35B - FANNICH EAST
Sgurr nan Clach Geala and Sgurr nan Each (l) from Sgurr Mor. Photo Colin Matheson
16.7 miles 1660 metres
Start Thursday 06.44
Sgurr nan Each 07.08
Sgurr nan Clach Geala 07.29
Meall a' Chrasgaidh 07.47
Sgurr Mor 08.19
Beinn Liath Mhor Fannaich 08.36
Meall Gorm 09.14
An Coileachean 09.38
Finish 10.34
Squares: yellow - changeover, red - finish, green start of a later leg. Circles summits - green - this leg. Map Colin Matheson
Time: Estimated 4.10 Actual 3.50
Quite the opposite to last night, I was expecting to sleep reasonably late as I thought Fisherfield at night and in rain would be slow, however I was woken at a quarter to five and had to set off quickly as I was worried that Steve might beat me to the changeover. I didn't get my bike ride as Ifor had failed to tell Mark that there was a bike to ride back, so I just took the key for Steve instead.
I pushed hard on the 4 mile walk in, particularly as I lost the path through not looking at the map to see where it went. I was carefully watching Steve's ridge as I approached, but as soon as I arrived the cloud came right down to the col and the rain set in again.
I got right into my sleeping bag and bivvy bags and was feeling nice and cosy when Steve's voice shattered my peace. I called him over to me, and set off through what was now the first truly wet ground of the trip.
As the computer naturally gave me a soft time for the last 4 tarmac miles of this leg, I knew that the times up on the ridge would be proportionally harder, and was realistic enough not to attack them. I was thus very pleased to be on the summit ridge when the first beep went off. On the next section to Sgurr nan Clach Geala, I lost no more, and had nearly caught up by Meall a' Chrasgaidh.
As the col before Meall a' Chrasgaidh was below the cloud, I had left my pack by a prominent white stone, but I returned to a misty scene and spent some panic time running round looking for it. I left it again before Beinn Liath Mhor Fannaich, but on a distinct path this time. This hill is a heap of boulders, but I knew that there was a brilliantly constructed path through them, which I fortunately managed to find on the way down.
From here it was off the ridge, and down to drink from a beautiful loch sheltered from the fierce south west wind. A short stiff climb back to the ridge and I was sure that I'd got a good route. This was confirmed when my summit schedule beep went off after I'd passed the summit.
The next section was frustrating as I know there is a relatively grassy route. However I found nothing but boulders all the way to the col, at which point I could see a grassy rake going up to my left. Still I made good progress over the last hill, then I opted for the eastern corrie, partly because I knew the ridge was craggy, and partly so that I didn't reach the hateful tarmac any sooner than I had to.
Steep snow patches were just too hard for my shoes, so I clambered down to the side, just as well as daring a more gentle patch further on I had an exciting slide. I enjoyed the romp across the moor then gritted my teeth for 4 miles of tarmac, where I passed only the second and third groups of people on my whole relay.
Peaks done 266 Hours elapsed 267 Peaks to do 11
There is no charge for reading this account but please consider donating to the RNIB, the charity we ran for.
Share this page