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Day trip with Dave McA. Had a sore foot to start with, aggravated to such an extent that I had to go to casualty on Tuesday... just some ligament damage so need to rest. Good day however - arrived 9.30 at Linn of Dee, cycle in to Derry Lodge in 25 mins, then 2 hours to the summit, all in good weather conditions.
Munros: Derry Cairngorm (1155m) (SMC Region 8 - The Cairngorms)
With: Dave McAvenue
Me and Dave - sunshine through the clouds in the background (South)  |
From the final summit ridge, looking West to Cairn Toul; ridge up to Ben Macdui in middle distance  |
Ben Macdui from summit of Derry Cairngorm.  |
Me and Dave on summit of Derry Cairngorn; Lochan Uaine behind - and summit ridge of Ben Macdui  |
Looking East to Ben Avon from summit of Derry Cairngorm.  |
Strathfarrar 4 ridge; got into the glen at 9am, got out with 5 minutes to spare before the gate closed at 6. Good conditions after 2 previous failed attempts on the North side of Loch Mullardoch; Jenny dug some snow pits on some of the steeper bits between Carn nan Gobhar and Sgurr a Choire Ghlas - some minor layers but nothing that worried us too much. Good day to end the walking when based in Cannich all week.
Munros: Sgurr na Ruaidhe (993m), Carn nan Gobhar (Glen Strathfarrar) (992m), Sgurr a' Choire Ghlais (1083m), Sgurr Fuar-thuill (1049m) (SMC Region 12 - Glen Cannich to Glen Carron)
With: Donald Smith, Jennifer Beaumont, Tom Wilding
Tom, Jenny, me and Donald at summit cairn of Sgurr na Ruaidhe. Last 200m we had to cut steps - useful for Mary and Mike who followed on!  |
Tom, Jenny and Donald on Sgurr na Ruaidhe with Carn nan Gobhar behind. Only took about 2 and a half hours to the top... on schedule against the clock to get out of the glen  |
View across to Carn nan Gobhar; route is North along the shoulder (with little snow) then West along the snow covered summit ridge.  |
Descending from Sgurr na Ruaidhe  |
View back from Carn nan Gobhar to Sgurr na Ruadhe - with Mary and Mike little specs at the top  |
Jenny Donald and me at summit of Carn nan Gobhar. Why do I always squint into the sun!? Jenny pondering if she likes her sandwich. Creag Ghorm a Bhealaich and Sgurr Fhuar Thuill in background  |
View west along the ridge from Carn nan Gobhar to Sgurr a Choire Ghlas on left, Creag Ghorm a Bhealaich with nice curved / corniced ridge, and Sgurr Fuar Thuill behind it  |
Tom and Jenny on ascent up to Sgurr a Choirce Ghlais. Mostly very good snow conditions, with a loads of fresh snow on an older base; it was just around here that Jenny dug some snow pits to check!  |
Donald at one of the summit cairns on Sgurr a Choire Ghlais  |
Tom, Donald and Jenny on Sgurr a Choire Ghlais; in the distance looking North West is Slioch.  |
Looking South West over towards the Mullardoch hills (damn them!). Sgurr na Lapaich is the big one I think  |
Donald and Tom at top of Sgurr Fuar Thuill; view North....  |
Photo-stiched view from top of Sgurr Fhar Thuill  |
Donald, Jenny and Tom on Sgurr Fuar Thuill  |
Donald me and Tom on Sgurr Fuar Thuill... no squinting into the sun this time!  |
Timed group photos at top of Sgurr Fuar Thuill... almost fell over in my dash to the summit before the timer ran out...  |
Start of the descent back to the strategically placed second car.  |
Wee expedition to Ben Avon. Drove / cycled in on Saturday and camped out beside Quoich water past Slugain. Cycled up to the Sneck and was there at 7.30! Great day out, missed out on getting too hot as it really heated up after mid-day - back at the car at Kelloch by 2pm. First time I've been on my own since I fell off over 10 years ago!
