Beinn a Chuallaich - the 100th!

The day had arrived - my 100th Corbett would be Beinn a Chuallaich, a solitary hill famed for its views to Schiehallion. I would be accompanied by Ian Clayton, a friend of several years, who would then join me on a trip to Duinish bothy to celebrate. I wanted to do this hill with Ian, as it was a short day out but would provide a nice wee view around Scotland. We parked to the east after a delightful drive down the B road and through Trinafour. From here, we walked steeply up the hill and past the old shelter, which looked robust enough on the inside. Not as 'grand' as most bothies but it would certainly do on a whiteout. The steep ground eventually gave way to flatter terrain, that was lined with boggy moraines. Unfortunately, while the views were pretty, ian's feet had degenerated into stumps and he could no longer continue the final ascent on to the summit. With his permission, I shot off and sped up the hill at haste. I was at the summit cairn and trig point, 20 minutes after leaving him. Great views to the hills and lochs and I decided to contour round off the ESE ridge and then back over the burn. Eventually I located him and we had an undramatic tramp back to the cars, before we eventually walked into Duinish for a beer, dram and some convivial chat. Here's to the next 100.

 

Garbh Bheinn (Kinlochleven)

I was taken by the profile of this hill in the SMC Corbetts book. Also, it wasn't too far from home and as it was a short day trip, I wanted to retain some of the deposit in the emotional bank account. It only looked like a short trip and so it proved to be, although it was very steep up and down. The great thing about this hill aside from the spectacular views back up Loch Leven, is that within 1km, you're already 1000ft up. It's a rather boggy start but once on to the ridge proper, it's sheer joy. The relentless zig-zags only ended at a lovely crag, which was easily skirted and then the final approach to the summit. From here, the views across Rannoch Moor and to the Mamores were outstanding. I took shelter in the small rock hide and had some lunch before a quick and awkward run back to the car. All in all, a 7km walk with 817m of ascent done in 1 hour 40. The thighs today are complaining. This was my 99th Corbett so what next for Corbett 100?

Geal Charn (Cairngorms)

On the way up to Inverness for Exam Board, I wished to add to my Corbett count and I was now approaching the centenary. This hill wasn't one I had long considered but it would fit well with a minor deviation off the A9. That said, it took a wee while to eventually get down to the lodge, where I parked at the edge of the turning circle. The forecast was mixed and it was certainly that type of day, where it was warm enough but once the wind and rain hit me on the summit, it was pretty chilly. June in Scotland really. I didn't get a true appreciation of the views for this hill although Ben Rinnes could be seen to the North-East. The ground was a bit awkward off the North-West so it took me a wee while to get round this but I eventually hit Corbett 98, and ran around this 13km route in just over 2 hours. I enjoyed the remote aspect of this hill. Although considered a Cairngorm hill, it feels rather separate from the main range.

Beinn nan Oighreag

Apparently in the 1930s, this hill attracted considerable attention as it was found to approximate the height of a Munro - I say ould chep. However, at 909m, it falls several metres short of the Munro-bagger's requirements. I fancied it as a short run and decent preparation for the Fling, in 2 weeks. It would also be the first time with my Brooks Cascadia trail shoes so would allow me to break them in sufficiently. I followed the land rover track and missed the hill path, which would meander around and eventually to the old shielings. As a consequence, I ended up climbing too high, too early although it was just good to be getting out in the hills again. I crossed the Allt Dhuin Croisg where on the map there should be old shielings but I couldn't see any. However, there was a decent path, which must have been the old drovers route from Glen Lochay over into Glen Lyon.

Eventually, I began the trudge up the hill proper and it didn't take long before the snow fields on the NE face of Meall Ghaordaidh came into view. There were a few false summits before I finally encountered the summit cairn with outstanding views up to Loch Lyon and the reservoir dam. The views back South were also very pleasant too. However, it was very cold and I layered up to full Winter gear, with evidence of light snow on the summit area. A wee bit of food and I began the run back down the hill to the car. I was back at the car in 2 hours 30 minutes and felt very good. Good way to hit my 97th Corbett and i see my hill jaunts being more like this in the future.

Ben Vuirich

As part of my Highland Fling ultra-marathon training, I had hatched a plan to run out to Ben Vuirich and back. The great thing about running light and being fit enough is that if conditions allow it, you can grab these distant hills in relatively quick time. The forecast had been for settled weather over the weekend and I noted the glorious conditions on the Saturday before I was due to head out. Getting a wee lie-in on the Sunday meant that I awoke in good spirits and not that worried about the grey hanging over the local environs. I departed home at 0730 and was delighted with how quiet the A9 was, the whole way to Blair Atholl. It had been a few years since I had romped around Beinn a Ghlo and I had forgotten the road route, though didn't go wrong until I drove past Loch Moraig. I pulled in beside another couple of cars and donned my light pack, running trainers and gloves. I was away by 0930 and began the light run up the land rover track.

