A touch of Heaven after a day of purgatory.
Munros: An Coileachan, Beinn Liath Mhòr Fannaich, Meall a' Chrasgaidh, Meall Gorm, Sgùrr Mòr, Sgùrr nan Clach Geala, Sgùrr nan Each
Date walked: 18/09/2014
Time taken: 18 hours
Distance: 44km
Ascent: 2726m
Our first walk report comes after a very fitting series of events; arranged meet up, a great day out with WH friends, first wild camp at altitude and last but not least first cloud inversion.
After heading out with Karen (kmai1961), Martin (FF), and Gary (backpacker) on the Saturday we trudged with our previously mentioned, sizeable packs with everything and a couple of kitchen sinks. (as eloquently described by Martin in his report of the Saturday)
This was quickly repaid by the almost spiritual experience of a first cloud inversion that lasted well over an hour and put us on such a high that even when we 'fell off' later , we still couldn't come down!
After saying goodbye to our WH friends, at the eastern end of the Fannichs, we headed back to Sgurr Mor to collect our heavy burdens with dread. It suddenly looked a very long way!
After battling our fatigue on the long trip back, (and re-united with our heavy packs ) we headed over SM and down to the Loch south of Carn na Criche, where we would pitch camp, not long before dark!
After a hot meal and donning our down jackets , we got a great view of the stars. So much more detail to the naked eye, than available near our urban dwellings. Breathtaking.
On Sunday morning we awoke in the mist with hazy sunshine, looking up at Sgurr Mor from about 2820 feet.
But, as soon as the direct sunlight arrived the mist cleared, leaving us with a beautiful sunrise, certainly the most memorable for me. Looking down into the Glen over the western side of SM, we caught our first sight of our first cloud inversion. Words and photos don't do it justice, but we'll give it a try.
Before long the mist rolled in, so we had breakfast (lamb casserole ) and then headed up Sgurr nan Clach Geala, hoping for some views higher up.
As we descended to Sgurr nan Each, the cloud took over again, but we were not down heartened after the earlier treats of that morning.
A quick snack and then back to the tents to pack up and return. The cloud disappeared after the second climbing of SnCG, leaving great views and photo opportunities in all directions.
On returning to pack up the tents, we met the only other person we saw on the hill that day. A real surprise considering the weather. Then headed off to the last of our weekends' seven Munros, Meall a'Chrasgaidh. We had intended to do all nine, but the weight of the packs and all the effort of Saturday's excursion had got the better of us!
On the final summit we made the decision to ''straight line'' our return route to the car, instead of the lengthy, gentle path back to the western car park with several miles along the road. This turned out to be both a blessing (quicker) and a curse (steep with a capital S). It was incredibly steep, but looked so inviting compared to the 'long way round'.
When we looked back up the way we came down, we weren't really surprised that we fell!! I'm not sure we'd have attempted it, if we had even a glimpse of the look up!
The return back to the car gave some great photo opps, especially as the sun moved behind the hills to our west.
Our final view of the hills, before setting off through the midge swarm in the car.
A fantastic weekend all round.
Saturday was a day of gruelling effort but with good friends on some great hills. Over 6000 feet of ascent. A real achievement as neither of us had ever walked that far with that much kit before.
Sunday was very different, almost effortless by comparison. What a morning wake up, followed by such incredible beauty seemed to rid us of all sense of fatigue. A huge tick on the ''bucket list'' and something I shall never forget. Still on a high after a week!
A huge THANK YOU to all of you on Walkhighlands for all of your encouragement, wisdom, enticing walk reports, tech advice, lifts, sweets but most of all a warm welcome to the club and helping us feed our passion for the hills.
Cheers all,
Chris (jepsonscotland) and Andy (Flump)
Sorry it's taken a week to create, but it's our first go and we've been on different shifts.
Maybe if we start another one now we can use it for our 100th celebration.