Munros: Beinn a' Bhuird (1196m), Ben Avon (1171m) (SMC Region 8 - The Cairngorms)
With: Alone
Me and my tent beside Quoich water. Met some blokes who recommended cycling up to the Sneck.. saved me around 2 hours I reckon  |
View from inside my tent; towards Beinn a Bhuird. No midges!!!  |
View from the cycle in up towards Clach a Chierich where I dumped the bike. The Chioch on the left, big gap on the right is the Sneck  |
Looking across to the Bheinn a Bhuird cliffs from about near the Sneck  |
Good view of Ben Avon from the summit of the first top - Cnap a Chleirich  |
Looking across to Beinn a Bhuird across the plateau from summit of Cnap a Chleirich  |
Looking to Bheinn a Bhuird south Summit from the same place  |
Me on summit of Cnap a Chleirich  |
Me at summit cairn of Beinn a Bhuird... 8.40 am in the morning!!!  |
Me at the summit.... then  |
Me dancing round the summit of Beinn a Bhuird... nobody else around to criticise my dancing!  |
Summit of Ben Avon on the approach along the South plateau  |
Me on the top of Ben Avon... minor semi-exposed scramble to the top.. but on dry granite no problems at all  |
Another one of me on Ben Avon, standing precariously near the edge of the granite tor....  |
Looking across to Mitre ridge and Square face rock climbs... RAF doing some training exercise.. nice day for it!  |
Weekend in Skye with Virpi and Heikki. DId the traverse of the ridge from the Bealach Coire na Banachdich to Sgurr a Mhadaidh. Very exposed scrambling along a very narrow ridge... think mainly grade 3 to 3S in some places. Conditions perfect apart from a mild breeze. Lost 1 hour at start trying to find way up to the ridge, but good practice on the rock before the real fun started. 11 hour walk in total from the camp site.
Munros: Sgurr na Banachdich (965m), Sgurr a' Ghreadaidh (973m), Sgurr a' Mhadaidh (918m) (SMC Region 17 - The Islands)
With: Virpi Lintunen, Heikki Jursulla
Nice waterfall on path up from Glenbrittle house.  |
Virpi and Heikki on the path up Allt Coire na Banachdich. Got a wee bit confused beneath the crags of Sgurr Dearg where the scree up to the ridge wasnt that easy to find.  |
View along the path for today from one of tops on ridge. Big one on left is Sgurr na Banachdich, top just behind is Sgurr Thormaid, towards right is Sgurr a Ghreadaidh, with the twin top.  |
View North from near top of Sgurr na Banachdich. Sgurr a Ghreadaidh in the middle... cant see Sgurr a Mhadaidh..  |
Virpi and Heikki nearing top of Sgurr na Banachdich. Sgurr Dearg and the top of the Inacessible pinnacle just visible behind.  |
Heikki, Virpi and me on top of Sgurr na Banachdich. Loch Coruisk behind.  |
Ridge from Sgurr na Banachdich to Sgurr a Mhadaidh. Very exposed... hands and knees along crest at some points, legs on either side on others...  |
Virpi and Heikki top of Sgurr a Ghreadaidh South top  |
Virpi and Heikki descending from Sgurr a Ghreadaidh south top  |
Virpi and Heikki just on the final bit of ridge before summit of Sgurr a Ghreadaidh.. just after the tricky bits!  |
Me on top of Sgurr a Ghreadaidh... not much room for a photo!!  |
Descent from Sgurr a Mhadiadh  |
Late start at 11am as the guy in the shop said it would clear up later.. and so it did! Just me and Virpi this time, Heikki had sore knees and wanted to spend some time taking photographs. Not as exposed as yesterday, but felt a bit more technical, and mentally tired from all the difficulties of yesterday. Got loads of help on routefinding from eveybody else as the hills were busy...
