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Carn Liath to Moruisg Ridge

Carn Liath to Moruisg Ridge


Postby Alteknacker » Sun Apr 14, 2019 3:58 pm

Munros included on this walk: Moruisg

Date walked: 05/04/2019

Time taken: 5.5 hours

Distance: 14.3 km

Ascent: 1041m

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I arrived back home at 17.00 on Thursday afternoon after a week in Lanzerote, collected the dogs from kennels, packed up the car, and was off in the direction of Applecross for the WH weekend meet by around 20.00. The idea was to drive until midnight or thereabouts, pull over and sleep for a few hours, and then continue on to Applecross. In the event, I pulled off at Gleneagles at around 01.00, and slept in the back of the car 'til about 07.00, and then continued onwards (no, I didn't stop for a quick round...).

My very loose plan was to spend the afternoon scrambling on a'Chioch - but it was a very loose plan, which soon came unravelled.
Bowling down the A890 an uneventful four or so hours later, I suddenly noticed a fantastic looking snow covered ridge ahead and to my left, and immediately pulled in to check what it was. It turned out to be the ridge from Carn Liath up to Moruisg (basically, the north edge of Monar), looking absolutely irresistable, not least because there seemed to be plenty of snow above about 600m.


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Image20190405_120921(2).
A lightning quick change, and I was on the stalking path heading up towards Carn Liath

Image20190405_122433(2). As I progressed up the path, the slight hint of haze over the top of the ridge evaporated...

Image20190405_130618(2). After a while I veered off left to yomp directly for the summit of Carn Liath. Now it was just hard work flogging through the turf and heather; but slowly - oh so slowly - the ridge came nearer.

Image20190405_132444(2). It seemed like a long pull up with having to take things very steadily so as not to overload the old ticker; but the benefit of frequent stops is the attendant opportunity to get maximum enjoyment of the views....

Image20190405_134348(2). ...especially of the ridge ahead.

Image20190405_135334(2). The snow line started quite abruptly at around 600m elevation, and within a short time I was paddling through soft snow about 15cm or so deep. VERY nice!

Image20190405_141745(2). Just short of the summit, Loch Cnoc na Monteich becomes visible to the West below Moruisg.

Image20190405_142359. Carn Liath summit, in perfect weather!

Image20190405_142420. And the view of the route ahead along the ridge - easy walking.

Image20190405_142434. About 45 degrees clockwise, Moruisg and Coireachan Raineach.

Image20190405_144231. Cairn on an unnamed virtual summit providing a nice foreground for a spectacular view of the Monar hills.

Image20190405_144355.

Image20190405_144808. Can't keep my eyes of the Monar Hills - I must get round to doing these, however slowly and steadily.

Image20190405_144818. Again, the ridge ahead to Moruisg.

Image20190405_150923. Rough and gruff and wonderful!

Image20190405_151007.

Image20190405_151018. Looking along the ridge towards Moruisg.

Image20190405_152537.

Image20190405_153214. It's great to be striding through snow again!

Image20190405_153448. The Monar hills look absolutely sensational as a plod along the ridge.

Image20190405_154332.

Image20190405_161253. On the way to Moruisg, looking back along the ridge - pretty damned fine, I'd say.

Image20190405_163816. The more impressive of the two cairns on the summit plateau, but not the highest point...

Image20190405_163833. ...which is a few hundred metres further south west - here visible in the distance.

Image20190405_164543. Not as far away as it looks! Not as impressive as the non-summit cairn!

At this point I had to decide whether to include Sgurr nan Ceannaichean - which would probably add about an hour and a half to the walk with my very slow ascent rate. After a bit of thought I decided to give it a miss, not least because I felt I'd given the ticker sufficient work-out for the day.

Image20190405_165139. So back I headed, northwards down the shoulder to Coire na Glas-lic. The recent snow had been whipped up into some unusual formations by the wind...

Image20190405_165604. To the WNW Beinn Eighe and Liathach looked absolutely stunning in the afternoon light.

Image20190405_165604(z). Same view zoomed a bit.

Image20190405_165947. Ahead the shoulder I'm heading down.

Image20190405_170005. And the same in pano, with Carn Liath, the first point on the ridge, visible on the far RHS.

Image20190405_171413. Looking back eastwards along the ridge, a little way down the shoulder. This is a pretty fine view, and one that seems to be something of a well-kept secret!!

Image20190405_172528. The same from a little further still down the shoulder. As you can see, I was pretty taken with this view!

Image20190405_172539. Looking from the same viewpoint towards my start/finish point - an hour long yomp across rough ground.

Conclusion: a route very well worth doing, especially when it's snow-bedecked; and one to which Sgurr nan Ceannaichean could easily be added if you have the puff for it.

Image3D view of route.
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Re: Carn Liath to Moruisg Ridge

Postby jmarkb » Sun Apr 14, 2019 6:37 pm

Great report, thanks! I have looked at this on the map, must give it a go sometime.
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Re: Carn Liath to Moruisg Ridge

Postby weaselmaster » Sun Apr 14, 2019 10:27 pm

Yes, it's a grand way to do Moruisg, we did it last year. Gets you a few Simms as well :wink:
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Re: Carn Liath to Moruisg Ridge

Postby EmmaKTunskeen » Mon Apr 15, 2019 6:50 pm

Stunning shots of Monar hills and Torridon, and what a beautiful day you had. Well done on keeping yourself on a kind of leash too (which I'm sure you were straining at!). :clap:
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Re: Carn Liath to Moruisg Ridge

Postby HalfManHalfTitanium » Tue Apr 16, 2019 9:13 am

Great photos and this route looks really good. Changed my opinion of Moruisg!

