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I had planned to walk Sgor na h-Ulaidh & Beinn Fhionnlaidh in Glen Etive, this would just leave Beinn Sgulaird to complete the Munros in this area.
I then started to think that maybe i could link Beinn Sgulaird into the equation and make this an enjoyable epic
No one had posted anything on WH so it was off to the multiple munro baggers site that is Steve Fallon. Sure enough he linked all 3, on what would be mostly pathless terrain for much of the walk. I decided to vary his route slightly....
Early rise and left the beautifully enchanting landscape that is the East of Glasgow, would Glen Etive match it for superlative scenery and wonderment....
Drove to NN11000 45321 and left my bike here, this would leave a 5k or so cycle back to the start/car.
Admiring the beauty of Loch Etive before driving back to the start
Got to the start and headed North 2k through Glen Etive forrest at 7.15am
When cleared the edge of the forrest i traversed west before countouring NW under Meall a bhuiridh
Views South
and West
The terrain was pathless and extremely boggy but i soon got to Bealach Clach nam Mierleach. I ditched my rucksack here and headed NE a 200M before ascending the rocky last 600M NE to the summit of Sgor na h-Ulaidh
For some reason i wasn't enjoying todays outing and when i reached the summit the clag appeared and i could see nothing, at this point i thought of heading back to my car. . . .not felt like this on the hills before, was i losing interest?
No summit shot of the cairn to impress the good folks of WH with.
I gathered my thoughts and headed back to the bealach, the tricky rocky West face of Beinn Fhionnlaidh staring at me
By now the clag had dissappeared and seeing what lay ahead renewed my motivation.
At the foot of the rocks i went South 400M then W 100M before heading upwards N to the ridge leading to the summit of Beinn Fhionnlaidh. I had not taken a direct route up the West face as it looked very dodgy.
Ridge to Beinn Fhionnlaidh
I could now see the 3rd munro Beinn Sgulaird in the distance
I soon reached the summit of Beinn Fhionnlaidh
Quick bite to eat here as i knew the difficult part of the walk lay ahead. By now i was in good spirits and really enjoying the solitude, being lost in my own thoughts. . . .and thinking, that this marginally beats the East End for beauty
With renewed purpose and vigour i retraced my steps down the ridge 500M and turned right, heading South for 1k following some fence posts.
I could see Sgulaird in the distance
Being able to see clearly i just made sure i stayed west of Lochan na Fola & Airigh nan Lochan. The terrain was wet, boggy and pathless...but i was having fun. The trail running shoes wet and dirty.
When at Lochan na Fola i started to ascend west to Stob Gaibre. It was now that i started to really feel it, the ascent never seemed to stop....but again i was enjoying the phsyical challenge, i had entered a new zone
I had ran out of water so was drinking from streams, yummy . . . .saying that at this point i would have drank my own ****, in the name of preserving life
.
Finally reached Stob Gaibhre and viewed the last ascent to Sgulaird
Again this felt like hard work, but again strangely enjoyable. . . .i had long forgotten about my mini breakdown at the start of the walk, what was that about
I reached the summit of Sgulaird and the clag appeared, managed one photo
Ate some pasta and was on my way for the epic walk out. I decided to descend straight down the centre of Coire nan Tulach, this presented no difficulties. It was a staight forward walk 5k East to the West side of Glen Etive forrest, again terrain super boggy and wet.
At the forrest there is a muddy path over 2k which takes you to the end of the walk and hopefully to my bike.
The last 2k were torture, i was covered in mud to my knees and was very wet.
Thankfully my bike was still there and i cycled the 5k back to the car, this was very enjoyable with the views over to starav and friends spectacular.
Got in the car and left at 5.15pm, the drive back through Glen Etive stunning.
This was a very hard walk but i enjoyed it thoroughly and the solitude had given me time to sort some stuff out in my head, i was now looking forward to Glasgow and the beauty that lay waiting in the East End
p.s well done to Rockhopper who completed a similar route then next day did the Starav 5, superb effort.