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Time For Liathach

Time For Liathach


Postby jamesb63 » Mon Jun 20, 2016 9:33 am

Route description: Liathach, Glen Torridon

Munros included on this walk: Mullach an Rathain (Liathach), Spidean a' Choire Lèith (Liathach)

Date walked: 17/06/2016

Time taken: 4.49 hours

Distance: 11.6 km

Ascent: 1541m

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The final day in Torridon saw me head just up the Glen to Do Laithach
and once more the clag was down everywhere so it was same again and set off
on the ascent up the path alongside the Allt an Doire Ghairbh
Height is gained quickly on the steep ascent and the paths are excellent lower down

DSC04461.JPG
Looking down to Glen cottage


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Maol Chaon Dearg starting to rise above Poll Dubh


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The road twisting back down the Glen


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Stoping only very briefly to take pics good progress was being made looking
back down I could see 2 more walkers starting their ascent also
There was also 2 other cars already there when I had arrived

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Looking back along the crags just before hitting the clag


Once into the clag I took the turn right just before reaching the ridge proper I met a walker
who was heading down saying he did not want to risk it in the clag :o
at the ridge cairn there was 2 bags lying so I assume they were away along to Stuc a Choire Dhuibh Bhig
being in the thick clag I knew there would be no views from there so just turned left towards Spidean a Choire Leith
It was a case of just blindly walking along checking bearings frequently
but the path was also wet after the rain so care was taken :wink:
You will notice from my pics I had no dogs with me ,it was not because it was Laithach
but Jake and 3 nails down to the quick after 3 day on the Torridon sandstone there abrasive qualities
had taken there toll :(
After what seemed forever in the clag I reached the cairn on Spidean the wind was also picking up now aswell

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Spidean a Choire Leith summit


Just stopped for a summit pic and set off along towards the Am Fasarinen Pinnicles

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The path ahead


The path was actually easy to follow as when you came to rocks there was plenty crampon marks to follow
so was soon at the start on the Pinnicles ,what I done was leave my bag here to go over the pinnicles
then come back along the bypass to check it out for another day with the dogs
On the pinnicles the wind was blowing quite hard and making a fair noise I would love to had seen the views
and what was below me but this was not to be ,so just continued along blindly to the end and the returned
for my bag at the start again :crazy:
I then set off back along the bypass to make towards Mullach an Rathain from the bypass I was getting some
slight views but one thing I did notice that there was no wind and in the clag it was deathly silent

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Glen cottage below


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Down the Glen road


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Looks like Andy Capp in the clag Lol


Once back at the end of the bypass the walking is the nice and easy to make the summit of Mullach an Rathain
again nothing to see so just a quick pic and head of to start the descent

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Summit of Mullach an Rathain


The descent pass is fairly eroded in parts but work must be in progress here as there was large builders tubs
at the side of the path

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Descent back to the road


I passed a walker who was on the ascent to Mullach for an overnight camp as he said the following day
was for clear and sunny conditions sods law as I was heading home early next day

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Head of Loch Torridon


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Blue sky all around but Laithach still in clag weird taken from the road at the end


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This photo was taken at 6.20pm from across the loch strangely Laithach is still shrouded in clag


The following are some pics take the morning after as we were leaving and some the evening before
Torridon at it best just stunning part of our great country

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Attachments
DSC04493.JPG
Some of the bypass path snaking in and out the Pinnicles
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jamesb63
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Re: Time For Liathach

Postby nrj145 » Mon Jun 20, 2016 11:15 am

Hi James

Those were our bags you saw! you must have overtaken us whilst we were at the eastern top.

Your pics are very similar to my own and i had been going to post a report commenting on the path but no need now. We opted out of doing the pinnacles on the basis that we could not see far enough to make sure we were safe. Very frustrating about that lone cloud hovering around the tops all day.

Cheers

Neil
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Re: Time For Liathach

Postby old danensian » Mon Jun 20, 2016 12:10 pm

Hi James

Yes, it was me you chatted with at the bottom of Liathach on Saturday morning - hope the photos I've posted of my trip on a stunning day don't rub salt into your cloudy wounds.

OD
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Re: Time For Liathach

Postby jamesb63 » Mon Jun 20, 2016 12:33 pm

nrj145 wrote:Hi James

Those were our bags you saw! you must have overtaken us whilst we were at the eastern top.

Your pics are very similar to my own and i had been going to post a report commenting on the path but no need now. We opted out of doing the pinnacles on the basis that we could not see far enough to make sure we were safe. Very frustrating about that lone cloud hovering around the tops all day.

Cheers

Neil


Hi Neil yes it was a big pity it just never cleared even the pic I took at 6.20 that evening
showing only Laithach still in a cloud

old danensian wrote:Hi James

Yes, it was me you chatted with at the bottom of Liathach on Saturday morning - hope the photos I've posted of my trip on a stunning day don't rub salt into your cloudy wounds.

OD


What a day you got for your walk the following day your pics only stand
to lure me back again
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jamesb63
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Re: Time For Liathach

Postby Petr Dakota » Mon Jun 20, 2016 10:44 pm

We had similar "views" visibility from Liathach, just more lucky on the beginning - clear views before the weather changed... well done James to complete the giants of Torridon :clap: :clap: :clap:
the remaining two munros from the other side you can keep for the right time - I did them in winter conditions and the snow made it great.

I have almost the same shot like yours photo "The path ahead" :D
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Petr Dakota
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Re: Time For Liathach

Postby jamesb63 » Tue Jun 21, 2016 8:13 pm

Petr Dakota wrote:We had similar "views" visibility from Liathach, just more lucky on the beginning - clear views before the weather changed... well done James to complete the giants of Torridon :clap: :clap: :clap:
the remaining two munros from the other side you can keep for the right time - I did them in winter conditions and the snow made it great.

I have almost the same shot like yours photo "The path ahead" :D


The remaining 2 in the snow sounds great if a clear day :lol: :lol: so I can see all I missed
You pic and mine "The Path Ahead " are so uncannily alike :crazy:
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