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A slightly delayed report this one.........from a couple of weekends back.
Streap had been on my “to-do” list for some time. Knowing it would offer a tough day it was on my “Saturday pass” list – those Saturday’s where MrsR gives me special dispensation to go walking instead of my usual Sunday
Just a few inches off Munro status maybe, but it certainly shouldn’t be underestimated just because it’s one of those Corbett thingummies
On getting home from work on the Friday MrsR announced that she was away Saturday with one of her sisters to a baby fair, or some such thing. I wasn’t being invited
so was instructed (yes, instructed.....ok, maybe not.....more invited
) to go a wee walk on the Saturday
The Met Office suggested this was one invitation I shouldn’t refuse
I mean, life can be so cruel sometimes
And Streap was calling me
After enjoying a healthy artery blocking breakfast courtesy Ronald MacDonald I was parked up at the Craigag car park for an 8.30 start. I was beginning to think the man (or woman) from the Met Office had been fibbing as I set off. There was little sign of the sun and the cloud was looking pretty thick.
The route itself involves a quick few yards along the main road from the car park to an estate track. The sign on the gate suggests walkers are welcome, but the very first obstacle I found myself struggling with was the gate I had to get through. Now, I’m not fat, I’m not fat at all, but even I struggled getting through this thing. First (after a bit of initial faffing) I had to pass my rucksack through and then manoeuvre myself round through the narrowest of gaps
Me thinks a redesign is required
P1150378 by
Riedel2012, on Flickr
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Riedel2012, on Flickr
Having passed the first test I was now on my way properly
The first part of the route is a two mile walk along a landrover track alongside the Dubh Lighe. There were some nice cascades and waterfalls to catch my attention along the way, giving me the opportunity to stop and take a few early photos
P1150390 by
Riedel2012, on Flickr
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Riedel2012, on Flickr
Crystal clear watersAs the main track took I sharp right I took the left offshoot; a short section of boggy track leading to a deer fence. Another obstacle was encountered at the deer fence, as I couldn’t easily see a route round, over or through the fence. Managed it eventually
P1150398 by
Riedel2012, on Flickr
Left hereP1150400 by
Riedel2012, on Flickr
Next obstacle.......and the start of the pathless section into the CoireThe next section of the day wasn’t the best – the pathless rising traverse of the lower flank of Beinn an Tuim into Coire an Tuim
Thank goodness the bracken was all died down, as it would have been a jungle otherwise. As it was, for me it was very much a slow traipse, with the odd route finding “issue” along the way (managed to put myself on some steepish, damp craggy bits at one point
).
P1150406 by
Riedel2012, on Flickr
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Riedel2012, on Flickr
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Riedel2012, on Flickr
Eventually the Coire came into view, which helped bolster my enthusiasm somewhat. It’s s till a bit of a walk in, but over a much more gradual climb, even if it was boggy in places (but hey, this is Scotland. What did I expect
). It was a fairly gentle rise up on the Bealach a’Chait, made more entertaining by a little walk up a remaining bank of snow
Oh, and the sun came out
P1150435 by
Riedel2012, on Flickr
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Riedel2012, on Flickr
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Riedel2012, on Flickr
Once on the main ridge the route really comes into its own; rising and falling first over Meall an Uillt Chaoil and then Stob Coire nan Cearc before the final climb up onto Streap itself. I have to say, on arriving on the Bealach a’Chait the view back to the craggy north face of Beinn an Tuim certainly caught the eye
P1150478 by
Riedel2012, on Flickr
My routeP1150481 by
Riedel2012, on Flickr
Beinn an TuimP1150484 by
Riedel2012, on Flickr
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Riedel2012, on Flickr
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Riedel2012, on Flickr
The actual route to Streap isn’t difficult, but as I say does involve going up, then down, then up and down again before the final climb. When I was there the descent routes also had significant cover, which was entertaining
Had a few moment where crampons would probably have been sensible, but I was lazy and instead chanced my arm now and again
P1150494 by
Riedel2012, on Flickr
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Riedel2012, on Flickr
My route aheadP1150503 by
Riedel2012, on Flickr
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Riedel2012, on Flickr
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Riedel2012, on Flickr
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Riedel2012, on Flickr
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Riedel2012, on Flickr
Some views back off the first summitP1150522 by
Riedel2012, on Flickr
I have to admit, as my eyes clocked the craggy face of Stob Coire nan Cearc I did start to doubt myself, given I was on my own. It looked awfully craggy and there was a fair covering of snow on the descent off Meall an Uillt Chaoil to get past too
As it was, everything was overcome without any difficulties
P1150528 by
Riedel2012, on Flickr
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Riedel2012, on Flickr
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Riedel2012, on Flickr
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Riedel2012, on Flickr
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Riedel2012, on Flickr
The summit of Stob Coire nan Cearc gave me the chance to clock in with MrsR and let her know I was ok. From here Streap looked magnificent. There’s talk of an airy ridge and I was still a bit nervous being as I was on my lonesome and thus far had seen no one. Again, as I was to discover achieving the summit of Streap was straightforward, even with some hard, icy snow to deal with coming down off Stob Coire nan Cearc.
