Maddy and Nick's Munro log: July 2013

Bidean and Stob Corie Sgreamhach, Glencoe, 20 July 2013

Mid heat wave we decided to ignore all advice to avoid going outside due to the heat and went to Glencoe. Got there in record time by leaving in the cool of the evening at about 10 pm. Got to a packed Kings House camp site at about midnight and woke everyone up by inflating our new air bed (oh yes) and swearing at midges (one of the worst attacks I've known). Got up and left early enough to avoid the embarrassment of people knowing that it was us who disturbed them...
Loaded rucksacks with as much water as we could carry and decided to go up Bidean via Stob Corie nan Lochan and back via a 2nd munro ( Stob Corie Sgreamhach), descending through the beautiful Lost valley. The way up through the valley to Corie Lochan was stunning with many little potholes that looked perfect for a dip - hoped there'd be similar in the Lost valley on the way back down...

Looking back into Glencoe

Swimming pool


Stob Corie nan Lochan

It was strangely quiet at this point - only passed one other party until we were well on our way round. We were thankfully in the shade most of the way up but once we were on the ridge shady spots were few and far between so we stopped and drank at every one - it was very hot with a slight breeze that came and went.

Top of Bidean, Corie nan Lochan behind, Rannoch Moor in ackground

Sgreamhach

Sgreamhach on right, Buachailles in background

Maddy with Aonach Eagach, Mamores then Ben Nevis behind

Top of Sgreamhach looking back to Bidean

Lost Valley

Swim time

With bodies still generally over heating on way home we also had a very refreshing dip in the Orchy at Bridge of Orchy.

Traverse of Ben Lawers ridge, 2nd May 2013

Weather looking good so very last minute decision to head to the hills with Andrew and Lizzie. We parked in the high car park at the SE end of the Lawers ridge (just N of Loch Tay) and headed up towards Bheinn Ghlas, the first of 5 tops on the main ridge, with no fixed plan with regard to how far we'd go. The weather was as good as the forecast suggested so we committed ourselves to the whole ridge with a long walk or hopefully hitch hike back to the car from it's north west end. The walking was excellent; with a couple of minor scrambles the ridge and Ben Lawers itself are much more interesting that they appear from Loch Tay. As luck would have it we had a very fortuitous and 'small world' encounter with some old friends from Shropshire who we spotted hang-gliding in the valley below us. Knowing that the UK hang-gliding community is pretty small I gave Myles K a ring to see if it was him and it was. So we met the Kynaston crowd in the 'up a Munro, down a pint' pub next to Loch Tay and borrowed their car to retrieve ours. All in all a grand day out.

Ben Lawers

Banana time

Blaven, Skye. 17th March 2013

Blaven from Loch Slapin

Whilst visiting our friends John and Ian on Raasay we decided to try and get up Blaven on Skye (Skye's only Munro that is not part of the Cuillin ridge). The weather was looking best on Sunday but the only ferry off Raasay was at 10 am and the last one back was at 4 giving us 6 hours to get up and down! Mission on... We had a big party consisting of Ash, John, Jen (virgin Munroist) Ian and Ian's mate as well as Maddy and I. From the starting point at sea level on loch Slapin, Blaven looks formidable especially in winter! Doubting if we would get to the top we set off all the same. The climb up was sustained and spectacular without ever feeling too exposed or steep. Many a snowball were thrown, many a chocolate brownie were consumed. To our surprise we made it to the summit no probs and then had a spectacular view of the Cuillin ridge which only reveals itself in the last 5 steps to the top - amazing. Unfortunately forgot the camera but Maddy snapped a couple of pics on i-phone and we even made it back in time for a pint in Broadford before the ferry.

Jen


John

Ash

Clearly a very experienced bunch of mountaineers taking thing very seriously.

Small Isles in background

On top looking towards Cuillin Ridge

Buachaille Etive Beag, 27th Feb 2013

Beautifully clear winter day, no wind, no rain, no clouds. Camped at Kings House in minus 14 temperature. Easy walk upto the saddle between the two peak of Buachaille Etive Beg then on to the Northern peak. Slightly more interesting very snowy ridge to gain the Souther top of Stob Dubh. Fell asleep for a while on second top. Stunning views.

A very cold night at the Kings House

Just reaching the coll

Northern summit - Stob Corie Raineach

Ben Nevis

Stob Dubh and loch Etive

Buchaille Etive Mor

Ridge to Stob Dubh

Maddy with Bidean (central peak) in background - see later post...

Ben Vorlich & Stuc a Chroin, 15th Feb 2013

Quite wintery, especially on climb up to 2nd peak - Stuc a Chroin. Massive Gilkes hydro project at bottom of walk. Cloudy at times but clear on tops - got decent view of Tramachan and Lawers ridges (unlike when we were on them last walk..!)