5B - MAMORES EAST
From Sgurr Eilde Mor, Binnein Beag r, Ben Nevis behind, Binnein Mor slopes l. Photo https://big-gorse-bush.blogspot.com/
14.3 miles 2080 metres
Start Tuesday 06.32
Am Bodach 06.44
Stob Coire a' Cairn 07.12
An Gearanach 07.32
Na Gruagaichean 08.18
Binnein Mor 08.41
Binnein Beag 09.25
Sgurr Eilde Mor 10.16
Finish 11.10
Squares: yellow - changeovers, red - finish. Circles summits: green - this leg, red -done. Map Colin Matheson
Time: Estimated 3.36 Actual 4.38
Steve writes:
Arrived Mamore Lodge at 11.30pm and sorted out gear in back of van; rain started shortly afterwards, as usual! Tried to doze for 45 mins but probably managed 5 mins.
Set off at 12.30am for changeover point – mountain biking along West Highland Way, quite rocky and steep in places but managed to cycle most of it using head torch. Left bike and walked up stalkers path, not very pleasant at this time! Kept on bearing and reached steep section, climbed screes and hit path below Sgor an Iubhair, contoured along this to col below Am Bodach; felt a little bit uncertain about location because of darkness, visibility in mist/ clag + slight detour on route up! Found low point on col and set up flags at cairn; got in bivvy bag on path – very rocky!
Also used survival bag to keep rain off, very windy on col but not too bad on path. Put on all gear and tried to keep warm in bivvy; not feeling warm after 4 hrs up there (took 2 ¼ hrs to get in!) so decided to jog around, also worried about Graeme's whereabouts! Luckily he arrived as I got out of bivvy, he'd been out about 4 ½ hrs.
I set off at 6.20am in windy, misty conditions wearing all my gear; steady up Am Bodach (24 mins with 12 mins at changeover) + stopped to take off sweatshirt and goretex coat before Stob Coire a' Cairn (28min/ 52.22). Very greasy and wet along quarzite ridge of An Gearanach (20min/ 1hr 12) therefore took it very steady, also very windy on exposed side. Continued along to Na Gruagaichean (46min/ 1hr 58) and on to Binnein Mor (23min/ 2hr 22).
Tried to descend on snow slope but very steep therefore back onto rocks but slow going; very steep climb on “Rock and Run” path up Binnein Beag (44min/ 3.07). Conditions improving and some sunshine at this time! Long run out to Sgurr Eilde Mor (51/ 3.58) and fast descent to resevoir and out to Kinlochleven (51/ 4.50) therfore 1hr 20m down on schedule but was it realistic in difficult conditions?
Peaks done 47 Hours elapsed 52 Peaks to do 230
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