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Wonderful Pap of Glencoe and Sgorr nam Fiannaidh.

Wonderful Pap of Glencoe and Sgorr nam Fiannaidh.


Postby JimboJim » Fri Apr 01, 2016 9:55 pm

Route description: The Pap of Glencoe

Munros included on this walk: Sgòrr nam Fiannaidh (Aonach Eagach)

Fionas included on this walk: Pap of Glencoe

Date walked: 31/03/2016

Time taken: 5.5 hours

Distance: 10.5 km

Ascent: 1100m

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Since taking up this walking lark and passing Glencoe more than a few times, I had developed that strong feeling, that I must do that lovely little bump sometime. As usual, a favourable forecast had gradually deteriorated, knocking bigger plans off the table, so now was the time for doing Sgorr na Ciche, or the Pap of Glencoe, as I'm sure most folk will call it. Alas, it is now my good mate, Big Jesper's turn to suffer back troubles, so it was to be a solo trip, or so it looked.
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The Pap from beneath Ballachulish Bridge, with Sgorr nam Fiannaidh rising to the right.

I followed the route as described on the site and found no issues with directions, or description. It certainly is quite a steep hike at times, not helped by frequent, stony, shale sections, which are actually more difficult to negotiate on the way down.
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Glencoe, Loch Leven and beyond.
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Ballachulish Bridge.

Passed a few hardy souls, some with small children and admired their determination and patience, as one stop followed another. The weather stayed reasonably good, giving a few opportunities to get the camera out, as well as keeping the sweat flowing all the way to the top.
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Sgor na h-Ulaidh in the distance. My plan A, but chickened out due to poorer weather and hairy moments last visit.

The climb onto the ‘little bump,’ is a bit more testing, requiring careful foot placement, stretching and occassional use of hands for balance/grip, but nothing dramatic and worth it, as I made my way through snow, to the summit. Think I was one and a half hours to the top.
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Kinlochleven.
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Up the side of Coire an Lochain, to Sgorr nam Fiannaidh.

Great views over Glencoe, Loch Leven, Mamores and Kinlochleven. Also, met a lovely couple from the Czech Republic, enjoying the beautiful vista. Always makes one humbled to hear others praising the beauty of one’s own country, especially as my thoughts quickly turned to recent grumbles over the shocking amount of roadside litter, almost everywhere.
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Beinn a'Bheithir, looking delicious!
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Pass of Glencoe, Buachaille Etive Mor, rising above.
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Bidean.

Anyway, we shared a few snaps, by which time I had resolved to make for Sgorr nam Fiannaidh, the munro at the west side of the Aonach Eagach ridge. I headed for Cnap Glas, occassionally finding a bit of a trail here and there, but gradually had to make my way up, through nice, firm snow, eventually putting on microspikes for added grip.
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Ascending towards the ridge.
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The Pap, towards Glencoe.
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Fionn Ghleann. The art of nature.
Once onto the ridge, it was a short stroll out to the munro, though I must have taken ages, marvelling at the beauty of the Aonach Eagach, Glencoe hills to the south, Mamores and a barely visible, Ben Nevis.
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Sgurr a' Mhaim and the Devil's Ridge.
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North to a shrouded Ben Nevis. Sgurr a' Mhaim and the Devil's Ridge, off to right.
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Out to Rannoch.
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The Aonach Eagach ridge, to the east.

A few moments contemplating my previous journey across the ridge, then I spotted the Czech couple at the descent point from the ridge. I fired off a few photo’s of them and soon caught up, to share their company on the journey back down. It was a pleasure meeting you, Vojtech and Maya (hope, I've got that right!).
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Travelling companions.
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Enjoying the view?
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Made it.
Back to the car in five and a half hours. Where did the time go? Still, enough time left to sample a wee lemon and ginger cider in the Ballachulish Hotel, though I may have to cancel my planned retirement ...... if I ever go back for a large one?
Attachments
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Approach to Sgorr nam Fiannaidh.
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Back to the Pap.
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Overlooking Loch Achtriochtan.
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Climbers on top of Stob Coire nan Lochan.
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Mighty Beinn a'Bheithir.
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Yours truly, on top of Sgorr na Ciche, the Pap.
Last edited by JimboJim on Tue Dec 15, 2020 9:37 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: Wonderful Pap of Glencoe and Sgorr nam Fiannaidh.

Postby jamesb63 » Fri Apr 01, 2016 10:38 pm

Lovely report Jim and cracking pics ,Beinn 'Bheithir specially :clap: :clap:
done it a few weeks ago and it was brilliant
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Re: Wonderful Pap of Glencoe and Sgorr nam Fiannaidh.

