No hillwalking yet .........

10 June - So this is the week that we should have been in Ullapool - the weather today up in the Northwest is typically dreich, but there have been a couple of good days, so it's possible that we would have been able to tackle Fisherfield. Let's hope that the mountains open again as Nicola S gradually eases the lockdown, and we can salvage part of the Munro season...….however, the mountains will still be there when things return to normal ……..

Spring 2020..........

As of early May 2020, we have now been on coronavirus lockdown for 6 weeks. This has unfortunately coincided with an amazing, warm, dry spring in the Highlands, and as I write the sun continues to blaze down. My Cuillin completion trip for later this month has already been cancelled, and our June trip to the Northwest has a large question mark hanging over it... desperately hoping that the lockdown is eased sufficiently to allow some hillwalking, bearing in mind that it doesn't involve large crowds, it allows social distancing, and we can go self catering! In the meantime, I am consoling myself with the amazing photos that are currently being posted on Twitter, and dreaming of future times when Scotland is accessible once again. Here's to future Munros...….

Sgurr Thuilm and Sgurr nan Coireachan (Glenfinnan) 25 Jan 2020

An early start to the 2020 season..... an unseasonably mild week, with melting of most of the lying snow preceded my day with a Steven Fallon group. Daylight being at a bit of a premium in January, we started from Glenfinnan shortly after first light, with broken cloud and a southerly wind as we headed up the glen, subdued but striking winter colours in evidence, and meeting some very tame Red Deer stags for company. We walked anticlockwise to take advantage of the prevailing wind, most of the exposure being on the ridge as we descended. We ascended into cloud at around 650m and we stayed in cloud for the rest of the day, so no views. Sgurr Thuilm was the first Munro of the day at 3,159', and a few snow patches lingered near the summit. The walk to the second Munro is preceded by several significant "bumps" or false summits, but eventually we climbed up fairly steep rocky slopes which levelled out to the trig point and shelter on Sgurr nan Coireachan, fractionally lower at 3,136'. Unfortunately the views of Loch Arkaig and the West was obscured, but the wind was less than forecast. The descent was steady, and walking out we just beat the darkness back to the car park. Munros #244.

Beinn Bheoil and Ben Alder 20 Oct 2019

A very good day, with a dusting of snow and at times awesome views. We headed first up the slopes of Beinn Bheoil by a very good path then steady slopes, and the cloud was brushing the summit on arrival at 3,343'. En route, my first Brocken Spectre! This is a person's own shadow in the mist, it only happens when the sun is shining through mist or fog. Slightly eerie. Then, an expansive walk down to the bealach below 2,600' and a steep but interesting and varied climb up onto the edge of the Ben Alder plateau and the exhilarating views coming and going, very extensive, of both the extensive summit area, and the wider expanses of the lonely country around this part of the central Highlands. The summit has a large cairn and shelter at 3,766'. Very satisfying to get this group of 6 remote Munros finally bagged, logistically they are fairly challenging. Overall, typical autumn weather, with some superb clear sunlit views at times in the clear seasonal light - and less precipitation than expected! Munros #242.

Beinn Eibhinn and Aonach Beag (Alder) 19 Oct 2019

The first day of a camping (!) trip with a Steven Fallon Group. We put our tents up by Culra bothy having cycled in the previous afternoon - rain overnight gave way to a chilly day with a N breeze and some shower cloud that fortunately mostly held off, and allowed intermittent views of the west/north section of the Ben Alder range. We ascended the initially steep unrelenting slopes of Carn Dearg, and then the bouldery slopes to its summit at 3.392'. There then followed a pleasant mainly high level walk, with an airy East Highland feel, across the extensive plateau to Geal Charn, 3,714'. We then progressed on to what would be the two new Munros for the day for me, which are fairly close together, and are seen very well from the earlier peaks - the shapely Aonach Beag and then via the (at times very windy) ridge to Beinn Eibhinn, respectively 3,655' and 3,609'. We had dramatic views especially in the later part of the day, as the clouds broke up and fragmented a little in the fairly strong wind, and more distant views encompassed Ben Lui and the Crianlarich peaks to the south, and to the west as far as Glenfinnan. An enjoyable, bracing day, unfortunately rounded off getting back to the tents and our attempts at hot food and keeping warm, serenaded by the roaring of Red Deer...... Munros #240.

Cuillin - Sgurr nan Eag, Sgurr Dubh Mor and Sgurr Alasdair 2 Sept 2019

I think this was the hardest day's Munroing that I have ever done. The weather was unrelentingly wet and windy. The rivers in Glen Brittle were in spate as a result of the ongoing Atlantic weather systems, and we had to take a long detour on order to be able to cross safely and ascend Coire a'Ghrunnda. The paths up to the southern end of the ridge had actually become streams in their own right such was the volume of water running off the mountains. It took about 4 hours to reach the first of the days Munros, the most southerly Cuillin, Sgurr nan Eag, 3.037' Then a detour out and back to Sgurr Dubh Mor at 3,097' followed by the ascent up to Sgurr Alasdair at 3,258' an interesting route involving a 4m rock chimney that I got up by sheer willpower more than anything! Unfortunately no views from this, the highest of the Cuillin, with its tiny (and slippery) summit and cairn. An extremely wet and long descent down the treacherous Great Stone Shoot, and then back to Glen Brittle campsiter. A very challenging day but 3 Munros bagged, only 3 Cuillin to go now! I want to do them in fine sunny weather and experience the views.... Munros #238.

Cuillin - Sgurr Mhic Choinnich and Sgurr na Banachdich 1 Sept 2019

Day two of the Cuillin saga, and the best weather day of the trip - some sun on the lower slopes (plus a very close Golden Eagle in Glen Brittle!) and the cloud lifted off the ridge and most of the Munros for part of the day, such that we could see the intimidating jagged nature of the whole thing, so incredibly rugged and challenging - on this second day we had the option of doing the hardest Cuillin Munro of them all, the Inn Pinn - I opted to leave this for another day, as although the wind had lessened on yesterday's conditions, the rock was still wet and the mist was swirling, and I found conditions challenging, especially the slippery basalt. So we did Sgurr Mhic Choinnich (3,110') and Sgurr na Banachdich at 3,166', and I bypassed the Pinn on Sgurr Dearg for another day. A longer day, but another 2 challenging peaks bagged with the use of ropes and short climbing / scrambling pitches where required...…. Munros #235.