Two Cracking Gairloch Corbetts, but a big day all the same.

[The Rodmiester]

Friday was always going to be the best weather day on the WH April meet at Gairloch so these two Biggies with an extremely long walk in were identified to improve the ever growing Corbett count. Other WHers were to be heading in this direction with different starting times Dean and Dave (Kaiserstein) were to be starting off at 0600 hrs with PeteR about an hour after. Charlie (Trekker53) and his dog Jet, hoping to complete her first Corbett) Theresa (Mountainthyme) and myself taking a later start about 0830 hrs from the starting point near the green shed on the road which is at present being widened by Highland Council, KeithS who was in the area earlier in the week had kindly had a word with the guys working to warn them of the need for parking spaces to accommodate the WHsquad and they had obliged by leaving an area clear for the cars.

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Sunrise from the Gairloch Hostel, looks like the weather forecasters got it right, bring it on!

Early starters leave the hostel for the hills

Some have camped an the excellent campsite just around the corner from the hostel, 5 star according to those who stayed there

At the start from the parking bay near the green hut which was being used by the guys working on the widening of the road

On the track heading SE

Charlie says it's way over there, a long way still to go

Track following the burn an outflow of the Loch

Jet is first over the stepping stones, in fact he went over a few times, he seemed to enjoy the thrill of it

Quickly followed by Trekker53. I was our original intention to climb Baosbheinn first but as we could not see a dry way of getting over the burn we headed to the NE side of Beinn an Eoin and climbed up near Coire Loch na Geala where there are some rocky outcrops to pass but there is a way up passing the 682m point on the East side to get to the extremely long summit ridge where the underfoot conditions improve

Jet posing on every high point she could find

Looking over Lochna h-Oidhche and towards our second Corbett Baosbheinn

Looking back along the ridge we had come

Who's this trying to get on the act? none other than Kiaserstein (Dave) He and Dean had done Baosbheinn first and climbed up the very steep West side.

Dean and Dave looking tired having just climbed up from Poca Buidhe at the waterside. It had been a very steep climb and they had suggested if we were to continue that it maybe better to head back to the low point of the ridge to climb down to the track at the waters edge

It was on our way down we came across Evie Karen and Dave who were not to be doing the complete circuit but to take in the summit of Beinn an Eion then return

Theresa heading down the gully towards the Loch, some wet sections but nothing too difficult and did not take long

We met Pete who coming along the waterside track towards us and although he was suffering with sore feet we managed to persuade him to follow Dean and Dave's route up the steep West side

Estate bothy at Poca Buidhe now closed because of damage caused, an ideal place for a bite to eat with a bench sitting outside After crossing a pretty wet area at the head of the loch it was just a hard climb up to Ceann Beag at 705m then another drop to an unnamed top before another descent and climb to the actual summit 875m

Beinn Eighe in the background

Beinn Alligin in the background

The second summit and guess who got there first and did her usual stretched out summit pose. From the summit it was just a case of dropping down to the bealach and heading off the NE shoulder towards Allt an Reidh-choire which latterly was very steep and slippy with still snow patches here and there then heading towards the river crossing. Theresa luckily saw a large boulder with a pile of stones which suggested this was the place to cross, indeed it was. After crossing without getting our feet wet it was just a matter of re tracking out steps back to the car on the in places very rough path. A very long hard but wonderful day on the hills.

[xslawekx]

Well done you guys

Although I didn't come to the WH meet, I happened to be walking Baosbheinn on the same day as you, and I believe I walked past Dean and Dave as they were descending Ceann Beag...

Stunning area this

[Jaxter]

Stunning pictures! I look forward to climbing these myself, expect you'll be on your second round by then

[dooterbang]

Epic walk Rod - Well Done....and you still had energy that evening to climb those big tables and do a little dance

[Tomsie]

Well done Rod big day, if I had of known Corbett days were this long might have started a round
Good to see you again.

[The Rodmiester]

Well done you guys

Although I didn't come to the WH meet, I happened to be walking Baosbheinn on the same day as you, and I believe I walked past Dean and Dave as they were descending Ceann Beag...

Stunning area this

Hi there xslawekx, I guess we followed you around all day then A superb remote unspoilt area with no litter. Glad the weather stayed nice for us all or there might have been a few wet feet getting over the rivers

[The Rodmiester]

Stunning pictures! I look forward to climbing these myself, expect you'll be on your second round by then

Hi jaxter, stunning day for it, it could not have gone better. All in all a fantastic weekend even though I say so myself It was fabulous meeting many new friends and old, roll on the next one

[The Rodmiester]

Epic walk Rod - Well Done....and you still had energy that evening to climb those big tables and do a little dance

Hi Paul, what a fabulous weekend, with stunning hills to climb, Munros, Corbetts all fantastic, and wonderful company to boot, cannot beat a WH meet Well lets face it you just make your own entertainment don't you

[The Rodmiester]

Well done Rod big day, if I had of known Corbett days were this long might have started a round
Good to see you again.

Ta there Tomsie, the Corbetts I have been doing lately have had some of the longest summit ridges and walk ins I have ever done, hard work especially in the winter. It was good to meet with you again unfortunately not a lot of time to talk to you as on the Friday night had all the form filling in for firemaster etc. anyway all went very well, lots of new faces again to get around. I mislaid my bottle of whisky I brought for the meet in fact I couldn't find it, I'm still searching. I must be due a few people a dram.

[trekker53]

Rod,
Good report, enjoyed once again being in your's and Theresa's company. A fine day and I think Jet enjoyed herself. Think you gave her a sex change in your report. Must be all that dramming on Saturday night.
You'll have to give lessons on those dancing moves on tables. Just shows you're never to old to swing.
A great weekend was had.

[The Rodmiester]

Rod,
Good report, enjoyed once again being in your's and Theresa's company. A fine day and I think Jet enjoyed herself. Think you gave her a sex change in your report. Must be all that dramming on Saturday night.
You'll have to give lessons on those dancing moves on tables. Just shows you're never to old to swing.
A great weekend was had.

Well spotted Charlie, he? At the stepping stones, guess I'll just leave it now you have mentioned it. Dance lessons, don't think so, but great night with fabulous company, I think I needed a good laugh, anyhow it gave you lot a laugh as well, ha ha.

[jelena]

As always your report is of the first class!!!Enjoyed very much, and a smile on my face as I remember all this weekend again and again(particularly dancing )

[The Rodmiester]

As always your report is of the first class!!!Enjoyed very much, and a smile on my face as I remember all this weekend again and again(particularly dancing )

A great weekend Jelena, something I needed very much. Thanks for your company, and many thanks for your two bowls of fish soup, maybe get you dancing at the next one, ha ha

[jelena]

A great weekend Jelena, something I needed very much. Thanks for your company, and many thanks for your two bowls of fish soup, maybe get you dancing at the next one, ha ha [/quote]



Taking that as an offer

[PeteR]

Nice one Rod. Two great hills. Thanks again to you and Theresa persuading me to take on that steep climb One of the steepest I can recall.

As for that walk out......glad I won't have to return.