Postby dav2930 » Fri Apr 01, 2016 11:13 pm

Great report and pics. Some terrific zoom shots there. Your photos are way better than mine from the same hill (March 22nd) - but then I couldn't see half the hills that you could! :mrgreen: Good thinking to continue from the Pap up to Fiannaidh.
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Re: Wonderful Pap of Glencoe and Sgorr nam Fiannaidh.

Postby Jaxter » Sat Apr 02, 2016 9:33 am

Some cracking photos there! :clap: Looks like you had a great day out. I need to get back to Glencoe :D
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Re: Wonderful Pap of Glencoe and Sgorr nam Fiannaidh.

Postby Petr Dakota » Sat Apr 02, 2016 4:10 pm

The Pap is great view point all directions 8) :thumbup:
Beautiful photos :clap: :clap: :clap:
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Re: Wonderful Pap of Glencoe and Sgorr nam Fiannaidh.

Postby JimboJim » Mon Apr 04, 2016 3:37 pm

jamesb63 wrote:Lovely report Jim and cracking pics ,Beinn 'Bheithir specially :clap: :clap:
done it a few weeks ago and it was brilliant


Wow. Think I'd be too scared to tackle it like this, though it looks so inviting.

dav2930 wrote:Great report and pics. Some terrific zoom shots there. Your photos are way better than mine from the same hill (March 22nd) - but then I couldn't see half the hills that you could! :mrgreen: Good thinking to continue from the Pap up to Fiannaidh.


Afraid there is little skill involved for me, Dav. I just point and shoot - a lot! And, some just turn out fine :lol:

Jaxter wrote:Some cracking photos there! :clap: Looks like you had a great day out. I need to get back to Glencoe :D


Thank you, Jaxter. Sure was a great day and hard to beat Glencoe, conditions permitting, of course :)

Petr Dakota wrote:The Pap is great view point all directions 8) :thumbup:
Beautiful photos :clap: :clap: :clap:


Thanks, Petr. Your feedback is also most welcome and a compliment, as you do some great stuff yourself!

Jimmy
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Re: Wonderful Pap of Glencoe and Sgorr nam Fiannaidh.

Postby Steven001 » Mon Apr 04, 2016 8:59 pm

Great report with some equally great photographs. I think I'll need to add Beinn 'Bheithir to my to-do list, it looks incredible in your image.
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Re: Wonderful Pap of Glencoe and Sgorr nam Fiannaidh.

Postby litljortindan » Tue Apr 05, 2016 1:11 pm

Some great zoomed pictures and Bheithir looking especially fine.
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Re: Wonderful Pap of Glencoe and Sgorr nam Fiannaidh.

Postby Petr Dakota » Tue Apr 05, 2016 7:34 pm

JimboJim wrote:
Petr Dakota wrote:The Pap is great view point all directions 8) :thumbup:
Beautiful photos :clap: :clap: :clap:


Thanks, Petr. Your feedback is also most welcome and a compliment, as you do some great stuff yourself!

Jimmy

Thanks Jimmy, now it's a compliment from you :wink:
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Re: Wonderful Pap of Glencoe and Sgorr nam Fiannaidh.

Postby ancancha » Tue Apr 05, 2016 11:19 pm

Lovely report and photos :clap:
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Re: Wonderful Pap of Glencoe and Sgorr nam Fiannaidh.

Postby PerthAlly » Wed Apr 06, 2016 9:21 am

Good report Jim

Still plenty of snow in Glencoe by the looks of it.

Not been out walking since October ( in Glen Etive ). Had a couple of outings lined up in March but work/weather intervened :?
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Re: Wonderful Pap of Glencoe and Sgorr nam Fiannaidh.

Postby dogplodder » Wed Apr 06, 2016 11:23 am

Great photos bringing back memories of when we did Fiannaidh - just have to go back to include the Pap now! :wink:
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Re: Wonderful Pap of Glencoe and Sgorr nam Fiannaidh.

Postby JimboJim » Mon Dec 14, 2020 10:15 pm

And a revisit with Marina, 26th Nov, 2020. Not as much snow, but bitterly cold and dreich for a wee while. Did the route in reverse this time. Third time on SnF. Marina's half way to doing the AE ridge :)
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Re: Wonderful Pap of Glencoe and Sgorr nam Fiannaidh.

Postby Marina M » Tue Dec 15, 2020 11:59 am

Another great day on the hills Jimbojim! Not so sure about the ridge though, another few to attempt first! :)
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Re: Wonderful Pap of Glencoe and Sgorr nam Fiannaidh.

Postby Veronicat » Thu May 27, 2021 3:23 pm

Looks great. I'm up this weekend and am looking to do the Pap with Sgorr nam Fiannaid.

What's the difficulty rating do you think? I'll be on my own apart from the dog and will not be attempting THE RIDGE!!
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