BEN LUI GROUP
Ben Lui with Beinn a' Chleibh over left shoulder from Beinn Oss. Cruachan in background. Photo tms.nickbramhall.com
12.4 miles 1561 metres
Start Thursday 04.54
Beinn Dubhcraig 06.01
Beinn Oss 06.30
Ben Lui 07.11
Beinn a' Chleibh 07.28
Finish 07.56
Squares: green - start, red - finish. Circles summits - this leg. Map Colin Matheson
Time: Estimated 4.15 Actual 3.02
The sky was fairly clear as Ian drove me down the road, but the higher peaks including mine were swathed in cloud.
The route up Beinn Dubhcraig through the ancient pine forest has long been a favourite of mine, but I was doubtful as a plantation has appeared across the slope. I decided to risk it, and discovered that quite a well used path has appeared which led through the plantation, stiles and all. The ascent remains as satisfying as ever, with the aesthetics of the pine lower down, and then gentle slopes leading into a thumb-print corrie.
It was cold on top with a stiff breeze in the damp cloud, so I donned plenty of clothing, although I remained in shorts as I was fairly convinced that it was leggings pulling against my knees that were causing me knee pains.
The route to Beinn Oss was interesting navigationally, as I took what I hoped to be a prime line to the left of the main ridge. I arrived exactly at the summit in very thick cloud. The descent of the curving ridge was an interesting exercise and went perfectly, just emerging from the cloud briefly on the saddle.
I suspect that I was suffering from the cumulative effects of the previous days, on the climb up Ben Lui as I was using map reading to maintain momentum. There is obviously no need to look at it on such a climb, but the contours were accurate enough for me to know my exact position throughout.
I was intending to put in another fast time on the last Munro, but had not taken into account well over a thousand feet of descent to the saddle, the first part being devoid of vegetation.
As I dropped, I sensed that the slope was too even, and so cut across to the right where I hit the saddle still to my surprise in thick cloud.
From Beinn a' Chleibh, I had decided to take the most direct descent using a path through the forest that no-one knew, as opposed to the eastern one which I was assured was good. The first problem was the steepness of the descent. Picking my way through the crags, my knees hurt badly, and I cursed my decision.
As the forest neared, the second problem arose. How was I to know which stream was the one with the path? I moved across the slope looking for a tell tale gap in the trees, only seeing one, obviously too far to the left. I was still seduced enough to descend in that direction before acknowledging the impossibility, and zigging back rightwards. I guessed that I was one stream short, but knew that from higher I had seen no sign of a path on the next one, so when a gap in the trees appeared I set off down it.
The route down the stream was uncomfortable and very wet, with young spruce both pricking and depositing yesterday's rain on me. However it was a fast route, and turned out to be the stream I had though it was. Two hundred metres along the railway sleepers, and a wade across the river were all that remained.
Peaks done 267 time taken 12 days 5 hours peaks to go 10
I woke the mothership as the key was not on the step as promised. It was actually in the car's ignition with Diana asleep guarding it. She got out fast when she realised I was about to depart, she did not fancy another drive like last night's. In fact the drive was slow as I got behind a convoy of early morning delivery lorries.
I set Rob off, and Tony got me some food before departing in a heavy shower for his changeover, leaving me to fall asleep.
Whilst I was out, things I was totally unaware of were happening.
Ian writes:
When Diana and I got back from our rally dash across Rannoch Moor a lightening changeover was executed and I sped off at great speed with an enthusiastic Ed and the baton for company. The weather was rather murky and the skies were heavy with the promise of precipitation although this did not seem to dampen Ed's spirits. This was confirmed by the speed with which he shot off when I released him from his cage just south of Tyndrum. I watched as the dot disappeared up the track towards the dizzy heights of the Ben Lui group.
During this time the mothership and van with respective occupants had been positioned in the Forestry Commission car park in Glen Lochay to await Ed's arrival. As I arrived at this little gathering of vehicles I was deep in thoughts of a few hours of well earned rest when all of a sudden Diana shot out of the mothership, sleeping bag in hand, and insisted that she was going to sleep out in the car. After a few abortive attempts on my part of making sense of this irrational behaviour I managed to wrestle from her the rudiments of this apparently ludicrous situation where she was giving preference to the uncomfortable clutches of a cold car seat rather than indulging in the ample bed space available in the mothership.
Soon the reason for this apparent brainstorm became evident and the name “Alwyn!” rang out clear and loud. Apparently the two of them had reached a point developed over previous days where they had trouble occupying the same room. A turgid comment or passing remark was all that was therefore needed to spark off spontaneous combustion in an atmosphere already charged heavily with dissent. So the maelstrom could only be calmed by the temporary parting of company.
I casually dismissed thoughts of such trivial pursuits and went into the mothership where I collapsed into a deep heady sleep.
Fortunately this was only a temporary relapse as hours later the pair were firmly back on speaking terms.
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