P1150550 by
Riedel2012, on Flickr
Nearly thereP1150557 by
Riedel2012, on Flickr
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Riedel2012, on Flickr
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Riedel2012, on Flickr
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Riedel2012, on Flickr
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Riedel2012, on Flickr
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Riedel2012, on Flickr
Streap.....here I comeI really enjoyed the steep narrow climb and then the sometimes airy short walk to the summit cairn. Time again to report in to MrsR and soak up more great views. Some were a bit hazy and to be honest the views north, south and west were something of a confusion of great looking hills. I’ve walked many of them too, but was struggling to locate specific hills that easily at the time. One for an “at home” review in the comfort of my favourite sofa
P1150587 by
Riedel2012, on Flickr
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Riedel2012, on Flickr
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Riedel2012, on Flickr
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Riedel2012, on Flickr
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Riedel2012, on Flickr
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Riedel2012, on Flickr
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Riedel2012, on Flickr
Looking east though the magnificent form of Ben Nevis was unmistakable Along with the neighbouring Aonachs and Mamores
P1150619 by
Riedel2012, on Flickr
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Riedel2012, on Flickr
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Riedel2012, on Flickr
The ridge across to Streap Comhlaidh was great fun. Steep at first, then narrow before the final easy climb onto the unmarked summit. In normal circumstances this would all be straightforward, but with a big slab of icy snow to cross became far more “interesting”
P1150634 by
Riedel2012, on Flickr
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Riedel2012, on Flickr
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Riedel2012, on Flickr
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Riedel2012, on Flickr
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Riedel2012, on Flickr
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Riedel2012, on Flickr
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Riedel2012, on Flickr
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Riedel2012, on Flickr
And then came the descent back to the Glen
As descents go, it wasn’t technical at all.............just very steep............very steep For me this converts to slow.................very slow
P1150680 by
Riedel2012, on Flickr
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Riedel2012, on Flickr
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Riedel2012, on Flickr
By the time I had reached the bottom I was being overtaken by a couple of young lads. They stopped for a brief chat, where one suggested he was feeling sluggish (I’d been watching them both fleeing down the steep ridge). Well, if he was feeling sluggish goodness knows what that made me..........old I think
But now I was on an often boggy land rover track and the long walk back out
What could possibly go wrong?
Well that would be the knee high bog I stepped into on the track, resulting in me finishing the walk in a fetching pair of two tone trousers - top half mountain green and bottom half peat bog brown
I was certainly surprised at the strength of the suction as I attempted to extricate myself and my boots from the gloop
Thankfully the remainder of the walk was uneventful
Stopped off en-route at the rebuilt and refurbished Gleann Dubh Lighe bothy
I’ve not bothied before, but this looked like luxury compared to some bothies I’ve popped into on other walks. A very impressive refurb job
P1150703 by
Riedel2012, on Flickr
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Riedel2012, on Flickr
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Riedel2012, on Flickr
So that was my Streap experience. A magnificent day and by the looks of it I was one of many fellow walkhighlanders making the most of some stellar weekend weather that Saturday