walkhighlands

Stac Pollaidh 2013

Route: Stac Pollaidh ridge and circuit

Fionas: Stac Pollaidh

Date walked: 09/07/2013

Time taken: 3.5 hours

Distance: 4.5km

Ascent: 510m

Added a new video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxkln-o6xHg

On arrival this spectacular wee hill could not have been any less spectacular. To say I was a little disappointed would be an understatement given my visit to Ben Arthur was also enshrouded in the same none spectacular Scotch Mist just 3 days previous.

Image
I had driven here like a man possessed in the hope of getting to the top and seeing many magnificent views so had to make a decision to go or not? looking around I could see rather a few others wondering the same. Given that I had been to the top of Ben Arthur and deciding on that occasion to leave the summit with all its mist to get back to the car only to look back and see the mist starting to clear I decided that will not happen again. So lets go for it. I started off up the path Image Only my second major hill in 3 days. With so much hope. So many great stories :crazy:

After a while I met 2 lovely German girls who said they actually lived in Bavaria :? They said they were waiting for the Scotch Mist to move away and pretty much just at that and as if on q Image a glimpse of what was to come.

I was getting really excited at this point and as the girls decided they were going for it I followed along taking snaps every now and again. Eventually losing the girls as they hoofed along out of site. Image.

I caught up with the girls again round the back of Stac Pollaidh. They were standing there looking at me and saying its a lot worse up here. Poor souls looked terrified and all I could do was tell them about my experience with Ben Arthur on the Saturday before. I'm going all the way I said! Image I checked the map one of the girls had in her walking book and quickly determined the way up. Said bye to the girls and found myself all on my own again. Step after step getting steeper and steeper, mistier and mistier. Image At no point did I think it was time to go down. The path is so well constructed and I researched the route well before hand. The only way is up.

Every now and again teased by a faint glimpse of what could be Image. Until I reached this section which was very steep. I sat for maybe 10 to 15mins Image hoping that it would get better.Image

I knew there was not very far to go and eventually made the Saddle Image with nothing to see but Scotch Mist. I waited! and waited! not sure how long! could have been 20 mins or 40 mins. Image

I did a wee bit of wondering around. It was actually very enjoyable. After a little while other walkers arrived and we all got chatting. I met A couple from Australia and several Scottish folks. One guy who had finished all the Munro's just last year. Image but not much to see really. I waited.

And then! out of the blue as if by magic the mist started to clear Image and once and for all I was starting to think today persistence will pay off big style. Image.

A little while later: I could now see my route that had taken me up this magnificent little hill Image I made my way up to the small easy summit. Looking down on the saddle Image just in time to see the views really open up Image the top still shrouded in a bit of mist Image

The next hour to hour and a half were lost on me completely. I found myself exploring all there is to see and do on this we hill. Many people came and went during my time up here but I wanted more. Much More!

Eventually the mist cleared and you could make out the car park Image the route up Image and down Image Image Image Cul Beag Image in the mist. Was I glad I persevered? Oh YES Image :clap: If ever anyone needed an introduction to hill walking then this was it. Image :clap: Beinn An Eion Image :shock: shock and awe wow Image :lol: I was in hill heaven. Image Image I had for a very short brief moment an opportunity to climb to the main summit on the back of a guide taking 2 kids and 2 older ladies up there but my lack of knowledge and experience and a call from a life insurance broker at the wrong time put an end to my day.

All in all an exceptionally brilliant day on Stac Pollaidh and an adventure I will almost certainly enjoy again some day. :clap: As for those 2 Bavarian German Girls? Well I can only guess they realized there mistake by the time they got back to the car. Image Awesome. Image

Added a new video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxkln-o6xHg

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Comments: 2



Cnoc Muigh-bhlaraidh 20°C Sunburn + Encounter with a snake.

Attachment(s) Date walked: 07/06/2013
Distance: 8.77km
Ascent: 336m
Views: 1470


3am Start

Attachment(s) Sub 2000s: Struie
Date walked: 06/06/2013
Distance: 6.2km
Comments: 2
Views: 2283

mallyonline


User avatar
Location: Tain
Interests: Hiking
Activity: Walker
Pub: None
Mountain: Stac Polliadh
Place: Torridon
Gear: Gas Stove
Member: None
Camera: Olympus SP-810UZ
Ideal day out: None

Munros: 2
Corbetts: 2
Fionas: 1
Sub 2000: 2



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Statistics

2013

Trips: 3
Distance: 19.47 km
Ascent: 846m
Fionas: 1
Sub2000s: 1


Joined: Jan 21, 2013
Last visited: May 24, 2023
Total posts: 14 | Search posts