Munros: Sgurr nan Eag (924m), Sgurr Dubh Mor (944m) (SMC Region 17 - The Islands)
With: Virpi Lintunen
Me and Virpi on the slabs up to Coir a Ghrunnda  |
Easy clamber up to the loch, then easy scree slopes up to the ridge. Quite narrow on top, but nothing too serious. View across to Sgurr Alasdair  |
View across to Sgurr na Da Bheinn - take rhs around the castle bottom left, difficult routefinding to the top with lots of false paths ending in big drops (stick to the ridge on way up) . On the right  |
Me on top of Sgurr nan Eag. Met up with a couple of guys on the same route as us just behind the castle... we gave each other moral support up the next top and Munro.. helped each other out on traver  |
Virpi on top of Sgurr nan Eag. Sgurr Sgumain in background  |
View across to Sgurr Alasdair from top of Sgurr na Da Bheinn. Left rucksacks at top and went to Sgurr Dubh Mor.. and forgot my camera! Bbut top was so small would only be closeups anyway...  |
Virpi on Sgurr na Da Bheinn, after returning from Sgurr Dubh Mor  |
Virpi showing good style on descent from Sgurr na Da Bheinn. We traversed B a bit, then zig-zagged W into Coir a Ghrunnda.  |
Virpi looking across from half way down Sgurr na Da Bheinn to Sgurr nan Eag. Take the East hand side around the castle in the middle of the ridge...  |
View down to Loch Coir a Ghrunnda from halfway down the descent. Then easy street from the corrie retracing route back to the campsite and a well deserved beer :-)  |
Sunday circuit of Coire Lair from Achnasheen station with Donald. Was up day before to take some people round Beinn Eighe also.. but no extra ticks as had done it before. Weather today perfect... ran down last bit to catch the footie... so did the circuit in just over 6 hours. Loads of photos of me taken by Donald.. but none of him!!
Munros: Beinn Liath Mhor (925m), Sgorr Ruadh (960m) (SMC Region 13 - Coulin and Torridon)
With: Donald Smith
View up Coire Lair from base of climb up to the ridge of Beinn Liath Mhor  |
Me at cairn at east end of Beinn Liath Mhor... 450m up steep slopes no fun in the sunshine. First taste of the views to come  |
Looking across to the Corbett Fuar Tholl from ridge of Beinn Liath Mhor  |
Todays 2 Munros... on left is Sgorr Ruadh, on right Beinn Liath Mhor about 2km away along the ridge. Few ups and downs along the way, but good high level walking with nice views  |
Me with Beinn Liath Mhor behind. Also upper loch Torridon behind it  |
Looking across to Liathach from summit of Beinn Liath Mhor  |
Beinn Eighe from Beinn Liath Mhor  |
Me on top of Beinn Liath Mhor - Liathach and Beinn Eighe behind me  |
Me on Beinn Liath Mhor... Loch Torridon and North Skye hills in the distance  |
Looking East along the ridge of Beinn Liath Mhor  |
Me on top of Sgorr Ruadh - not easy getting there.. dropped to around 580m to bypass the crags which was painful on re-ascent after 7 hours walking yesterday  |
Looking West from top of Sgorr Ruadh - Maol Chean Dearg is the one on the left.  |
Cycle in Glen Achall, camped beside river with Dad. Walked up lower Glen Douchary, wander across 1km of grassland then onto ridge. Lucky with weather, rained all previous night then high broken cloud on the day.
Munros: Seana Bhraigh (927m) (SMC Region 15 - Loch Broom to Easter Ross)
With: William McPherson
Sitting beside our campfire after the 7 mile cycle in. Rained all night, but cleared around 8am... quite windy so no midges.  |
View up Glen Douchary to Seana Bhraigh (left). On right is Eididh nan Clach Geala  |
Dad on the final bit of Seana Bhraigh. Took about 4 hours from the campsite  |
Dad at summit of Seana Bhraigh, An Teallach in the background (dont walk backwards or over a cliff)  |
Me at summit of Seana Bhraigh, with Creag am Duine cliffs behind  |
View from the cliff edge down into Coire Mhoir, with Creag an Duine in background.  |
Cliffs around the Choire Mhor  |
Dad on walk out from Seana Braigh, going across Gleann a Chadha Dheirg  |
Me very close to edge of Seana Braigh cliffs.  |
Dad at edge of cliff on Seana Bhraigh  |
Quick round trip to Skye with Mary and Michael - stayed in Broadford, then Blaven on Sunday. I got to top but probably missed easiest path (ended up in some easy gully about 100m directly below top) where Mary and Michael bottled it again!
