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On Friday I couldn't for the life of me decide where I was going to be walking on Saturday morning. Gammy Leg Walker had messed up his knee and we had to scrap plans to try the South Glen Shiel Ridge, so I had to come up with another plan. The weather was going to be bad later in the day so I knew I'd have to get up early and get going. I decided I would drive to Fort William and get myself to the start of the Ring of Steall and see what the conditions were like. I could do the 4, or if it looked poor, just do Stob Ban and Mullach nan Coirean. I posted something about this on Facebook and the Laird of Dunfermline's ears perked up and he made a few suggestions. "Stretch, I had a look at your munro map, why not have a go at Beinn Chabhair or Beinn Bhuidhe toward the south so that you can stay dry?" "Ok Monty" I say, "but I need to get some good use out of the car that I'm paying to rent so I'd like to get more than 1 munro done". "Wouldn't you want to save the Ring of Steall for the Roy Bridge meetup", Monty asks. "You could do the two munros from Fersit instead". " "Well Monty" I replied, "I could just do Stob Ban and its neighbor if I go to the Mamores". Next Monty uses his spellbinding powers with a subversive reply: "Not to harp on but do the two from Fersit. Chance of reasonable weather, not too far a drive, and you could manage it on your own!" What a joker. So I went to bed still fairly undecided.
This morning I woke up and immediately sent Gammy a msg on WH saying I was going up the A9 to Fersit to do Stob a'Choire Mheadhoin and Stob Coire Easain.
Something inside me was saying this was a wise choice. Not sure what that was exactly. But I was up and out of the door at 5am and I started my walk by 7:35. It's a heck of a trudge up to Meall Cian Dearg, loads of bog, mud, and pure muck. But the weather was really nice and there was a gentle breeze to keep the bugs away. The steep prow of Meall Cian Dearg looked daunting but it posed no real problems - consider the fact that I just completed the Aonach Eagach ridge last Saturday
Once at the top it was an easy walk all the way to the summit of Stob a'Choire Mheadhoin. Sadly the cloud was covering the top, but that didn't spoil the fun for a family of munro-bagging sheep! I thought I was going to be the first to the summit today, but they beat me to it.
I barely paused to take a few pics at the top and then continued on down below the cloud toward the bealach. Stob Coire Easain had been in cloud for a bit, but it began to clear off as I approached and by the time I crossed the bealach it was cloud free. Again, some voice inside my head kept saying, "Stretch, you'll have reasonable weather . . . ". Hmm, it seemed I was set for some views at the top, so I plodded on. This peak towers over you as you approach, but it's straightforward and doesn't take long to get to the summit cairn. At the top I was rewarded for the earlier slog with views across to Schiehallion, Glencoe, the Mamores, and across to the Grey Corries. Fantastic! Great vantage point to view these hills. "Stretch, do the two from Fersit . . ." Ach, get out of my head Monty.
I sat down and soaked it all in, maybe too much seeing the slight sunburn I got. I met a few others as I left the top, but I had both summits to myself, the reward of a 4:30 alarm clock no doubt. I debated whether to reascend Sa'CM or drop down to Coire Laire. Either was going to be boggy and a bit of extra exercise wouldn't hurt me, so I reascended and retraced my steps back to the car. On my way back to Meall Cian Dearg a lone shower scooted right past me over Loch Trieg and I stayed dry. "Reeeaasooonable weaaatthherrr". Grr, ok Monty, your wise. The rest of the walk was pretty tiring as I recrossed the ridiculous bogs. Not a dry step the last quarter of the route. But I had been rewarded with some great views and I didn't complain too much. 5 hours and 40 mins later I reached the car and then . . . the rain came. It's still raining as I type this. If only these poor sods in St Andrews - with their heads down and umbrellas up - were friends with Monty on Facebook. They would have had a much better day I think.
Heres my pics from earlier. And to you Monty, I know people don't tell you this often, but I took your advice and it was sound.