Didn't fancy getting stuck on An Stuc

[rogers]

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Quite similar to my last walk which was in the Crianlarich hills with the climb up through the woods before hitting the open moorland and both hills coming into view, although Meall Greigh still had a head of low cloud at this point but as we arrived on its summit it had cleared to give excellent views all round and over to Meall Garbh, so after a quick cup of tea we made our way across the bealach following the old fence line to the top of our second Munro and got chatting to another couple of walkers who were heading on to An Stuc, they tried to convince me to give it a go so we headed over for a closer look, that's when timber said he was sure he just heard the sound of breaking glass, i replied that was my bottle crashing, i just didn't feel confident enough, plus the fact i never packed an extra pair of boxers in case i sharted myself, so we settled down and got the flask out and watched the two other chaps who were making there way up and seemed to be doing fine, didn't stay long enough to see them get to the top as time was getting on and there was a strong cold wind so we made our way back down and arrived back at the Lawers Hotel in beautiful sunshine where we were more than happy to stop in for a couple of refreshing pints from the very friendly bar staff who suggested trying An Stuc from Ben Lawers, so we will probably give that a go, i might just be able to make it i hope.

Start of the walk

Meall Greigh with its head in the clouds

An Stuc and Meall Garbh

Top of Meall Greigh

Across the bealach to Meall Garbh

Looking back to Meall Greigh

Not for me

[jonny616]

Hi

Your right not to if you do not feel like it. Having done it myself it is not as bad as people think, but equaly a friend of mine did it and hated every min of it.

From the Lawers side it is completly different. Gentle slope & makes a good walk with Bheinn Ghlas & Lawers.

Regards

jonny

[Del246]

Know how you feel ! I recently did your route but my friend talked me into going up An Stuc. I worried about it all day and forced myself up. Once I got to the top I didnt feel so bad but admit when I started the scramble I was terrified !!!

[kinley]

There's a goat track runs from the bealach to the N ridge of An Stuc that removes all difficulties.

We went up An Stuc the direct way once - I'm not sure why people call it a scramble - it's an unpleasant steep ascent up rotten loose ground.

Anyway - An Stuc from the other side is a grassy slope.

[Redrock]

You are wise not to exceed your confidence limits on An Stuc, Rogers, and hey - you bagged two good Munros that day. An Stuc is definitely a lot easier from the Ben Lawers side. And I agree that the "scramble" on the north side is not the best with a lot of loose rock. But having said that, it's really not as bad as it looks from a distance. I didn't find the goat track through - or maybe I did, after all!

[L-Hiking]

Yikes !! Going up there next month...Wheres that goat track Kinley???

[SouthernUplandKing]

When I did these three, I had already done An Stuc from the Lawers side so just wanted too give the scramble a go ! Hearing that it was a high un-graded scramble I thought I would be able to climb it backwards with my eyes closed (me being that sort of person). Not true, but it wasn't hard and definatley a good intro too steep loose rock and ground. I just picked my own route through the crag's and found myself at the top a good few minutes ahead of my dad who went the conventional way and wondered what all the fuss was about it being a scramble (he has done the AE and been too Skye twice )

Looking back, I shouldn't have climbed half the stuff I did because the crags were unable too be down-climbed easily. Kinda had a visual route in my head as too what lay ahead from the views at the top Meall Garb but had I got stuck I wouldn't have been in the best position.

All that said, the butterfly feeling and slight shaking from the slip of your boot when pushing up, then looking down and finally reaching the top of each mini gully and then finally getting too the summit was well worth the climb. Great fun ! The South Face looks alot more formidable from Lochan Nan Cat right enough

[pillar rock]

[quote="kinley"]There's a goat track runs from the bealach to the N ridge of An Stuc that removes all difficulties.

I was up on An Stuc last week and having read Kinley's heads-up about a possible easier alternative to the scramble, kept my eyes peeled for the 'goat' track. And he was dead right (as ever), an obvious 'animal of some sort' track heads up from the bealach to the right, then contours across to a very large and obvious boulder on the N ridge. From here it is simple grassy terrain all the way up - a bit steep mind! Quite easy to spot, even in clag.

[delberto]

yep like you i dont fancy doing an stuc the hard way. I done it from lawers and found it easy from that side.
nice good couple of munros.

nice one- well done