Munros: Bla Bheinn (928m) (SMC Region 17 - The Islands)
With: Alone
Me, Mary and Michael at start of trip up Bla Bheinn. Took about 3 hours to summit, lost a wee bit routefinding in the mist and making sure I took GPS readings so I could find them on the way down  |
Bla Bheinn from the path up from Loch Slapin  |
Me at summit of Bla Bhein. In single figures for Munros to go.. done all the Cuillin... the end is in sight! Pity no decent view from the summit, but I'll be back...  |
Michael pretending to climb an erratic. Mary being erratic!  |
Michael, Mary and Me beside huge boulder. 6 hour round trip... then drove back to Glasgow in time for a curry and beer at home  |
Canoe trip across Loch Quoich... 3km paddle instead of 12km slog. First time canoe seen any real action... no probs as the loch was like a millpond.
Munros: Sgurr Mor (1003m) (SMC Region 10 - Loch Eil to Glen Shiel)
With: Colin Murchison
Me and Colin Murchy beside my beatiful canoe (yet to be named!). Colins first Munro with me...  |
Looking across to Sgurr na Ciche from summit of Sgurr Mor. Quite hazy at top.. but cant complain with weather like this in September  |
Me and Colin at summit of Sgurr Mor  |
Me in my shades.. knoydary in background  |
Colin at top of Sgurr Mor  |
View South from Sgurr Mor  |
My beatiful canoe about to start on its return journey!  |
Epic trip into Loch Mullardoch camping for next 2 days. Managed to do all the ones I'd missed out on on various trips. First day cycle to Iron Lodge, then walk into base of Mullach na Dheiragain and camp at base
Munros: Mullach na Dheiragain (982m) (SMC Region 11 - Glen Affric and Kintail)
With: Alone
Looking back down Glen Elchaig to Iron Lodge from the zig zags above the lodge. Dumped bike behind the shed in the bracken  |
View along Loch Mullardoch from about 650m on Dheiragain. Tomorrows mountain Beinn Fhionnlaidh in foreground  |
Me at top of Mullach na Dheiragain in my wonderful Tilley Hat  |
Looking south along ridge to Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan. Was there last August... but Mary didnt want to do this one.... so only me!  |
Looking down to my campsite, just beneath the confluence of the 2 streams.  |
Day 2 of my trip. Wander up Beinn Fhionnlaidh, back to get tent then move campsite to bottom of Coire Lungard.
Munros: Beinn Fhionnlaidh (1005m) (SMC Region 11 - Glen Affric and Kintail)
With: Alone
View West from route up Beinn Fhionnlaidh, towards end of Loch Mullardoch. Annoyingly could have carried tent and kit and crossed river further down, but wasnt to know the rivers were so low.  |
Looking up Gleann Choilich.. the river was very low so no problem crossing at the ford of the 4x4 track  |
Summit of Beinn Fhionnlaidh, An Riabhachan in background  |
From summit of Beinn Fhionnlaidh, looking East up Loch Mullardoch.  |
Me on summit of Beinn Fhionnlaidh, looking North  |
Me on summit - ridge up to Carn Eighe behind. Was there in 1990 with Alistair Convray.. but he didnt want to do the ridge  |
Day 3 of expedition.... did the horror of North Loch Mullardoch which I'd tried and failed 3 times before! And thanks to the estate guy who gave me a lift in his wee 4 wheel drive for about 4 miles to save me walking all the way back to Iron Lodge. Also wee problem with camera... think condensation inside so some are from my mobile phone.