After heading out with Karen (kmai1961), Martin (FF), and Gary (backpacker) on the Saturday we trudged with our previously mentioned, sizeable packs with everything and a couple of kitchen sinks. (as eloquently described by Martin in his report of the Saturday)
This was quickly repaid by the almost spiritual experience of a first cloud inversion that lasted well over an hour and put us on such a high that even when we 'fell off' later , we still couldn't come down!
After saying goodbye to our WH friends, at the eastern end of the Fannichs, we headed back to Sgurr Mor to collect our heavy burdens with dread. It suddenly looked a very long way!
After battling our fatigue on the long trip back, (and re-united with our heavy packs ) we headed over SM and down to the Loch south of Carn na Criche, where we would pitch camp, not long before dark!
After a hot meal and donning our down jackets , we got a great view of the stars. So much more detail to the naked eye, than available near our urban dwellings. Breathtaking.
On Sunday morning we awoke in the mist with hazy sunshine, looking up at Sgurr Mor from about 2820 feet.
But, as soon as the direct sunlight arrived the mist cleared, leaving us with a beautiful sunrise, certainly the most memorable for me. Looking down into the Glen over the western side of SM, we caught our first sight of our first cloud inversion. Words and photos don't do it justice, but we'll give it a try.
Before long the mist rolled in, so we had breakfast (lamb casserole ) and then headed up Sgurr nan Clach Geala, hoping for some views higher up.
As we descended to Sgurr nan Each, the cloud took over again, but we were not down heartened after the earlier treats of that morning.
A quick snack and then back to the tents to pack up and return. The cloud disappeared after the second climbing of SnCG, leaving great views and photo opportunities in all directions.
On returning to pack up the tents, we met the only other person we saw on the hill that day. A real surprise considering the weather. Then headed off to the last of our weekends' seven Munros, Meall a'Chrasgaidh. We had intended to do all nine, but the weight of the packs and all the effort of Saturday's excursion had got the better of us!
On the final summit we made the decision to ''straight line'' our return route to the car, instead of the lengthy, gentle path back to the western car park with several miles along the road. This turned out to be both a blessing (quicker) and a curse (steep with a capital S). It was incredibly steep, but looked so inviting compared to the 'long way round'.
When we looked back up the way we came down, we weren't really surprised that we fell!! I'm not sure we'd have attempted it, if we had even a glimpse of the look up!
The return back to the car gave some great photo opps, especially as the sun moved behind the hills to our west.
Our final view of the hills, before setting off through the midge swarm in the car.
A fantastic weekend all round.
Saturday was a day of gruelling effort but with good friends on some great hills. Over 6000 feet of ascent. A real achievement as neither of us had ever walked that far with that much kit before.
Sunday was very different, almost effortless by comparison. What a morning wake up, followed by such incredible beauty seemed to rid us of all sense of fatigue. A huge tick on the ''bucket list'' and something I shall never forget. Still on a high after a week!
A huge THANK YOU to all of you on Walkhighlands for all of your encouragement, wisdom, enticing walk reports, tech advice, lifts, sweets but most of all a warm welcome to the club and helping us feed our passion for the hills.
Cheers all,
Chris (jepsonscotland) and Andy (Flump)
Sorry it's taken a week to create, but it's our first go and we've been on different shifts.
Maybe if we start another one now we can use it for our 100th celebration.
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Comments: 19
-
jepsonscotland
- Location: Broughty Ferry
- Occupation: Engineer
- Interests: Mountains, Liverpool FC and Outdoor gear! (in red!)
- Activity: Walker
- Mountain: Bidean
- Place: Glen Coe
- Gear: Montane Prism
- Member: Michelin hill walking club.
- Camera: Samsung phone!
- Ideal day out: Big plateau with great views, preferrably in the snow.
- Ambition: Compleatist........by 50!
- Munros: 282
- Corbetts: 9
- Fionas: 1
- Donalds: 2
- Wainwrights: 1
- Hewitts: 1
- Sub 2000: 1
- Filter reports
- Trips: 1
- Distance: 44 km
- Ascent: 2726m
- Munros: 7
- Joined: Jan 02, 2014
- Last visited: Feb 21, 2023
- Total posts: 332 | Search posts