Testing the New Hillberg at Culra with the Aonach Beag Ridge

[andrewdoggett]

Whilst I'm in India I guess I can catch up on some of those reports that have gone astray; keep my years taly up to date in my walks diary and all... I think it's 40 munros for the year now...

So thanks to a long break for the Royal Wedding I got a chance to take my good lady; Victoria into the wilderness; and after my last post had me in trouble for putting the hills ahead of her I'd best redress the balance...

So a bit of grovelling; the gorgeous Victoria...

My Good Lady; Victoria

The long 15 km walk into Culra was pleasant enough; a beautiful sunny evening and we made fairly short work of it along the track in around 2 1/2 hours.

I'd been after a new tent for a while; the requirements were:

- Lightweight
- 4 Season
- as spacious as possible
- Separate inner and outer

Those requirements pretty quickly led me to concluding on a Hilleberg; and not long after that I'd settled on the Nallo 3; at just 2 kg it's extremely light; met all of my requirements and was just a 100g more in weight than the Nallo 2; so I figured I may as well have the extra space; I mean what's 100g right?

Pitching the tent was simple and it was up in less than 5 minutes; even the normally fiddly guy ropes were simple to make taut. Everything about the tent oozed quality and good design - I wasn't disappointed...

And to cap it off; a perfect pitch; flat grass beside the river (come wine cooler); peat soil so the pegs went in like a knife through butter... And what a backdrop with Ben Alder.

The New Hilleberg Nallo 3

I think the missus had probably earnt a drink; she was already changed into her pyjamas; one of the many things I couldn't believe she'd carried in...

Victoria enjoying a glass of red after the 15 km walk in to Culra

Another view of the pitch...

The Chosen Campsite...

Then it was time for dinner; again the lightweight option with Jetboil Stove; and a dried spag bol provided the weight saving dinner... Less weight saving was the bottle of red; but that wasn't as heavy as the box of white wine cooling in the river... Oh yes, this was setting up to be a good weekend...

A hearty dinner of Spag Bol and Red Wine

And I think I passed the cooking test...

Did I pass the cooking test...??

And as the sun set; with a herd of deer on the horizon; we drank; laughed; and just enjoyed being with each other; and not only that I won the cards... Woo hop

I love sleeping by running water; it's guaranteed to make me feel peaceful, but all too soon and morning came...

Victoria waking up after a good nights sleep...

Of course the sunshine that went before had been replaced by morning with a touch of rain; but nothing too heavy... And I'd decided to do the Aonach Beag Ridge... Off we set...

Victoria was suffering from a blister (I'm so lucky not to get those; I'm dreading buying new boots) and she wasn't feeling great. Not sure she was that impressed with me as we arrived on top Carn Dearg...

Vicky arriving at the summit of Geal Charn

As we walked along the ridge Victoria decided she would descend and head back not feeling up to the rest of the walk; like the good lady she is, she refused my offer to descend with her. On you go she said I'll be fine; you finish what you came here for...

So I did...

The ridge was enjoyable; all of it easy; with just the one steeper section on the ascent to Geal-Charn but nothing to cause to any worry and I'm sure had the weather been better the scenery would have been stunning. But I like weather like this where it's misty; a touch of drizzle; they used to be Whiskey's favourite conditions; kept her cool I guess; and she was a labrador so she loved water. I saw next to no one for the whole walk and just enjoyed some me time in the mountains...

The ridge walk

More of the ridge...

The Stats from the trusty Satmap... Paused for the overnight stop at Culra; so this walk over two days...

The Stats...

And the Route...

2011 - 04 - 22 - Aonach Beag.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts

[ChrisW]

Great stuff as always Andrew, cracking photo's - you old romantic you, carrying in a bottle of red and a box of white.......no wonder your good lady didn't feel so good the next morning

[victoriajarrett]

Great stuff as always Andrew, cracking photo's - you old romantic you, carrying in a bottle of red and a box of white.......no wonder your good lady didn't feel so good the next morning

hmmm... who carried in the wine??? I think you'll find the good lady did

[victoriajarrett]

your idea of grovelling is calling me gorgeous and putting a large picture of me up on your report... really??? I think a better effort is required...

[kinley]

Amusing report

But.....a Red Hilley?

Shocking behaviour

[Klaasloopt]

Spring has arrived, and hormones in dangerous quantities. What's with these good looking blondes turning up in WH reports these days? Although I must admit: a red tent is the right signal, and the risk of stumbling and flying off into the corrie due to continuous staring in the same direction is much less on this hill than on the CMD-arrete.

[iainwatson]

nice report,quite fancy this nxt weekend if the weather is ok.......................do you reckon this walk could be done in one day without an overnight stop? (i would cycle to culra and back)

[monty]

Excellent report Andrew.
Not sure you have posted on the correct forum. Shouldnt this report be in Tatler

Excellent photos.

Hey Tell Kinley there is nothing wrong with a red tent.

P.s. Hi Ian, Looks like the cycle into Culra is only 10 miles and is pretty flat. So the walk in one day looks ok to me.

[andrewdoggett]

Amusing report

But.....a Red Hilley?

Shocking behaviour

My research concluded that green Hilley's were only ever used by fishermen

[kinley]

My research concluded that green Hilley's were only ever used by fishermen

Aye well - if you rely on wikipedia and that bloke down the pub as your definitive sources you can get some odd ideas

[andrewdoggett]

Now that is a stunning pic!! Loch Coruisk per chance?

Maybe green is okay - mind you - must have had a long rod from up there...

[kinley]

Now that is a stunning pic!! Loch Coruisk per chance?

Maybe green is okay - mind you - must have had a long rod from up there...

Funny - I was going to say just that!

Aye Coruisk from Sgurr na Stri.