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I say unexpected because the western Grey Corries had fallen off my radar. I had climbed Stob Choire Claurigh along with Stob Ban back in 2016 - leaving the other two to do another time. Except another time didn't seem all that likely. The problem was the pot-holed track. The first time had been by Jonathan's landrover but that was a one off and Pete didn't want me taking our car along it and neither did Moira want to take hers. So the unclaimed Grey Corries weren't even on my short list.
Stob Choire Claurigh summit with Jonathan and Rob
Grey Corries ridge stretching west from Stob Choire Claurigh
I must have had a conversation with Liz at some point about going in from Glen Nevis and I'm grateful to her for remembering what I'd forgotten. She got in touch in mid October to say she and Roger were planning to climb Sgurr Choinnich Mor via Glen Nevis and would I be interested? She didn't have to ask twice!
Their plan was to stay in a B & B for two nights so they could nip up Ben Nevis the day after. My original plan was to drive down early and head home straight after but then Pete offered to do the driving, which was a generous offer as he wouldn't be doing the climb and would have to spend the day hanging around Fort William while half the place was shut. So I booked us into a B & B so he had a place to go in the afternoon (from 1.00pm as it worked out) and Ian (who is in a bubble with us) would travel down with us in the morning and catch the 5.40 bus home.
Pete duly delivered us to the Glen Nevis road end where we met Liz and Roger. Keira dog was coming too on what would be her second Munro.
Pete and Keira at the start
We said goodbye to Pete and set off past the encouraging sign about risk of death on this path, although from the numbers we met on our return I doubt too many are deterred by this. It was 8.30am and we were in the shade and low light of the glen so colours were muted, but by late morning the sun had broken through, lighting up the hills in their bronze and golden autumn colours.
Nevis gorge looking back
Zoomed to Sgurr a' Mhaim
Scout dog ahead
I've lost count of how many times I've been along this path but never fail to be struck by that eureka moment of emerging from the gorge into open green pasture with the backdrop of the Steall Falls and mountains all round. A bit like a first sighting of the Lost Valley in Glencoe.
Steall Falls
When the path forked right for the wire bridge we kept to the left following the course of the river. It briefly goes over rocky ground before heading closer to the river where it has been upgraded and gives easy walking.
Glen Nevis
Bridge over Water of Nevis
When we reached the Steall ruins we stopped for a snack as it had been a long time since breakfast for the two of us who'd travelled and the other two didn't put up any objection.
The ruins
It was good for the four of us to be out walking together again. The last time had been in the wilds of Fisherfield back in the carefree summer of 2019.
Roger and Liz
Glen Nevis
As can be seen from the photos the path was pretty good up to this point. It became wetter further on but considering the rain we had had in the previous week it wasn't as bad as it could have been. But on that subject I shouldn't speak too soon.
Path ahead with the pointed summit of Binnein Beag on right
Keira and I ahead of the pack at this moment... but that soon changed once serious climbing started
After we crossed the Allt Coire a' Bhuic and were level with Tom a' Choinneachaidh (to our south) we left the increasingly water-logged path and headed up grassy slopes, following the east side of the burn. As we gained height it was good to get a first look at our target hill Mor (on right) with its sidekick Beag (on left).
First sighting of Beinn Choinnich Beag and Mor
Zoomed to Beag and Mor
There was sometimes the trace of a path but mostly it was pathless. Nothing difficult, just a steady slog, with the occasional waterfall to photograph to give an excuse to stop moving.
Waterfall below Sgurr a' Bhuic
Following Roger
Ian and Roger were in the lead and decided they would summit the Beag first, which if I'd had more of a spring in my step I might have done too. But 'spring in step' is not what jumps to mind - 'squelching through porridge and black treacle' is more like it. So Liz and I said we'd head for the bealach and meet them there. In any case we had other things to do like taking photos and putting the world to rights, which due to the strength of the wind had to be done face to face. The men only had climbing to concentrate on.
SW to An Gearanach and Sgurr a' Mhaim
Sgurr a' Bhuic and Aonach Beag
East along Abhainn Rath towards Corrour
Heading for the bealach
As I might already have hinted, traversing the side of the Beag was a wet affair. Liz was ahead of me and Keira was ahead of Liz when Keira spotted three random sheep and was on the verge of reacting as dogs do when Liz called her and remarkably she came. I was mightily relieved and put her on the lead (Keira not Liz). But having a dog on lead with poles in hands on tussocky, sodden ground isn't always the best combination and I managed to execute a sideways slip that got me into a close encounter with a large puddle on that soggy hillside. I got up as quickly as I could but the whole of my left side was soaked - one trouser leg, one side of down jacket and one glove. My right side was dry so it could have been worse.
That apart it was good to reach the bealach in time to see Ian and Roger finish their descent off Beinn Coinnich Beag. The other good thing about the bealach was to find a stony path to follow. It's so much easier to have solid ground to walk on. The views were pretty good too.
Beinn Coinnich Beag
BCB and Aonach Beag
The men led the way and really it should have been easy from then on but, as I'd been finding on other climbs since a mild bout of an unidentified viral illness with fever back in March, I was struggling. I told Liz to go on ahead and I'd follow at my own slower pace interspersed with sit downs when I had to.
From a bit higher up as needing a breather
North to Loch Lochy (zoomed)
When I sit she sits too
Sgurr Eilde Mor and Binnein Mor (zoomed)
I found the last part of the ascent harder work than it should have been, reached the top a little after the others and felt slightly unbelieving to be there. When it comes to hills I'm a dreamer and a schemer as to how it can happen but it hadn't even crossed my mind to climb this particular hill. We sat on that airy summit and cracked open lunch.
Sgurr Choinnich Mor summit
Not sure what Roger's doing
Summit from east (Ian's pic)
NE to Grey Corries main ridge
It was about 1.30 we started our descent which allowed three and a half hours to be back at the road end for 5.00 where Pete would be waiting to take Ian to FW to catch his bus home. The ascent had taken four and a half hours so three and a half was possible but it made more sense for fleet of foot Ian to go on ahead to make sure. So off he galloped and was soon out of sight. He reached the car park at 4.30 where Pete was already waiting and delivered him to the bus station in time for Ian to get food before his journey home. Pete then returned to meet me and Keira. So big thanks to Pete for all the ferrying up and down Glen Nevis he did that day.
The descent was without incident, no more slips or interaction with sheep or puddles and the views were lovely.
West from SCM summit
Keira checking out the bealach lochan
Descent towards pointed top of Binnein Mor
Glimpse of Ben Nevis (zoomed)
An Gearanach and Glen Nevis
By the time we reached the meadow at Steall Falls Roger was away ahead. Several groups of people were wandering around, making it feel really busy. Two young Asian girls were standing looking at the falls then started back along the path just behind us. I instinctively stood to one side and said they should go ahead as they'd be quicker than us old things (or words to that effect). They said they had been watching us and had said they hoped when they were "that age" they would still be doing stuff like this. No idea what vast age they thought we were, but that made us smile.
So that's how we climbed the most westerly Grey Corrie from Glen Nevis and now all I've got to do is work out how to claim the one that remains, Stob Coire an Laoigh. Back along the same route (and a bit further) from Glen Nevis or by the normal descent route from the ridge that goes to road with pot-holes I'm not supposed to drive along? That is the question.