9B - GLEN KINGLASS
From Beinn Eunaich. Ben Starav is the ovious high one l of centre, Ifor's pevious hill, Beinn nan Aighenean is the one casting a big shadow centre. Photo tms.nickbramhall.com
13.3 miles 2230 metres
Start Wednesday 10.49
Glas Bheinn Mhor 11.03
Ben Starav 11.34
Beinn nan Aighenean 12.10
Beinn Eunaich 13.46
Beinn a' Chochuill 14.10
Finish 14.17
Squares: yellow - changeovers. Circles summits: green this leg. Map Colin Matheson
Time: Estimated 4.02 Actual 3.28
Ifor writes:
Weather very nice, pleasant walk in along a small path on east of stream although a long steady climb wearing just shorts and t-shirt. Mark had bee talking about 4 hours for his leg so went in with plenty of time. Quite windy at the col and I got chilly lying in the sun initially with my shirt off, by the time Mark had arrived I had put on my helly hansen and my lycra tights and my big cag, and was still a bit chilly.
On seeing Mark coming about on schedule I didn't try to take off helly or tights assuming it would be this windy along all the ridges. On setting off and getting onto ridge to first hill the wind seemed to disappear and I took off my helly on the way down from the first hill. I was sweltering and had to stop to take off my lycra tights. It was obvious why Mark had been bare chested, the changeover was by far the windiest place all day.
Contoured diagonally up around the south of Meall nan Tri Tighearnan then to the south of the rocky ridge on Ben Starav, some big boulders, then up sharply to south top and along to N top where I could see the van parked in Glen Etive. Back to the south top but this time I dropped down the north side and over to the ridge across loose ground, then across the ridge and down to the south on a route I had seen through the boulders on the way up. Across diagonally to the col, and up Beinn Aighenean.
Feeling good having beaten the split times but the next section was always going to be the hardest. Initially the descent was nice gentle stuff with very fast going but the bottom section was steep and hard on the legs, then into the undergrowth. The road down the glen is huge with room for 2 cars side by side. The running was very hot and I took my shirt off and tied it to my tights which were tied around my waist with my bum bag.
It was a long way up Beinn Eunaich and very thirsty work. I initially went west of the stream trying to avoid the bracken although it was heathery, then crossed the stream and went east of it and up to join the NE ridge just above the col thus avoiding what looked like a rocky direct approach and getting the breeze sooner.
The ridge run to Beinn a' Chochuill was very pleasant, I was going very well, even running well up the gentle uphill! And I knew I was going to beat the time by half an hour. Fast down the descent and hand over to Steve. It was a long walk out and even all down hill the track was hard on my feet.
Peaks done 69 Hours elapsed 79 Peaks to do 208
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