free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
First go around with this walk report business so I hope it's helpfull.
Bidean nam Bian
May 30th, 2009
Time = 8.5 hours with plenty of photo breaks.
Well I've been living in Scotland for two years now and I have to say this weekend brought the best weather I've seen to Scotland in that time; I'm still peeling from the sunburn. This was my first trip to Glencoe and since I didn't know I could wild camp in Glen Etive I decided to stay at the Red Squirrel. What can I say about the Red Squirrel Campground? Well the midges weren't too bad and I didn't mind the fact that I could take a shower if need be, but the drunk rowdy campers roaring through the campsite at midnight messed up my beauty sleep. Anyway...up at 7am and ready to head to the car park to start my walk...only there is a problem...the drunken campers had all parked their cars in a circle around mine when they came in the night before. So, what to do? Only thing I knew to do, disturb their slumber by knocking on tent doors...1st tent a success...sorry for waking you (well not really) but could you by chance let me out of here?
Arrived at the car park, chugged my OJ, took a good look at what I was getting into, and at 8:30 started up the trail.
Only spotted a few people back down the trail below me and it wasn't until I got up Stob Coire nan Lochan that I saw another person as I took the north ridge up which the route description states is 'a better way up'. The walk up the valley was nice, not too harsh on this new munro baggers' legs.
The trail levels out as you reach the base of Stob Coire nan Lochan and so I sat a spell and took in the already spectacular views. From here I could see the well used trail up to the left of the ridge, but my goal was to head up the north ridge as the site suggests. I have no previous scrambling experience, but I would hardly call this a scramble, you basically just head up large boulders as you get closer to the top. The views back to Glencoe village were very nice. One thing though, there is hardly a path up this side until you actually reach the base of the ridge, just make your own.
From here I got my first glimpse of Ben Nevis, having never been to Fort William...
11am and I'm up Stob Coire nan Lochan. Chatted with a group of 3 guys about Bidean and the walk up its adjacent slope. I'm fairly new at this I said, 'nothing to worry about' they say. Explained to them why an American was wearing a Chelsea shirt and then set off for the munro.
Didn't take this rookie too long to reach the summit of Bidean and the path up was fairly straightforward. Was met by about 8 others in total on the summit and we all took turns posing for photos.
I've climbed Ben Macdui and a few of the Cairngorms, but this was a new experience for me and the 360 pano pretty much sealed the deal for me, I knew that I had made a great decision leaving the states to come study in Scotland.
Lunchtime and more chat about my blue shirt.
Time for the next munro, so around 1pm I headed down the ridge and made my way up to Stob Coire Sgreamhach.
Feelin pretty good at this point, but I did notice the rather daunting looking path, or what remained of a path, down the gully between these two munros. The first bit was filled with snow and the remaining bit was down a steep scree slope. One thing was certain, I would have to come off the mountain at some point...but lets get up to Sgreamhach first.
Nothing to worry about on this ascent, just pick your way up and follow a fairly good path.
The views across to the Buchaille's on this summit were amazing and Sheihallion was well in view. From the other direction Loch Etive glistened in the sun.
After explaining my choice of appearal to three very nice guys from Glasgow who thought I should be in a nice green and white tshirt I figured now was a good time to tackle the descent down to the Lost Valley. 6 of us gathered around the start of the nastiest section and one after the other set off, mostly on our butts for the first 20-30 yards until the steep slope turned to scree. First time on scree, didn't really trust the boots, but in about 15 mins I was down from the ridge to a much easier section of the path.
I was amazed at how flat the floor of the valley actually is...almost as flat as a football pitch, and it was easy to see how cattle could have been hidden here at one time...I doubt I would ever come looking for old Bessie up this way.
Once you emerge from the Lost Valley its just a short walk back to the car. 5pm and I take a look back at what I've accomplished. As I think back on this walk I remember how nervous I was on the two ridges at first, but after seeing the Cullin in all thier glory 2 weeks later I don't think it was that big of a deal. Still, I have a lot of respect for the hills and with enough planning this is a great walk and I'd do it again.
As for my blue Chelsea tshirt...well, I picked the Blues as my team, for no real reason, back in 06 when I visited the UK for the summer and I've got a good friend who lives 5 mins from Stamford Bridge...don't see any reason to switch allegiances at this point. One thing I will say about the people you meet on the munros...they were all very nice and helpful, and when I explained to them that I wasn't a random American touring the UK, and that I was a post grad studying Scottish history, they took me in as one of their own which I greatly appreciate.
Now back to the Red Squirrel for dinner and some cold brews.
7am, Sunday the 31st...car not blocked in...off to Buachaille Etive Beag
