Some thoughts and reports from outings...
Blogs from some outdoor adventures.....
Glencoe Wild Camping I have had a few “microadventures” over the last couple of years, but none have been in the bracket of the 5- 9 category. So having not been out for a few weekends, I was feeling the need for escape so planned a 5-9 microadventure. In addition to needing to feed the rat, I also had my brand spanking new tent arrive a few weeks earlier which had sat unused since its arrival. I was itching to get out in the hills and try this out and had my eye on a camping spot with a view. With the Summer Solstice, I knew that this was the perfect time to do this so I finished up work at 17.00 hrs and headed north towards Glencoe. The car was parked at the Kinshouse and I was on my way a little after 18.30. The weather was great, sun was shining and the temperature was 17.5 degrees when I left the car. I had previously visited this hill many moons ago under a covering of snow and I remember the views being some of the best in the West Highlands and certainly the best in Glencoe due to the fact that it looks onto all of the iconic mountains. On reaching the summit at 20.00 the views were just as good as I remembered them: back towards the east , Rannoch Moor and its surrounding peaks (Schiehallion, Alder, Lyon, Orchy moutnains), panning North – the Trieg hills, Grey Corries and sitting above them all – The Ben, then immediately south and west and stealing the show the views down into Glencoe up past the three sisters to the might of Bidean, only outdone by The Buachaille itself!! An amazing sight! Although only a Corbett and seemingly a rounded lump – this hill has some of the best views I have seen – so not a bad spot to spend the nightJ It was now time to pitch up. My new tent was bought after my last tent was destroyed in an unexpected storm in the NW wilderness (an experience I really, really did not want repeated tonight!!- see video below of the tent wrecking storm!). I found a nice ledge about 10m west of the summit which looked down Glencoe and over to the Buachaille. Not a bad spot. Tent was set by 20.45 and the rest of the evening until about midnight was spent taking piccies and vids in an awesome setting. Most notably I remember being on the summit at about 22.50with still enough light for some pictures and the views over to Ben Nevis were stunning. The forecast for the following morning was not too great with a front moving in and bringing rain by 07.00hr, so I set the alarm for 04.20 (also in the slight hope I might get a stunning sunrise!!). I woke at 03.42!! and decided to get going. I looked out of the tent and the wind had picked up, pushing bits of clouds up and over the hill side – rather atmospheric. Anyway by 04.20 I was on my way back to the car – no stunning sunrise as the fronts cloud had pushed across the country – time to get home before the rain!! Back at the car by 05.20 and home ready for work by 07.10am. Rat fed, and a happy camper – awesome experience J
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The Whangie and Auchineden
Hill (and Auchinstarry A number of DIY commitments have kept me at home over the last few weekends - a matter of annoyance to me as the weather has been so darn good! Any way had a chance t do some evening caging this week to catch the tail en of the good weather. Tuesday night and we heaed to "The Starry" and did three or four climbs from the car park. Cant say I was climbing that well (pretty darn poorly actually!) but as first time climbing for a wee while. Knowing the weather waslooking aweful for the weekend - we decided to headout on Wednesday night also and went t the Whangie as per video and A lovely summers evening, so we headed to the Whangie instead of Auchinstarry and soak up the views to Loch Lomond. However foremost on my mind was the supernatural aura of this place. I have been once before and it is a spectacular landscape, the formation and how it came into being is always on my mind………. “Many moons ago Auld Nick held a gathering of his highest ranking warlords and witches at Carbeth (probably in the fine Inn which is found at the road side at this precise spot!!) – and in his excitement at the gathering he lowered over Auchineden Hill as he approached from the North, and flicked his tail in delight at almost arriving at the gathering. In doing so the trailing tail cut through the side of the hillside and left the Whangie…………” On our arrival on this sunny evening there was no sign of him but we were keen to get going as we did not fancy our chances after sunset…. Our first challenge was Vampires Crack – done and as a bonus the present day vampire descendants were nowhere to be seen… perhaps due to the soothing breeze – no blood sucking going on tonight!! Next up was Ivy Crack and this was also tackled – no poison here!! A final lead up Cave Chimney and into the deepest darkest cave! By this time the sun was lowering so we retreated through the cleft of the Whangie and made our way to the safety of Auchineden Hill. Fine views over Glasgee and over towards Loch Lomond and the setting sun. A fantastic evenings activities J Sgurr nan Eugallt and
