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The Grey Corries

The Grey Corries


Postby johnrich » Thu Mar 07, 2013 11:47 am

Munros included on this walk: Sgùrr Chòinnich Mòr, Stob Bàn (Grey Corries), Stob Choire Claurigh, Stob Coire an Laoigh

Date walked: 25/02/2013

Time taken: 10 hours

Distance: 26 km

Ascent: 1800m

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

elevation profile.jpg

The weather report looked perfect, I was expecting cracking views so I brought out the "big" camera and tripod. From the carpark at the end of the track I set off for Stob Ban but not long into the walk I nearly had heart failure as I came across a frozen figure stood by the path :shock:
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Getting closer I realised it was a carved figure called "The Wee Minister".
I carried on along a very good track to reach the bothy at Lairig with Stob Ban in the distance.
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The snow was perfect so I donned crampons and headed up Coire Claurigh towards the frozen tarn then south to Stob Ban
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Views were stunning from the summit of Stob Ban
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And not so shabby from the summit of Stob Choire Claurigh
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The wind picked up and gave a significant wind chill so it was time to wrap up.
The ridge route lay ahead and looked perfect with the Ben visible in the centre distance
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I reached Stob Coire an Laoigh at about 3pm and still felt I had enough in me to tackle Sgurr Choinnich Mor. I realised that I would end up walking back in the dark but the route seemed straight forward enough once I was back at Stob Coire Easain so I decided to go for it :D
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I got back to Stob Coire Easain and set off down Beinn na Socaich just as dusk started to settle in, I looked back and could see the only person I'd seen all day just reaching Stob Coire Easain
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At 5:30 the sun was setting but the route back through the trees following the disused tram lines could be seen, little did I know what lay ahead :roll:
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I eventually reached the dam after spending a considerable number of times falling on my backside because I'd taken my crampons off once I reach turf but it was still frozen and very slippy. Initially panic set in at the dam because it was getting quite dark and I was trying to find a way to cross at the dam then I remembered the guide book mentioning about crossing before the dam. After another few falls on the ice I got across and spotted the style thinking thank god for that it was now just a simple walk back along the tram line :lol:
I had the head torch on but the route was anything but pleasant, it was very boggy and frozen so I was either slipping around on ice or falling through into knee deep bog!! It was only 2.5km back to the van but that was the longest and most draining 2.5km I think I've ever walked, it just seemed to go on forever. Eventually I reach the campervan and put the kettle on for a well earned brew and phoned in to say I was Ok at 7pm. I hadn't seen anything of the person I saw earlier but there was another car parked next to mine so I took it to belong to whoever was behind me, but after getting brewed up and changed there was still no sign of the other person and I started worrying that he was ok as it was now 7:45pm and I reckoned he was only about 15 minutes behind me from Stob Coire an Laoigh so I sat in the van with the lights on thinking if he didn't have a head torch he would have something to head for but eventually at 8:25pm I spotted a head torch coming along the track :clap: :D So a cracking long day it was.
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johnrich
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Re: The Grey Corries

Postby Meatball » Thu Mar 07, 2013 12:49 pm

The path parallel to the railway line is far more civilised!
Nice report!
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Re: The Grey Corries

Postby Alan S » Thu Mar 07, 2013 4:07 pm

Lucky man, what perfect conditions for doing this 8) 8) really stunning pics :D
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Re: The Grey Corries

Postby SAVAGEALICE » Thu Mar 07, 2013 6:38 pm

wowsers ..lovely photies :clap: :D looks a great day
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Re: The Grey Corries

Postby gman » Thu Mar 07, 2013 7:06 pm

Geat stuff, hoping to do these soon - might bike up to the bothy though.
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Re: The Grey Corries

Postby Lenore » Thu Mar 07, 2013 7:58 pm

What an ace report! :clap: How unlucky to get both ice AND bog; how is that even possible?! I guess there's no limit to Scotland's bogginess :shock:
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Re: The Grey Corries

Postby PeteR » Thu Mar 07, 2013 7:59 pm

Those views are out of this world. I'm not jealous........much :lol:
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