walkhighlands

A Fantastic Fannichs Five

Munros: A' Chailleach (Fannichs), Meall a' Chrasgaidh, Sgùrr Breac, Sgùrr nan Clach Geala, Sgùrr nan Each

Date walked: 04/03/2024

Time taken: 11.5 hours

Distance: 22km

30 ridge higher.jpg
The excellent Sgurr nan Clach Geala, flagship of the Fannichs.

This walk was preceded by 'Fiona offers a great view'
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=123079

Seeking a title for this, I looked up 'fabulous' five, and discovered this refers to a book series for preteen girls, so maybe not the most fitting choice. 'Fantastic' has to be it, not so much because of the superhero connotations, but the classic March conditions and good visibility I encountered, which enabled me to achieve a major bagging success but also enjoy it for the most part (must not forget to do that!). This was day 3 of my 4-day excursion, and such sizeable travelling demanded I achieve some Munros, so far having only one to show for the trip. I saw that 3 could be linked, and should not be too much of a problem even in snow. If time and energy permitted once I reached the top of the pass (marked + on my map, it pleases me to do that), then I might even go for five. There would be catharsis in that, since those last two had scared me off as a walk two days ago, in the low cloud and snowfall, when I chose to 'enjoy' Am Faochagach instead. So, off I set, bright and early at 6.45 a.m., to give myself a chance of, in effect, combining two routes into one.

1 map2.jpg
McNeish's proposed routes. I blended B with C.

2 map1.jpg
My old OS campaign map, served me well.

3 damn burn.jpg
Another of these little problems.

4 you ascend.jpg
I strike up the west slopes of Meall a' Chrasgaith.

5 first 2 summits.jpg
Meall a' Chrasgaith 3,064 feet (934m), the ridge of Sgurr nan Clach Geala ahead.

6 to first top.jpg
Into the col towards Munro top.

7 on first ttop.jpg
On Munro top, with par de excellence perspective on Sgurr nan Clach ahead.

Still I'm holding to the ideal of being a toppist as well as Munroist. Happily, there was only one such on this route, and not such an onerous diversion. Early little problems, as is becoming customary these days, was getting across the burn to ascend Meall a' Chrasgaith. Maybe I missed an earlier fording point, but my fears of finding myself all the way up at the pass (thus messing up my 5-Munro dream) were unfounded, and I found some suitable big rocks that I could avoid skidding off. The sun rose above the horizon as I approached the summit, and up there on the plateau was quite a bit of spindrift which leant a great feeling of wildness and 'danger' as a solo wanderer, although really there wasn't any, not yet anyway. It was onward to Sgurr nan Clach Geala, the high point of the range and with form to suit its status. It's satisfying that it's above 3,500 feet, but it's the ridge that makes the experience. This did look a bit scary, but once on it was straight-forward enough. It was the only section all day that I felt I needed the crampons for reassurance, and had an exhilirating feel of the last section of ridge to Everest summit (not that I've done that or ever will, but I'm thinking of pictures I've seen).

8 towards Geala.jpg
Towards Sgurr nan Clach Geala.

9 Geala ridge.jpg
The ridge to Everest's summit.

10 the F view.jpg
Superb view on the distinct 'F' shape of the western Fannich pair; might be doing them.

11 final Geala.jpg
The ascent of Sgurr nan Clach Geala will be a lifetime highlight.

12 me Geala.jpg
Sgurr nan Clach Geala 3,586 feet (1093m), Meall a' Chrasgaith behind me.

Emerging onto the summit of Sgurr nan Clach Geala, did I hear voices? The first people I had encountered so far on 3 walks? I was astonished to meet at the summit a black spaniel, closely followed by a female human. Clearly both knew very well what they were doing, but I couldn't quite get over how much energy the animal had for one with such short legs in all that snow. It would shoot to the edge of the precipices for a 'look', seeming to have an instinct for cornice-strength. Its owner did later admit (we met again on Sgurr nan Each) the mutt was making her a bit nervous with its 'confidence'. I can report I last saw them both descending safely to the pass. The only other person I saw all day was a young guy, who looked the part, resembling the Jake Gyllenhaal character from the Everest movie (but hopefully met a better fate). We shared a bit of crampon and 3-summitting talk before moving on. This section had treated me to some superb passing cloud experiences, then was down to the pass for myself and a decision to make on how tired I wanted to make myself.

