BEN STARAV GROUP
From Ben Starav looking down John's descent ridge. Bidean, Buachaille Etive's Beag and Mor are the three large hills over Glen Etive. Photo tms.nickbramhall.com
12.0 miles 1723 metres
Start Friday 11.13
Meall nan Eun 11.30
Stob Coir'an Albhannaich 12.08
Glas Bheinn Mhor 12.32
Beinn nan Aighenan 13.10
Ben Starav 14.05
Finish 14.26
Squares: yellow - changeover, red - finish. Circles summits: green - this leg, red - done. Map Colin Matheson
Time: Estimated 4.30 Actual 3.13
John writes:
The “walk in” - in true Redmayne style – turns into something of a sweaty thrash up the Ceitlein Glen following the burn to a high (640m) col which appears to have been sculpted from the granite. Just settling down into the bivvy bag when Ian comes off the hill, exchange the baton and off I go up Meall nan Eun,- superb view off the top across the surrounding hills, descend and skirt Meall Tarsuinn quite easily, surprising a ptarmigan family who disappear instantly into the boulders – obviously a well rehearsed drill.
Find a slightly shorter gully route up the side of Stob Coir an Albhannaich joining the path on the ridge. The south side gives a superb grass and rock descent to the stony col before the start of the ascent of Glas Bheinn Mhor.
No short cuts off this one – follow the ridge and then down steep rock steps with occasional traces of the path which finally resolves itself for the long ascent of Beinn nan Aighenan. About turn at the summit and retrace my steps back to the col, decide against trying a straight ascent of Ben Starav and rejoin the well worn track on the ridge – superb views down the valley, check the van is still waiting for me – seems to have changed colour! Puzzled I push on up to the summit which is now in the cloud and also slightly confusing. Touch all the cairns I can find, then find the summit and trig point a little further north.
“Superb descent John , you'll love it” they had all said, couldn't quite agree to start with as it was very rocky, then developing the promised mixture of grass and rock – 1078m straight down! Crash across the river and through rough grass and heather to the path along the Etive which I decide to ford and save a little time despite a further struggle through bogs and bracken to where Colin is waiting with the car for 'that drive' up Glen Etive. Of this it suffices to say that he clearly enjoyed having something smaller and faster than the overloaded mothership to drive.
Peaks done 128 time taken 6 days11 hours peaks to go 149
I had an abscess on a wisdom tooth that was beginning to play up, so I nipped down to a doctor at Laroch and told the receptionist my problem, but that I could not wait more than 20 minutes because of the relay. I was duly seen and presented with antibiotics immediately.
When I brought the car back from the doctor, Colin volunteered to take it on to await John I was on tenterhooks waiting for Colin to drive John back up Glen Etive. Twice we saw a red car which could be it, and I went out onto the road. I was also constantly changing my mind what to wear, as there was a very strong cold wind and also heavy showers about. The Aonach Eagach was given an impossible schedule of one and a half hours, which I knew I could never manage. Nevertheless it made me feel under pressure to get as close as possible.
When Colin did appear there was not the slightest doubt it was him, Nigel Mansell would have had problems keeping up.
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