Munros: Sgurr na Lapaich (1150m), An Riabhachan (1129m), An Socach (1069m) (SMC Region 12 - Glen Cannich to Glen Carron)
With: Alone
Looking back up Loch Mullardoch from the North bank... about a 1 and a half hour walk along the bank before can even see Sgurr na Lapaich  |
View East along Loch Mullardoch  |
From top Sgurr na Lapaich... perfect weather... apart from midges round my tent at the start.  |
From An Riabachan  |
Top of Sgurr Mor  |
Sun streaming through the clouds in the West... just coming down Coire Lungard  |
View down Coire Lungard to the West end of Loch Mullardoch  |
Me with my tent, just about to embark on the long walk out. Epic few days... 32 miles walked, 12 cycled, 13000 feet of ascent a bit tiring... thanks to estate man for 3 miles without walking!  |
The penultimate trip of my Munro bashing marathon. Stayed in Ullapool at the Grey House, started walk at 730 am, walked in the Achintee path, finished 630pm after a very long day - but perfect weather setting me up for the finale on Carn Mor Dearg.
Munros: Bidein a' Choire Sheasgaich (945m), Lurg Mhor (986m) (SMC Region 12 - Glen Cannich to Glen Carron)
With: Alone
15 minutes into walk in from Achintee...looking West over the mist in Glen Carron  |
Over the col at around 500m, then looking down into Bearnais. Lugged in sleeping bag and gear for possible overnight in the bothy, left it at the N end of Loch an Laoigh to pick up on way back.  |
Me beside my stash of gear and food for tonight. In the end managed to walk out before it got dark.. but another hour would have meant kipping in the bothy  |
View from top of Bidean a Choire Sheasgaich down Loch Monar. Got there at 1230 - about half an hour ahead of my schedule so spent some time chilling and taking snaps  |
View from Bidean a Choire Sheasgaich to Lurg Mhor. Perfect weather for me.. nice and cool, cloud inversions and no midges  |
View looking South East down to An Gead Loch from Bidean Sheasgaigh  |
From top of Bidean a Choire Sheasgaigh looking West  |
Me on top of Bidean a Choire Sheasgaigh  |
Taken from summit of Bidean a Choire Sheasgaigh, Sgurr Choinnich and Sgurr a Chaorachain in background  |
My hat on top of Lurg Mhor, looking East, got there about 130 pm.  |
Me on top of Lurg Mhor.... 1 Munro to go!!!!  |
Me again.... not looking forward to the 5 hour walk out. Traversed across to just South of Sail Riabhach, then NW back down to pick up gear.  |
Looking from top of Lurg Mhor along ridge to Meall Mor which I didnt have inclination for.  |
From just West of Lurg Mhor summit, looking towards Bidean a Choire Sheasgaigh.  |
From Loch an Laoigh, looking up Bearnais. Another 2 and a half hours walking ahead... but loads of daylight left so no probs.  |
Compleating the Munros! Stayed weekend at Glencoe hostel and bunkhouse with whole bunch of friends and family, trip on Saturday in cloud and rain with no views of the Ben, cold and windy on the ridge, but whisky all round at the top! Then... vague memories of too many nice beers in the Clachaig afterwards with the staff dressed for Halloween, back to hostel, more whisky, then thank god the clocks went back! Started back in 1987, been on the tops with 67 different people over 158 trips into the hills, of which I was on my own 7 times. What next? Some of the ones with no photographs (or no visibility!) to fill in the gaps on my website, some I dont remember, my favourite Munros, some Corbetts, some on the Islands, some by different routes, and maybe some more technical stuff so I can think of Skye without feeling nervous!
Munros: Carn Mor Dearg (1223m) (SMC Region 4 - Loch Linnhe to Loch Ericht)
With: Mary Murchison, Colin Murchison, Robbie Murchison, William McPherson, Dave Scott, Stephen Noble, Alistair Convray, Neil Convray, Ewan Convray, Michael Burrows, Donald Smith, Lynsey Easton, Marian McNeil, Mark Jaffray, Bernd Baeuml, Gary Simpson
Me on top of Carn Mor Dearg.. the final Munro! Only photo from my camera as I was too busy mushing and organising.. but hopefully a whole load more on the way from everybody else.  |
Dave and Bernd on top.. waiting for me and the others to turn up  |
Gary, Stephen, Mark, Donald.. and a blur on the top with Champagne and a wee whisky  |
Bernd on top of the cairn, me in my beautiful hat, Alistair drinking from the bottle with Ewan and Neil  |
Donald and Mark waiting for me... cheer up Mark!  |