walkhighlands

Top off: bagged my 100. Munro

Route: Beinn a' Chaorainn & Beinn Teallach

Munros: Beinn a' Chaorainn (Glen Spean), Beinn Teallach

Date walked: 05/08/2023

Time taken: 7 hours

Distance: 20km

Ascent: 1285m

No I didn't take my top off - for this the weather was way too nasty and cold. I choose the headline only as a play of word to keep this summer's ,,top-of-theme" running (not sure if it really works but my dictionary says ,,top off" means completing something - so no connection to the scottish saying ,,taps aff" :wink: ).
The title actually should be called: A soggy, boggy slog - or, as Sspaterson puts it: a pathless trudge (viewtopic.php?f=9&t=112455) - and so I have nothing really much to add apart from a few remarks to give credit to my 100. Munro completion 8) .

After yesterday's walk of Creag Meagaidh I was running out of planned walks but there were still two days left of my stay in the comfortable and walk-convenient Old School Hostel in Dalwhinnie. According to the weatherforecast it would have been better to walk on sunday but for some specific reasons I choose to walk on saturday, rain was predicted but it should be okay as long as I had some views to find the way. By time and distance it looked like a much shorter walk than the previous walks and the description sounded not too difficult ... 8)
The moment I set off it started raining, the field was boggy. The ,,path" up Meall Clachaig became an ATV-Track and later transformed into a line of newly planted little plants. Therefore I missed the probably non-existing ,,path" and it took me a little detour around the Knolls of Meall Clachaig until I finally got on the right track towards the fence.
The hillside was boggy at the beginning but later it became stonier and drier. Once on the ridge the rain became much less and even stopped for some time. I really enjoyed this part of the walk which was the best of the day. :D
Then came the soggy, boggy and seemingly endless slog down to the bealach on pathless slopes. I haven't expected that it would be sooo long and I was looking forward to get a glimpse of Tom Mòr - where was it? :think: :think: .
When I reached the bealach I got on an ATV-track and had a short break. Then it began raining again.
As I misunderstood the decription saying ,,Round the steep lower slopes of Beinn Teallach to the right before beginning a direct climb up the north-northeast ridge" I took a different approach because I understood it that way, that I have to keep the steep slopes to my right and to try to find my way up the ,,faint path" I have seen below the slopes from the other side of the bealach. I couldn't detect any signs of a path further up around Tom Mòr where it looked awfully boggy so I followed the ATV-Track to the far side and tried to pick up the ,,faint path". I acutally managed this but the path went on and off, like all ,,paths" on this route, so I always tried to find the best line and a suitable passage to get to the next level. While clambering upwards the rain got stronger and wafts of mist started to obfuscate the hill.
When I sudenly saw a christmas tree :shock: I hoped that it wouldn't be too long to reach the summit now and shortly after I ,,stumbled" over a cairn which marked the end of my scramble.
From here I could vaguely recognise another cairn in the distance and a clear path which made me feel very envious. :eh: This obviously was the summit cairn. Further on there was the second and still a bit further down I found another cairn. So I touched all four just to make sure not to miss my 100 Munro after this struggle. :roll: :wink:
Then I started the looong soggy, boggy and mainly pathless descent. At the beginning I still was on a decent sort of path but than I lost it again and again and finally I gave up looking for it and just plodded along.
I was very happy when I saw the deer fence eventually. I checked a passage over the river but I didn't want to take any risks, it was very steep and it didn't seemed worth to try. There were some traces that clearly showed that others have checked this option, too, but I don't know if anybody crossed the river that high up. So I remained on the right side of the river and finally, surprise, surprise :) I got on an ATV-track again which eventually lead me to a path along the banks of the river where I found an easy crossing. :D
According to the walk reports I have read I am aware that most baggers enjoyed the walk but I am sorry to say, I only can agree with Sspaterson: I am very glad to have it ticked off.
That way the former highest Corbett which is now the lowest Munros on my MunroMap became my 100. Munro I have bagged. 8)
DSC01187 crossing soggy field690.jpg
outlook from the soggy, boggy field

DSC01193 Eiche690.jpg
little plants

DSC01195 fence690.jpg
happy to get closer to the fence

DSC01196 first sight south top cairn690.jpg
rain stopped almost completely when I reached the ridge.

