free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
I completed this climb on 1st October but that was after two previous attempts that were thwarted by a reluctant husband, cloud inversion and gale force winds. On Saturday I finally got to the top of the black chest in thick clag.
On 11th October 2010 MWIS was boasting 90% cloud free tops for north west so I persuaded my better half to come and climb Ciste Dubh. He doesn't enjoy climbing hills but he doesn't like me going off on my own so this was a big concession and I was hoping the long muddy walk in wouldn't scunner him.
As we started up An Caorunn Beag we couldn't see a thing and it didn't improve as we reached the bealach. A thick lower inversion blocked out everything but the bellowing of rival stags on the slopes of Sgurr an Fhuarail and there was a real feeling of sensory deprivation which had me regularly checking the compass for direction.
Pete wasn't comfortable and suggested we turn back so I suggested we sit down and eat.... and then if things didn't improve we would turn back.
Ten minutes later there was a break in the clag to the north west so we moved towards it like moths to the light and were drawn down into a world of warmth and sunshine in the glen to the west of Ciste Dubh (Allt Cam-ben). Even though it wasn't our original objective the relief to get into sunshine after two hours of clag was immense!
After a pleasant wander along the meandering river and a wee climb up the slopes on the other side we could see Ciste Dubh was now clear. So we climbed back up to Bealach a Choinich. But by this time Pete did not feel like any more climbing and suggested I go on and do the hill while he waited for me in the bealach. I was tempted....
but if the mist returned it could have been an uncomfortable wait for him so in the interests of our marriage I declined!
Am Bathach above cloud inversion in Bealach Choinich
View south from Bealach Coinich
The full length of Am Bathach from Bealach Coinich
Once out of the mist still lingering in the glen we got a lovely view of Loch Cluanie in the sunshine.
Loch Cluanie in autumn sunshine
As we tucked into food by the window in the Cluanie Inn it was frustrating to see Ciste Dubh so clearly now without any hint of the cloud that caused us problems earlier!
I came back to finish the job on 14th May 2011 - this time to include Am Bathach. It was gizmogirl's first hill since breaking her ankle and we thought Am Bathach would be a nice easy one to ease her back in
but on the day it proved quite challenging!
Chris, Janice and Moira on lower slopes of Am Bathach
Battling strong winds and rain
Ups and downs on Am Bathach
Path was wet and it was bitterly cold
Looking south on Am Bathach
Chris and Janice returned with Moira from the bealach while Canadian friend Penny and I continued up Ciste Dubh. We met a couple coming down the muddy part to the right of the craggy bit and they said to be careful at the top as the winds were something awful and to be sure and turn back if it got too bad.
Looking back at Am Bathach from foot of Ciste Dubh
Am Bathach again
Penny on Ciste Dubh
East face of Ciste Dubh with top in cloud
At this point the wind gusts were so ferocious we could hardly stand never mind walk.
We sat down to wait for the wind to drop... People had spoken of a narrow arrete and in the cloud the path ahead looked worse than it was so when the wind didn't ease I reckoned the sensible thing to do was turn back. I felt bad for Penny who lives in Oxford and doesn't get many chances to bag Munros and afterwards she told me she was gutted and had it been up to her she would have carried on.
So now I feel extra bad.
Sitting on path waiting for wind to drop
On the descent Penny with An Cnapach ahead
The walk back to the Cluanie was uneventful apart from a sudden slip coming down a muddy bit which had me falling to the side and hitting my right knee painfully
as I landed. I looked for a rock but there was none... then noticed my pole was very bent. At the time I thought my knee (which was already sore from the cold wet conditions on the descent) had come off worst but my knee recovered whereas the pole is permanantly kinked!
I limped on down to join the others in the Cluanie who were very relieved to see us safely off the hill.
So on 1st October I was back again with Dutch friend Bregtje to finally conquer Ciste Dubh. Once again MWIS was excellent predicting 80% cloud free summits in north west.
The point of An Cnapach just visible at top of glen
It was looking like we were going to be in the 20% in cloud
The point I reached with Penny before turning back
The last part of climb was easier than I expected
Dutch friend Bregtje on her 3rd Munro - but no views!
The dogs not bothered about lack of views as long as they got their carrots
Start of the descent
We passed a party of 18 on the single file path on An Cnapach who were full of good cheer celebrating Gordon's final Munro which included all the tops.
Gordon looked a fine chap and was carrying what looked like copious amounts of champagne for all his buddies to share in the celebration. As we continued down I explained to Bregtje what happens when folk complete all the Munros and have a bit of a shindig with their pals. I think she was a bit concerned about these folks slithering down this muddy hill cum quagmire without all their senses fully engaged!
On the way up I'd chosen a line over to the right avoiding the bogs in the bealach but on the return we followed the path through them. We were still in the clag and together with the anguished bellowing from stags it felt like a good setting for a horror movie.
Bealach in cloud
Bregtje is studying Scottish archaeology and was intrigued by a ruin of a circular wall lower down the glen. Does anyone know when it dates from? I had the feeling it wasn't that old.
Ah, I must be up to my quota of pics so will add the one of the circular wall later. I've noticed some reports manage to include more than 25 pics. How do they do this?