If I ever climb it, this will be the route for me.

cheers

Tim
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Re: Carn Liath to Moruisg Ridge

Postby Chris Mac » Tue Apr 16, 2019 12:08 pm

Nice one Alteknacker that looks like a good walk although i'd definitley want to add the 5th highest Corbett Sgurr nan Ceannaichean as part of the route. We walked around it while doing Sgurr Choinnich, Sgurr a' Chaorachain and Maoile Lunndaidh on Saturday so it's nice to see the view from the other side of the Glen. :clap:
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Re: Carn Liath to Moruisg Ridge

Postby dav2930 » Wed Apr 17, 2019 7:33 pm

Enjoyable report as ever, AK, and cracking photos. Looks a great route that does justice to Moruisg. When I went up it back in 2012 Sgurr nan Ceannaichean was, as far as I knew, still a Munro (not sure when it was demoted), so I included them both in a round starting further down Glen Carron. It definitely wasn't as good a round as yours - though the clag was down so I didn't see much anyway! :roll:
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Re: Carn Liath to Moruisg Ridge

Postby past my sell by date » Wed Apr 17, 2019 11:00 pm

I did Moruisg in Summer with Cenneaichean - which was then a Munro - and didn't find it very exciting. This looks much better :D
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Re: Carn Liath to Moruisg Ridge

Postby weaselmaster » Thu Apr 18, 2019 9:12 am

dav2930 wrote:Enjoyable report as ever, AK, and cracking photos. Looks a great route that does justice to Moruisg. When I went up it back in 2012 Sgurr nan Ceannaichean was, as far as I knew, still a Munro (not sure when it was demoted), so I included them both in a round starting further down Glen Carron. It definitely wasn't as good a round as yours - though the clag was down so I didn't see much anyway! :roll:


2009 was when it was demoted...
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Re: Carn Liath to Moruisg Ridge

Postby dav2930 » Mon Apr 22, 2019 11:38 am

weaselmaster wrote:
dav2930 wrote:Enjoyable report as ever, AK, and cracking photos. Looks a great route that does justice to Moruisg. When I went up it back in 2012 Sgurr nan Ceannaichean was, as far as I knew, still a Munro (not sure when it was demoted), so I included them both in a round starting further down Glen Carron. It definitely wasn't as good a round as yours - though the clag was down so I didn't see much anyway! :roll:


2009 was when it was demoted...

Heck, I was more out of touch than I thought :crazy: :lol:
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Re: Carn Liath to Moruisg Ridge

Postby Alteknacker » Wed Apr 24, 2019 3:36 pm

jmarkb wrote:Great report, thanks! I have looked at this on the map, must give it a go sometime.


Thanks jmb. I was well impressed with the ridge, I must say, and will probably give it another go if I'm passing that way, but include Sgurr a'Chaorachain.

weaselmaster wrote:Yes, it's a grand way to do Moruisg, we did it last year. Gets you a few Simms as well :wink:


Simms??? What are they...???

EmmaKTunskeen wrote:Stunning shots of Monar hills and Torridon, and what a beautiful day you had. Well done on keeping yourself on a kind of leash too (which I'm sure you were straining at!). :clap:


Yep, it was indeed a fantastic day, and the views of the surrounding hills - especially Monar - were truly breathtaking.
HalfManHalfTitanium wrote:Great photos and this route looks really good. Changed my opinion of Moruisg!

If I ever climb it, this will be the route for me.

cheers

Tim


Yes, I was well impressed with the route - I'd previously had a similar opinion of Moruisg.

Chris Mac wrote:.... although i'd definitley want to add the 5th highest Corbett Sgurr nan Ceannaichean as part of the route. .... :clap:


Definitely - but I had a few reasons to call it a day, hence the short outing :(

dav2930 wrote:Enjoyable report as ever, AK, and cracking photos. Looks a great route that does justice to Moruisg. When I went up it back in 2012 Sgurr nan Ceannaichean was, as far as I knew, still a Munro (not sure when it was demoted), so I included them both in a round starting further down Glen Carron. It definitely wasn't as good a round as yours - though the clag was down so I didn't see much anyway! :roll:


Thanks dav. This came entirely out of the blue when I saw the ridge. My earlier plan for this area had been to include Moruisg with the other 7 hills in the area, but unfortunately it's at least in the short-term not now possible.
As you see from the pics, if you can get views, they are indeed something special!
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Re: Carn Liath to Moruisg Ridge

Postby rohan » Tue May 28, 2019 11:35 am

A lovely report of a Watershed hill in fine conditions. I think you would have found it easy enough heading on to Sgurr nan Ceannaichean. I am still in awe of your Beinn Alligin outing which put my own ticker under stress just reading it .
Just one picky criticism. I am a great fan of trigpoints and didn't see it in your photos (or did I miss it) so I will just have to go and walk your route to take my own photos!
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