DSC01197 looking back ascend690.jpg
views back to Loch Treig

DSC01201 cliffs690.jpg
impressive cliffs

DSC01206 sheep back690.jpg

DSC01207 summit cairn 690.jpg
summit cairn and outlook towards the north-top

DSC01208 ridge view690.jpg

DSC01209 summit view south top690.jpg
Loch Laggan

DSC01210 summit view look to south top L treig690.jpg
Loch Treig

DSC01212 summit no view690.jpg
summit view
8)
DSC01217 lochan at Coire Na H-Uamha690.jpg
Lochan at Coire Na H-Uamha

DSC01214 weather front passed690.jpg
weather front is moving away

DSC01220 cairn north top look back690.jpg
Looking back from north top

DSC01226 Nebeschwaden690.jpg
scenery towards Loch Teig

DSC01228 looking for Tom Mor690.jpg
Where is Tom Mòr?

DSC01232 weather comes690.jpg
Once at the bealach a new weather front was coming in.
:roll:
DSC01234 bealach690.jpg
Allt a'Choarainn

DSC01237 christmas tree690.jpg
Christmas Tree

DSC01238 cairn at plateau view 1 cairn690.jpg
arriving at the ridge with summit cairn veiled by mist

DSC01242 seeing fence690.jpg
fence in the distance

DSC01251 washing socks sandals feet690.jpg
washing socks, sandals and feet while crossing the burn
8)
DSC01254 tannenallee690.jpg
plenty of new trees

DSC01183 river from bridge690.jpg
glad to be back to the bridge at the road
:D

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Comments: 2



On Top of Creag Meagaidh

Attachment(s) Munros: Càrn Liath (Creag Meagaidh), Creag Meagaidh, Stob Poite Coire Àrdair
Date walked: 04/08/2023
Distance: 23km
Ascent: 1279m
Views: 339


Another moory day in Monadhliath

Attachment(s) Munros: Geal Chàrn (Monadhliath)
Date walked: 02/08/2023
Distance: 14km
Views: 310


On Top of Monadh Liath

Attachment(s) Munros: A' Chailleach (Monadhliath), Càrn Dearg (Monadhliath), Càrn Sgulain
Date walked: 01/08/2023
Distance: 27km
Ascent: 1154m
Views: 261


socks & sandals

Attachment(s) Munros: A' Bhuidheanach Bheag, Càrn na Caim
Date walked: 31/07/2023
Distance: 20km
Ascent: 1058m
Views: 331


quick walk, short report

Attachment(s) Munros: Meall Chuaich
Date walked: 29/07/2023
Distance: 23km
Ascent: 654m
Views: 273


On Top of Drumochter on a round of 4

Attachment(s) Munros: A' Mharconaich, Beinn Udlamain, Geal-chàrn (Drumochter), Sgàirneach Mhòr
Date walked: 28/07/2023
Distance: 26km
Ascent: 1252m
Views: 291


A round of two by accident

Attachment(s) Munros: Gleouraich, Spidean Mialach
Date walked: 24/07/2023
Distance: 20km
Ascent: 1407m
Views: 385


Three Munros and some missed SubTops

Attachment(s) Munros: Càrn Ghluasaid, Sàil Chaorainn, Sgùrr nan Conbhairean
Date walked: 22/07/2023
Distance: 19km
Ascent: 1348m
Comments: 4
Views: 596


On Top of Kintail

Attachment(s) Munros: A' Chralaig, Mullach Fraoch-choire
Date walked: 21/07/2023
Distance: 16km
Ascent: 1215m
Comments: 1
Views: 422

Grisu


User avatar
Location: Norden, Germany
Activity: Walker
Ideal day out: An epic ridge walk with some yummy fish & chips at the end of the day.
Ambition: meet like minded people

Munros: 100
Tops: 31
Corbetts: 3
Fionas: 1
Wainwrights: 27
Hewitts: 33



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Statistics

2023

Trips: 12
Distance: 234 km
Ascent: 12918m
Munros: 25
Corbetts: 1

2022

Trips: 10
Distance: 137 km
Ascent: 9885m
Munros: 16

2020

Trips: 5
Distance: 99 km
Ascent: 11729m
Munros: 12

2019

Trips: 10
Distance: 147 km
Ascent: 9178m
Munros: 15

2018

Trips: 4
Distance: 57 km
Ascent: 4861m
Munros: 10

2017

Trips: 4
Distance: 65 km
Ascent: 4152m
Munros: 7

2016

Trips: 9
Distance: 95 km
Ascent: 8347m
Munros: 12

2015

Trips: 7
Distance: 107 km
Ascent: 8532m
Munros: 9


Joined: Mar 13, 2017
Last visited: Mar 18, 2024
Total posts: 478 | Search posts