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I hadn't been out for a for a couple of weeks following my mis-hap on attempt at Ben Lui, so thought I would try an easier double and chose Meall Corranaich & Meall a'Choire Leith.
The clocks were to go forward this weekend so I thought I might attempt a partial night walk and set off at 3.15am (new time) arriving at parking area NN594416 at approx' 5.45am and after manoevering to a safe and suitable position I took stock of my surroundings......it...was....DARK or maybe even DARK, DARK........I couldn't see a thing.
Having read report the previous night, I recalled the walk being noted for being wet with numerous unavoidable peat bogs....so did I want to take the gamble in pitch black.........NAH!....time for a coffee.
- View over Lochain na Lairige towards Ben Vorlich & Stuc a'Chroin taken at approx 6.15am (new time)
As soon a day started to break (approx 6.30am) I set off up the track oposite and turned off in an Easterly direction at NN594417 to hop, skip, jump and back track across peat bog until I joined fence line at NN601416 which I followed more or less all the way to summit.
- Looking back across peat bog on assent up Meall Corranaich
- Sun opening up against Tarmachan
As I continued to assend the cloud started to roll in big time and visibility became very poor which in turn limited quality of photo's
- Closing in on cloudy summit
- View (or not) towards Ben Lawers etc
- Meall Corranaich 1st Cairn
- Track to 2nd Cairn
- Meall Corranaich 2nd Cairn
After taking the summit proof shots I continued along ridge line track, which due to hard packed iced snow I drifted on and off and eventually OFF where plateau was white with iced snow.
Again I recalled report where it was noted that it appeared route headed in a particular direction, but this was wrong and that correct route required slight desent to follow true ridge line....what ridge line.....I still couldn't see a thing for cloud cover, so checked my SatMap for my location, which turned out to be NN616418 and was a tad too far West and that as if by special request (well it was actually).....there was a momentary break in the cloud, which was just enough to reveal the ridge line.......but to get back on track I had to cross and desend via this iced up plateau....so I stepped on to the ice took a few steps, the switly back off in order to put on my crampons (better safe than sorry) and off I headed to rejoin track at approx' NN617421 and follow ridge line down off Meall Corranaich.....I took a few photo's as I went along, but they consisted of a lot of cloud with little of the hills peeking through so were not worth posting. As I continued to desend the cloud was being left behind me and I could see pretty much a clear Meall a'Choire Leith.
- View of Meall a'Choire Leith from ridge line
- Meall a'Choire Leith summit cairn
- From A'Choire Leith East towards Loch An Daimh
- Looking back at Meall Corranaich
After a few summit shots I desended South West towards intake at NN603433, but on way down I could hear voices so looked up towards Meall Corranaich and could just about make out some movement, so I whipped out my camera, zoomed in a far as possible and result there they were.....but who!!
- Who did I see at approx 10.00am on 27th March
after that I continued my desent with as little stops as possible....Scotland were playing Brasil and I had to get home for kick off.
- Tarmachan again taken enroute back to car
- Finally Cairn above parking area (NN593416)
Finally made it back to car...had a coffee and a bite to eat, then off home for the footie....just a pity there was so much cloud about to wreck some good photo opportunities....still a good day though.
Regards......................B