13 dog woman.jpg
Spaniel with a sense of cornices in this pic.

14 down cloud.jpg
Sgurr nan Each next.

15 dn no cloud.jpg
With or without cloud is best?

16 selfie 923 3028.jpg
Happy me; I'm at least going to get 3 done.

17 summit west.jpg
Sgurr nan Each 3,028 feet (923m), Loch Fannich to the west.

18 col shall I.jpg
Down to the pass, a decision was to be made.

19 yes up.jpg
The decision was yes! Up to Sgurr Breac.

20 to fourth.jpg
Slowly but surely onto Sgurr Breac, Munro #4.

21 Conich top.jpg
On Toman Coinich, the 'mid-top' after Sgurr Breac and before A' Chailleach.

22 last col.jpg
Down into last col, do I really want to backtrack after this?

23 upper slope.jpg
The final slopes of A' Chailleach; the wind getting up alarmingly.

24 hunker last.jpg
Summit of A' Chailleach 3,271 feet (997m); I'm hunkering down from fierce wind.

Down at the pass, I found my legs did the talking in a good way. I sort of just kept moving, without giving myself chance to talk myself out of it. Well, the ascent was straightforward up the south ridge of Sgurr Breac, and plodding back down the glen from here would not be fatigue-free anyway, so why not get the pair in? The only issue was an alarmingly strong wind getting up now, or maybe it was localised to these two mountains; whatever, it got strong enough to almost blow me over. There were two basic options for descent off the last; backtrack to the Munro top, Toman Coinich, or continue off the north fork of A' Chailleach. The former was the safer, but I hated to backtrack, and the presence of footprints encouraged me even further to take the latter choice. I struggled off the summit of A' Chailleach walking at a tilt, like those APT trains of the 80s, and in my haste to get off there I didn't find quite the best line. I'd removed my crampons long ago, and maybe should have made the effort to put them back on, but I can happily say the axe came into its own. I hit a bit of hardened snow at one point, and the slope got disturbingly steep for a bit, and I really had to hack the thing in to make sure I clung to it and avoided descending the 'superfast' way.

'Warning: Please note that hillwalking when there is snow lying requires an ice-axe, crampons and the knowledge, experience and skill to use them correctly' - there you go. Good stuff.

25 off to tarn.jpg
The descent this way had not been without danger.

26 lochside.jpg
Well and truly down, well and truly before dark; Loch a' Bhraoin.

27 dear zoom.jpg
They're always worth photographing I suppose.

28 herd.jpg
Look at them all!

After the lochan below A' Chailleach, it was safe ground but needless to say a mushy plod, especially on legs that are already wearied. I did not enjoy the trek beside Loch a' Bhraoin as much as it deserved, under the setting sun. However, I would be enjoying a return journey of great contentment having got 6 Munros to show for my trip, not forgetting a darling Fiona. Decisions had been good, mostly, and useful lessons reinforced. I treated myself to a day off, where I gifted myself the Harvey's complete book of maps (and also ordered the updated 'Graham's and Donalds' book, meaning 'Fionas' of course) from Ullapool bookshop. Oh, and An Teallach has a way of teasing you, doesn't it?

29 car is there!.jpg
Car is still there, and so is An Teallach.

20240306_001031.jpg
Not cheap, but a statement of purpose.

This walk was followed by a long satisfying drive home.

