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I left the car park at the end of the loch Arkaig at 0800am just before a heavy logging lorry plus trailer set off back down the single track road to continue with the on going road demolition project.
I cycled to Upper Glendessary, deposited the bike alongside the inquisitive deer then followed the wee path up to the watershed at the edge of the forest.
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scottishkennyg, on Flickr
I crossed the river and located the feint path climbing up the south spur of SnC. Some emerging views of the walk to come..
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scottishkennyg, on Flickr
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scottishkennyg, on Flickr
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scottishkennyg, on Flickr
A zoom to loch Nevis
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scottishkennyg, on Flickr
At the top there was a short walk along the ridge to gain the summit cairn at 1040 with the reward of some great panoramic views.
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scottishkennyg, on Flickr
A view back along ridge of ascent..
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scottishkennyg, on Flickr
A view over the forthcoming tops..
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scottishkennyg, on Flickr
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scottishkennyg, on Flickr
A view toward ferry over to Knoydart route..
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scottishkennyg, on Flickr
View back down ridge..
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scottishkennyg, on Flickr
It was great to see what Sgurr Mor should have looked like last month. I descended WSW down a steep slope to reach the bealach to disturb more deer.
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scottishkennyg, on Flickr
Followed the dry stone dyke upwards and over some nice rocky sections .
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scottishkennyg, on Flickr
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scottishkennyg, on Flickr
Down loch Nevis from the ridge..
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scottishkennyg, on Flickr
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scottishkennyg, on Flickr
along wall back toward SnC
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scottishkennyg, on Flickr
Back to Sgurr Mor
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scottishkennyg, on Flickr
toward summit of GCB..
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scottishkennyg, on Flickr
Level section on ridge..
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scottishkennyg, on Flickr
Sgurr na Ciche peeking through on the right hand side..
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scottishkennyg, on Flickr
Back down ridge..
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scottishkennyg, on Flickr
final section..
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scottishkennyg, on Flickr
random wee gulley..
Glendessary 089 by
scottishkennyg, on Flickr
Back down ridge from cairn of GcB
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scottishkennyg, on Flickr
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scottishkennyg, on Flickr
I proceeded along the rocky ridge with some nice snow filled sections which required some hands on tactics to avoid slips.
a view ahead to SnC..
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scottishkennyg, on Flickr
before reaching the Munro summit of Gairbh Choich Mhor at 1150.
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scottishkennyg, on Flickr
over toward Ben Nevis and company..
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scottishkennyg, on Flickr
Snow line back down to Sheil ridge..
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scottishkennyg, on Flickr
Ahead down loch Nevis
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scottishkennyg, on Flickr
Over to SnC with Meall Buidhe in Knoydart behind..
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scottishkennyg, on Flickr
The next section was tricky due to the soft snow and steep boulders and required extra caution to reach the Bealach na n Eang with the narrow gulley. The snow to this point had been mostly soft and evidently thawing so there was no need to don the crampons or ice axe.
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scottishkennyg, on Flickr
I deposited my red rucksack against a snow section near the gulley to enjoy a light traverse...
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scottishkennyg, on Flickr
before heading west up the steep slopes then turning north to regain the ridge just beyond the rocky outcrop then on to the summit cairn and broken trig point at 1415. The summit sat proudly over Knoydart in a very remote and picturesque location.
Across to Luinne Beinn and LB..
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scottishkennyg, on Flickr
Over to Meall Buidhe with Ladhar Bheinn in distance..
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scottishkennyg, on Flickr
The leg muscles were tight and it was the perfect setting to sit down and soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the environment as the merry go round stopped for a wee while.
View back down to loch Cuaich..
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scottishkennyg, on Flickr
Knoydart again..
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scottishkennyg, on Flickr
Loch Nevis..
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scottishkennyg, on Flickr
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scottishkennyg, on Flickr
I noticed that the snow in Knoydart summits was almost gone and there would be no need to carry the ice axe and crampons next week into this area...Nice one!!
All too soon it was time to get going back down..
On the return I met and chatted with another walker who had just walked in from the car park (it had taken him 5 hours). I descended into the narrow gulley
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scottishkennyg, on Flickr
and tip toed down to where it levelled out and I managed to get one pole snapped after it got stuck in a rocky gap. Expletive!. Positive..will be able to use the odd pole from the last time when I broke one...
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scottishkennyg, on Flickr
I contoured around the SW slopes of GCB before descending into the main glen dessary.
A view along the path leading to Sourlies bothy..
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scottishkennyg, on Flickr
I found the main path and just surfed the wet and boggy terrain to eventually reach the upper lodge. A very welcome seat on the bike and a rapid final leg saw me back to the car for 1720.
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scottishkennyg, on Flickr
The return drive was again limited to 15mph until Gairlochy due to the poor condition of the road surface in some areas and the roller coaster nature of the terrain.
Knoydart beckons...