A snowy start from the Bealach na Ba!
Route: Sgùrr a' Chaorachain, Bealach na Ba
Corbetts: Sgùrr a' Chaorachain
Date walked: 14/04/2012
Time taken: 3 hours
Distance: 7km
Ascent: 375m
Determined that the weather was not going to be an issue for me walking this weekend, I checked the forecast and decided on the easy option of Sgurr a' Chaorachain to add another Corbett!
Edit: Maybe you'd just like to look at the video slide-show I made instead of reading my report? I hope you'll do both, but here's the slide-show anyway -
The drive down provided me with superb views of the snow-topped landscape, especially from the Layby at Achanalt where I was treated to the following shot of a fantastic looking ridge, which I have obviously taken less notice of on earlier trips. Can anyone enlighten me? I want to climb that!
As I continued down through the beautiful Lochcarron I remembered the road I was about to take being an experience! The Coire na Ba is the corrie in which the road winds up to the Bealach na Ba viewpoint and the track up to the mast.
A change in the weather was to greet me on my arrival at the start of the track up to the mast. A couple of walkers had headed up ahead of me, and we were treated to a very heavy downpour of tiny hailstones, almost frozen drizzle. This continued in showers and lasted until I reached the mast, although more showers seemed imminent.
As it turned out, the rest of the walk to the summit of Sgurr a' Chaorachain went well. Apart from a bracing, if somewhat bitter wind, the weather remained fine enough for a superb walk along an easy ridge with superb views! Apart from the views west to Skye being mostly obscured by snow, (or hail) clouds!
Although the walk is mainly pathless, there are clear enough pathways on the more awkward parts, and the pathless portions are easy to navigate. The undulating ridge is a real joy, and I found myself grinning in self-satisfied congratulation at having made the right choice for today. The views from the ridge compound my satisfaction!
I decided to take the route over the intermediate summit, rather than the bypass route. Not that I consider it cheating to take the bypass in any way whatsoever, I just wanted to get the full view from the top before I reached the summit! I took the bypass on the return.
A most exhilerating ridge walk and gorgeous views, what more could I have asked for? After a bit of exploring at the summit, (and more photos) I had lunch and headed back. I met another walker as I left. After exchanging our mutual appreciation of the scenery, cursing the biting wind and changeable nature of the weather, I left him to enjoy the summit.
In no tome at all, I was back at the mast and I'd loved evey minute of it! Although the weather had threatened to scupper my plans, it held off long enough for me to complete another Corbett. I still never managed to get any decent views of Skye and the Coulins as I returned to the Bealach na Ba, where there were now quite a few folk parked and ready to head into the hills!
A grand outing to be sure. As I began the scenic coastal drive around the Applecross peninsula it occured that maybe Beinn Bhan would be a future outing for me in this area, who knows...........
Edit: Maybe you'd just like to look at the video slide-show I made instead of reading my report? I hope you'll do both, but here's the slide-show anyway -
The drive down provided me with superb views of the snow-topped landscape, especially from the Layby at Achanalt where I was treated to the following shot of a fantastic looking ridge, which I have obviously taken less notice of on earlier trips. Can anyone enlighten me? I want to climb that!
As I continued down through the beautiful Lochcarron I remembered the road I was about to take being an experience! The Coire na Ba is the corrie in which the road winds up to the Bealach na Ba viewpoint and the track up to the mast.
A change in the weather was to greet me on my arrival at the start of the track up to the mast. A couple of walkers had headed up ahead of me, and we were treated to a very heavy downpour of tiny hailstones, almost frozen drizzle. This continued in showers and lasted until I reached the mast, although more showers seemed imminent.
As it turned out, the rest of the walk to the summit of Sgurr a' Chaorachain went well. Apart from a bracing, if somewhat bitter wind, the weather remained fine enough for a superb walk along an easy ridge with superb views! Apart from the views west to Skye being mostly obscured by snow, (or hail) clouds!
Although the walk is mainly pathless, there are clear enough pathways on the more awkward parts, and the pathless portions are easy to navigate. The undulating ridge is a real joy, and I found myself grinning in self-satisfied congratulation at having made the right choice for today. The views from the ridge compound my satisfaction!
I decided to take the route over the intermediate summit, rather than the bypass route. Not that I consider it cheating to take the bypass in any way whatsoever, I just wanted to get the full view from the top before I reached the summit! I took the bypass on the return.
A most exhilerating ridge walk and gorgeous views, what more could I have asked for? After a bit of exploring at the summit, (and more photos) I had lunch and headed back. I met another walker as I left. After exchanging our mutual appreciation of the scenery, cursing the biting wind and changeable nature of the weather, I left him to enjoy the summit.
In no tome at all, I was back at the mast and I'd loved evey minute of it! Although the weather had threatened to scupper my plans, it held off long enough for me to complete another Corbett. I still never managed to get any decent views of Skye and the Coulins as I returned to the Bealach na Ba, where there were now quite a few folk parked and ready to head into the hills!
A grand outing to be sure. As I began the scenic coastal drive around the Applecross peninsula it occured that maybe Beinn Bhan would be a future outing for me in this area, who knows...........
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-
jakeyboy
- Location: Nairn
- Occupation: Night Owl ;-)
- Interests: Walking, Climbing, Photography, Computers, Photo Editing
- Activity: Hill Bagger
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- Mountain: Slioch
- Place: North-West Highlands
- Gear: My first Berghaus Jacket!
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- Ideal day out: Early morning start on a not too hot day. Calm and windless making perfect conditions for either an easy days walking or a fairly bracing hill climb.
- Ambition: To Retire
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- Ascent: 1924m
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- Distance: 95 km
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- Joined: Sep 09, 2010
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