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Comments: 7



Fiona offers a great view

Attachment(s) Fionas: Beinn Bhreac (Meall Dubh)
Date walked: 03/03/2024
Distance: 15km
Ascent: 667m
Views: 205


My First Whiteout Walk

Attachment(s) Munros: Am Faochagach
Date walked: 02/03/2024
Distance: 13km
Ascent: 687m
Comments: 2
Views: 386


Mission Mull Day 3: My Fiftieth (Munro, that is)

Attachment(s) Munros: Ben More (Mull)
Fionas: Beinn Fhada, Corra-bheinn, Cruach Choireadail
Date walked: 08/08/2023
Distance: 22km
Ascent: 2513m
Comments: 2
Views: 784


Mission Mull Day 2: Almost Three Corbetts

Attachment(s) Corbetts: Dùn da Ghaoithe
Fionas: Beinn Talaidh, Sgùrr Dearg
Date walked: 07/08/2023
Distance: 15km
Ascent: 1795m
Comments: 1
Views: 437


Mission Mull Day 1

Attachment(s) Fionas: Ben Buie, Creach Beinn
Date walked: 06/08/2023
Distance: 11.5km
Ascent: 1302m
Views: 292


Unpleasant little Fiona destroyed my phone

Attachment(s) Fionas: Meall Tairbh
Date walked: 25/06/2023
Distance: 12km
Ascent: 504m
Comments: 1
Views: 317


12 Hours Around the Bridge of Orchy Munros

Attachment(s) Munros: Beinn a' Chreachain, Beinn Achaladair, Beinn an Dòthaidh, Beinn Dòrain, Beinn Mhanach
Date walked: 25/06/2023
Distance: 32km
Ascent: 2536m
Comments: 8
Views: 1182


Cairnsmore of Carsphairn is as good as it sounds

Attachment(s) Corbetts: Cairnsmore of Carsphairn
Fionas: Windy Standard
Donalds: Cairnsmore of Carsphairn, Moorbrock Hill, Windy Standard
Date walked: 26/03/2023
Distance: 23.5km
Ascent: 1106m
Views: 1081


Drab Damp Dirge of Donalds

Attachment(s) Fionas: Blackcraig Hill
Donalds: Alhang, Blackcraig Hill, Blacklorg Hill
Date walked: 25/03/2023
Distance: 19km
Ascent: 1103m
Comments: 2
Views: 1111

The English Alpinist


User avatar
Location: Lancashire England.
Occupation: Food delivery driver.
Interests: Mountaineering, music, movies, writing.
Activity: Mountain Walker
Pub: Loch Lomond Arms
Mountain: Ben Nevis.
Place: Strathmore, Sutherland.
Gear: DMM cirque mountain axe.
Camera: Digital camcorder.
Ideal day out: An epic ridge-walk such as CMD Arete, or a horsehoe such as Helvellyn.
Ambition: All the British mountains

Munros: 56
Tops: 28
Corbetts: 11
Fionas: 22
Donalds: 18+10
Wainwrights: 214
Hewitts: 136
Sub 2000: 1



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Statistics

2024

Trips: 3
Distance: 50 km
Ascent: 1354m
Munros: 6
Fionas: 1

2023

Trips: 10
Distance: 164.5 km
Ascent: 14026m
Munros: 11
Corbetts: 2
Fionas: 10
Donalds: 6

2022

Trips: 20
Distance: 411.7 km
Ascent: 25325m
Munros: 29
Corbetts: 6
Fionas: 5
Donalds: 12

2021

Trips: 10
Distance: 238.27 km
Ascent: 12968m
Munros: 8
Corbetts: 3
Fionas: 7
Sub2000s: 1
Hewitts: 6

2018

Trips: 1
Distance: 19 km
Munros: 2

2016

Trips: 33
Distance: 1336.64 km
Ascent: 86703m
Hewitts: 70
Wainwrights 133

2015

Trips: 13
Distance: 274.6 km
Ascent: 17762m
Hewitts: 43
Wainwrights 84


Joined: Oct 27, 2015
Last visited: Mar 26, 2024
Total posts: 297 | Search posts