30C - LOCH MONAR NORTH
Sgurr Choinnich from Sgurr a' Chaorachean. Steve carried ondown the ridge to the left in front of Bidean a' Choire Sheasgaich. Photo Jon Hollingdale
15.9 miles 1760 metres
Start Tuesday 23.55
Sgurr Choinnich Wednesday 00.37
Sgurr a' Chaorachain 01.23
Maoile Lunndaidh 03.09
Sgurr nan Ceannaichean 05.12
Moruisg 05.53
Finish 06.33
Squares: yellow - changeover, red finish. Circles summits: green - this leg. Photo Colin Matheson
Time: Estimated 4.02 Actual 6.38
Steve writes:
Drove north into Glen Carron during the day, weather more overcast and changeable compared to yesterday. Set off from Craig at 3 p.m. on mountain bike initially, accompanied by Colin, through active Forestry Commission area then along rough track alongside Allt a' Chonais.
Colin stopped at ½ way point to walk up track and take in a Corbett; I continued, leaving bike and walking up wet track/path to Bealach Bearnais – started to rain quite heavily during this time and eventually had all goretex on compared to start – helly and tracksters!
Found good point at foot of col to put up tent, fairly windy and very wet, getting wetter! Sorting out gear in tent and trying to dry out (luckily taken dry socks which helped) when Colin turned up and sat and chatted for an hour – it was good to have company in such a remote spot. He eventually walked up the hill to the SW to bag another Corbett – conditions deteriorating rapidly and by the time Colin returned an hour or so later he found it difficult to find me! Therefore moved one of the flags to try and help Craig to find me later.
Colin headed off down the mountain at approx 8.30 p.m. And left me trying to keep warm in sleeping bag – donned wet gear to try and dry it out as I felt I might need it later, it was now raining quite heavily and visibility was very poor i.e. 10 yards.
Kept opening the tent to look for Craig particularly between 9 – 10 p.m., hoping he'd turn up so I could start in the light – started to doze off after 10 p.m. But kept waking up thinking I'd heard him, probably sheep? After 11 p.m., very dark and dismal, hoped he wouldn't turn up till morning and buried myself in sleeping bag.
11.45 p.m. Heard a shout outside, was tempted not to answer! - or shout “No Steves around here!” Looked outside, spotted his torch about 20 yards away – he seemed very pleased to hear me and see my torch; he'd been out for 7hrs 45mins and was cold and wet so dived into the tent to get changed while I slowly emerged to don my shoes and get ready to go. Put on sweatshirt together with two hellys and goretex top on Craig's advice i.e. very cold on tops.
Not keen to set off but did so at 23.55 – initially with small hand torch but soon swapped to headtorch – needed hands free to scramble up little crags on first ridge! Followed bearing, picking up path now and again, up western ridge of Sgurr Choinnich, reached minor first top and ran along top of crags to main top; very pleased to see it! (42mins).
Bearing across top to end of flat area, looked for ridge to NE but could only see rocks and crags dropping steeply away into darkness – didn't really fancy it so continued on bearing but slowly downhill. Realised I was descending SW (Eddie's ridge!) and eventually decided I'd have to go back. Went half way back then contoured across steep rocky slope looking for ridge and was very pleased to find path leading down in right direction. Followed this to col – weather cleared briefly and saw huge mountain rising above me in darkness and coirre below.
Scurried up ridge to top of Sgurr a' Chaorachain, weather improved on way up and visibility not too bad, didn't need torch most of way. Reached cairn in 46mins (split) therefore very slow – stumbling along in the dark!
Very windy and wet on top, decided on quick exit and not ridge run to east. Went off north down wide spur; continued down a bit too far and missed narrow spur to NE, put off by snow in top part of coire. Contoured back across top of two streams to ridge Sron na Fiarach and saw Lochan Gaineamhach below me. Jogged slowly towards stream leading from it and followed it downhill to the east, eventually crossing by two small lochans on col.
Clouds cleared and I could see ridge leading up to NE above me and managed to follow path most of way up to top of Carn nan Fiarain. Very flat topped mountain and initially followed top of crags to east looking for gap to NE and top of Maoile Lunndaidh. Lots of snow in tops of coires and was keen not to go wrong here – carefully followed bearing across top and was glad to find summit cairn – 1hr 46mins after previous top!
Light starting to improve but heading into weather now – very cold and wet and windy heading down wide, rocky spur to NW – eventually found stream and came out of clouds to a lighter world with view across glen – was relieved that the worst was now over and rest of run in light – still needed torch to read map but light enough to run? by.
Followed stream down hill then contoured across to track near Glenaig Lodge. Stopped briefly to change gloves, ???, ???? and ????? and have a drink before starting on long slog up Sgurr nan Ceannachean – met some deer on way up grassy slope – why do they always run across you, to get upwind perhaps? Reached top after steady walk up (2hrs 3mins split!!)
Back into clouds so used compass to follow ridge down and across to col – could see van waiting for me in the valley below and hurried on wanting to get down. Gentle grassy slopes of Moruisg seemed to go on for ages, reached last top after 41 mins – now 5.45 a.m. i.e. running for 5hrs 50mins!
Was very glad to be on last descent – again on compass and very steeply down trying to avoid deep gullies. Slowly jogged across lower slopes reaching car and van after 6hrs 38mins – very, very tired and wet – never again!!
Spent rest of morning recovering, i.e. sleeping in van in car park below Liathach, Glen Torridon. Apparently I looked rather 'white' upon finishing and Eddie thought I had aged overnight!
Peaks done 240 Hours elapsed 239 Peaks to do 37
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