Carn Liath was covered in clag but the sporadic snowfields showed how much snow had fallen up here recently. At -2C, it was a chilly start so I was glad to get running. The track rises quite slowly but enough that I didn't run the whole of the first 2km. Once past the cattle gate though, it was delightful running all the way down to the river. The cloud threatened to lift now and again, with the occasional bit of blue shining through. After the burn crossing, the path gained height over Sron na-h Innereach but it was still possible to run the good majority of it. Eventually and reluctantly I left the track just past the crags of Stac nam Bodach and began a direct climb over this wee hill to 672m. From here, it was a negotiation of what would have been a boggy set of hags but the conditions meant it was a delightful tramp up on to the final steep climb to Ben Vuirich. The last 200m were a bit of a slog but within 2 hours of leaving the car, I was sheltered beside the trig point with occasional views to jigsaw pieces of Carn nan Gabhar. I sent my wife a wee message and then headed due North down to the track.

I picked up the track after a relatively steep descent and was glad for the slightly warmer conditions. Although I had a lightweight duvet jacket and trousers if conditions deteriorated, I hadn't used them much as I tend to overheat quickly, if I run. Ben Vuirich popped out of the cloud long enough for me to see its flat top but then was covered once again. The run back to the car was an absolute joy and I was back at the car within 3 hours 45 min. A good wee run (just short of 24km and 816m of ascent) and one that saw me back home before dark, which is always a bonus (and earns some brownie points)!

Sgurr na Feartaig & Beinn Tharsuinn

Decided to head North to do these Corbetts in addition to the 3 Munros, if conditions permitted. They did not. Having left Achnasheen and driven down the road to excellent visibility and 17 degree C, about a mile along the land rover track, I realised that the wind had picked up with consequent tumbling of temperature. By the time I had my way up on to the Pollan Duibhe, Sgurr Choinnich and partner were covered in black cloud and the wind had really begun to pick up. I could see a small figure descending quickly off Sgurr na Feartaig and I spied the path wending its way up. I crossed the fantastic little bridge beside the tree and met a wee lad, who was waiting for his mum. He posed for a snap.

The ascent up on the first objective was excellent and made for quick progress though by 600m, the wind was pretty ferocious. I met his mum at this point who was a little worried but I reassured her he was fine. The immediate area before the summit of Sgurr na Feartaig offers tremendous views over to Ceannachain, a Munro that was demoted to a Corbett. Recently, I had done another Corbett without doing anything; Cnoc Coinnich having been promoted from Graham to Corbett status. This point beside the large lochain would be an excellent point for a camp. I hit the large summit cairn and stopped to assess the descent down to the bealach bhearnais, with great views over to the Munro (still covered in ominous cloud) and Beinn Tharsuinn.

I descended to the bealach and began the climb to an area just short of the ascent on to Tharsuinn. Weather permitting, I'd set up camp here for the approach to the Munros. It took me some time to erect the tent due to the wind conditions. Having secured the tent, I began the ascent up on the Tharsuinn but the clag and dropped and it was just a case of checking the map over the various undulations, before the unusual summit area - a nice crevasse, which would be desperate in Winter and the summit area that looked like it had been eroded away to the East. I sent texts to my wife and Darren (who i intended to meet later that weekend). The descent was uneventful and I was glad to see my tent was in once piece. I got in, de-cloaked and tucked into a lovely focaccia with some fluids. Despite my intentions however, this spot would not do as the tent caved in knocking me flat. Desperate measures. I would pack up, descend to the Pollan Duibhe and re-consider.

At this point, I made a decision to return home proper. I had been having doubts about the trip and what with various home and work issues, decided I would be better at home resolving these than sitting in a tent with no reception and no way to hear from Emma. The walk back out saw me reach the car at 2135, barely without use of head torch. I got in the car and drove the long road home arriving at 0155. Good to get these two Corbetts done in this remote area but I have unfinished Munro business here, which can wait for better times.

Carn Mor from the Lecht

Originally I had planned to combine this with Carn Ealasaid but the furiously hot conditions meant that a solo was in the offing. Furthermore, I arrived at the Lecht at 1300, just as conditions were hitting 24C.  I hadn't really researched the area from the Lecht over to Carn Mor but presumed it was a fairly straightforward plod past the paraphernalia. I couldn't have been more wrong. The summit of Meikle Corr Riabhach is obviously a perfect breeding ground for black-headed seagulls and they fair bombarded me as I walked among their newly hatched young. Bundles of feathery cuteness were plentiful and well-camouflaged. I almost trod on one but avoided it last second. The bog factor soon came into play and from here over to Carn Liath, it was a fair old bog-hop. That said, the hot weather had dried out most of them so it was just a case of route-finding. Within 90 minutes, I was at the remote summit of Carn Mor, with an unusual silhouetted trig point - almost floating in appearance. I topped up the factor 30, re-hydrated and began the reverse bog-trot. I was quite fresh after the Milngavie Trail Race the day before and was back at the car by 1545, a 2 hour 45 minute trek. The number of hares on this trip was almost into the hundred so plenty of wildlife up here.