Gairich Photos here - http://www.flickr.com/photos/scotlandsmountains/sets/72157633870917513/ A get away to the NW highlands would be fantastic and an inaugural venture for the real purpose of buying the kayaks!! A microadventure was planned as I had to be back by afternoon the next day to go shopping!!! The plan was to kayak across Loch Quoich to Gairich and head up the northern ridge. This was to be the first outing for the kayaks for their intended purpose i.e. access to the hills via boat! In order to achieve this (i.e. being back relatively early the next day) we decided to head up the night before and crash in the back of the cars, enabling a nice early start J I left Perth around 17.30 and made the long drive north toward Glengarry and KinlochHourn. Arriving around 19.00 allowed the possibility of fitting in a wee hill in before bedtime! I had looked at Sgurr na Eugallt and thought this would be nice, with many reports suggesting it was a fantastic viewpoint. The weather was ok, however Gairich and the Gle Sheil hills were shrouded in cloud so my chances of a nice via were not looking good. However the forecast said that the cloud may move east later in the day – (bearing in mind it was after 5pm when I started) – there was a small chance of descent weather perhaps? I left the car about 50m east of Coireshubh and headed up the slightly boggy stalkers path. Having not eaten since about 11 I was finding the going a little tiring! I was also deliberately taking my time as I wanted to conserve energy for tomorrow and also the later I got to the summit – the better chance of a decent views. It was not until traversing round Stob Dubh when the view started to open out, firstly back east down Glengarry then as you gain height Sgurr na Ciche and its neighbours start to dominate the southern sky line. As I reached the final (steep ) pull up, the GlenSheil hills were still covered in cloud and things were not looking too great. Due to the geography of the hill, you do not get a chance to look out west until you reach the summit crest. Just before gaining this there is a short , sharp steep pull onto the crest which involves a little hands on rock action (hardly a scramble but steep nonetheless.) Once getting up this the crest is reached and the first top is only a few minutes away. As I crested the views were bloomin fantasic. Made better by the fact that I was not expecting to see anything, the Knoydart peninsula was below me and the Cuillin were silhouetted and moody with the lowering sun. I stopped at the trig point taking it all in then decided to head out the westerly peak of Sgurr Sgiath Airigh. The view into Glen Barrisdale is fantastic and it was hard to watch where I was putting my feet as my eyes were not looking downwards!!! Many photos later and I decided to head back it was near 20.00 now, I had spent over an hour up here and was still to top out on the true summit. I bagged this on the way back and was back at the car around 21.30ish. I now needed to find a suitable spot to park up, but also to launch the kayaks from the next morning. I met with my friend and we scouted the shore line for a short portage point. This was harder than expected!!! Eventually we settled on a spot almost opposite the north ridge of Gairich, and nearing midnight we hit the hay!! Four hours later and we up raring to go. A coffee and some porridge and we were off getting the kayaks ready and gear in the appropriate holds! A tricky descent got us to the loch side and at 06.00am exactly we were in the water paddling across Gairich. The weather was good , and much better than the rain and 300m cloud level which was forecastJ It only took us about 10 minutes to cross and by the time we had changed into our walking gear, it was just after 06.30. The pull up the north ridge was pathless but fine and we took our time, reaching the summit at 07.45am. Unfortunately my good views from the summit “tokens” had all been used up the night before and the summit was in clag L Never mind – we headed back down as it was freezing (this weekend is the official first day of summer)! I am sure I saw some flakes of snow at one point!! We were back at the Kayaks at 08.50 so decided on a little paddle around Loch Quoich before heading home. We headed up past the island ad back to the cars. A steep portage of the kayaks back to the car and we were done and I got home in time earn my brownie point for shopping J A successful microadventure – one Corbett, One Munro and a paddle in a Loch with views to KNoydart – not a bad 22hrs !!! |
WilkieMurraySome thoughts and reports from my outdoors activties... Archives
August 2017
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