich and South Sheil ridge

Glen Q dam

Descended off Ceann Samhraidh to get out of the wind, sat for lunch for 30 mins admiring the views of Glen Kingie and the surrounding corbetts. Gulvain, last Saturdays walk made an imposing back stop.

Down to Bac na Foid

Easy does it

Gairich from Bac na Foid

Sgurr Mhurlagain, Fraoch Bhein, Sgurr Cos na Breachd-laoidh

Sgurr an Fhuarain

Then it was a straight forward walk back to the Dam (if you don't wander off the path).

Gairich from the dam

[Huck Finn]

Looks like you had a cracking day, I missed out on another good one, I hate day shift weekends

[brpro26]

Nice to see some photos. I was up Sgurr Mor, Gairichs neighbour, the same day and none of us had a camera. It turned into a crackin day with views a plenty. Epic winter day on the hills.

[Ian Bayne]

Nice hill looks like I had your weather good photos . I will wait to the lighter nights to do that one along withSgurr a Mhoaraich and the midge

[pigeon]

A great day again Kev,the team missed a good one,didn't look too promising on the way up did it ? Still all well in the end,cheers for another cracker

clag

still clag

approaching the top and the sun almost out

now that's whit am talkin' aboot

views from the top

south Shiel ridge and Loch Quioch

looking back to the dam

Streap

Gulvain - so last week

Glen Kingie Corbetts

the Ben n aw that

back up to Gairich

Sgurr a Mhaoraich

Sgurr a Fhuarain

[rockhopper]

Nice one frigate - good to see that the weather cleared for you. Was originally planning to be up here the same day as you but delayed it to yesterday instead due to the weather forecast - one of these days I'll bump into you and pigeon well done both - cheers

[Frigate]

Nice to see some photos. I was up Sgurr Mor, Gairichs neighbour, the same day and none of us had a camera. It turned into a crackin day with views a plenty. Epic winter day on the hills.

It was worth the wait at the top in the cold wind, glad you enjoyed your day.

Nice one frigate - good to see that the weather cleared for you. Was originally planning to be up here the same day as you but delayed it to yesterday instead due to the weather forecast - one of these days I'll bump into you and pigeon well done both - cheers

Thanks RH, our forecast said clear skies so a little suprised by the snow showers and clag. Great ring of corbetts to try there, a couple of hills under the belt and I am getting adventurous. If we don't meet on the top we can always be found loitering around a bar. Kev

[PeteR]

Great report and photos, complimented by those from pigeon, of a great hill Always brings back memories this hill

[Frigate]

Cheers Pete, good day but a long drive. Loved the vid from Sgritheall, how steep is that scree slope?

[PeteR]

Cheers Pete, good day but a long drive. Loved the vid from Sgritheall, how steep is that scree slope?

Oh, it's steep But if you find the path, a slight bit more comfortable.