Fraoch Bheinn and Sgurr na-Cos Breach Laoigh

Although I was due to meet Daz at a pre-defined grid reference for our wild camp on Sgurr Beag, I knew I'd be up at Loch Arkaig at least 4 hours ahead of him. This meant that I could go in over at least one of the Corbetts - as the weather was fair, I decided on combining Fraoch Bheinn and the unpronouncable Sgurr. It was warm but raining so I had to put on the waterproof - mistake no. 1 - I was now boil-in-the-bag hot and started slurping the water.

It was quite a steep haul up to the summit of FB but views back to Streap were worth it. Once at the top of the hill, I decided on a more or less direct descent West, which was very steep in places. Half an hour of sustained hammering on the thighs and my legs were pretty battered. At the bealach between these two hills, it is about 400m but with the evening sunshine, cleg and midge clouds, I felt like I was broiling in hell. The ascent on to the shoulder of Sgurr-na CBL was nice once on to the ridge and a welcoming breeze banished the insecticidae. At about 800m, I was walking along to the Cioch, when I had a terrible cramp in my thighs. I sat down, took my first proper rest after 4 hours and consumed a rehydration powder. This wasn't enough and the balls of cramp were going nowhere - even sitting was agony. "I'll need a medevac, Kev!" After about 10 minutes, I got up and things relaxed a little. The climb over to the summit was nice with views over to Sgurr Mor and beyond becoming really nice. The view back along the Corbett to its South summit and crags was lovely. From here, I still had the descent and ascent to An Eag to do but that is covered here: http://www.munromadness.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/sgurr-mor-and-sgurr-nan-coireachean.html.