Hillwalking Thread

[LondonHMFC]

12 hours ago, Swello said:

All the way - you can drive all the way to the dam if you really want to (although you don't need to go that far).

One thing I wasn't sure about, when you go over the dam, you can continue round the hill, but it goes to a gravel like path. Has anyone continued on it? Where does it end up going? 

[Swello]

6 minutes ago, LondonHMFC said:

One thing I wasn't sure about, when you go over the dam, you can continue round the hill, but it goes to a gravel like path. Has anyone continued on it? Where does it end up going? 

One way goes to Monar Lodge and then becomes a hill path (I have looked at this as a way to climb An Sidhean, an annoyingly placed Corbett) - the other goes to a wee hydro station and then a hill path that takes you to the other side of the Mullardoch hills that @invergowrie arab posted above. Some lunatics have linked the Strathfarrar and Mullardoch walks this way, in what I could imagine would be the most spectacular way possible to end your interest in walking forever

[LondonHMFC]

21 minutes ago, Swello said:

One way goes to Monar Lodge and then becomes a hill path (I have looked at this as a way to climb An Sidhean, an annoyingly placed Corbett) - the other goes to a wee hydro station and then a hill path that takes you to the other side of the Mullardoch hills that @invergowrie arab posted above. Some lunatics have linked the Strathfarrar and Mullardoch walks this way, in what I could imagine would be the most spectacular way possible to end your interest in walking forever

Apologies, my knowledge of the area isn't too great, but is the hill covered in snow in this photo An Sidhean? 

[Swello]

 

1 hour ago, LondonHMFC said:

Apologies, my knowledge of the area isn't too great, but is the hill covered in snow in this photo An Sidhean? 

 

If that photo is taken from the dam looking at the part of Loch Monar that lies north-south before it doglegs west,  then it could be An Sidhean - but depending on the angle, it could also be the remote Munro Maoile Lunndaidh, which is over 1000m and is more likely to catch the snow like that.

Edited June 29, 2021 by Swello

[jamamafegan]

On Sunday I did my first night-time munro hike with the mission of getting some nice sunrise pictures at the top, rather than simply climb during the day. I was delighted I did so because I was treated to a fantastic sunrise and awesome views. It's the first munro climb I've ever done that I've not encountered a single person either, which seems quite remarkable. However, the hike was soured after I made a grisly discovery on the summit of Conival on the way back. The morning light revealed a Union Jack, which had been unfurled and held down by rocks for display - not a massive thing but the kind of size that someone would maybe hang in their room or from a pub ceiling. Needless to say, I immediately removed it and took great pleasure in launching it into an Ullapool bin on the way home.

That's Ben More Assynt and Conival ticked off, taking me up to 42 munros.

 

Edited June 30, 2021 by jamamafegan

[LondonHMFC]

50 minutes ago, jamamafegan said:

On Sunday I did my first night-time munro hike with the mission of getting some nice sunrise pictures at the top, rather than simply climb during the day. I was delighted I did so because I was treated to a fantastic sunrise and awesome views. It's the first munro climb I've ever done that I've not encountered a single person either, which seems quite remarkable. However, the hike was soured after I made a grisly discovery on the summit of Conival on the way back. The morning light revealed a Union Jack, which had been unfurled and held down by rocks for display - not a massive thing but the kind of size that someone would maybe hang in their room or from a pub ceiling. Needless to say, I immediately removed it and took great pleasure in launching it into an Ullapool bin on the way home.

That's Ben More Assynt and Conival ticked off, taking me up to 42 munros.

 

Fantastic photos, what time did you set off? Well done on the cleaning up the litter as well. 

 

[Swello]

56 minutes ago, jamamafegan said:

On Sunday I did my first night-time munro hike with the mission of getting some nice sunrise pictures at the top, rather than simply climb during the day. I was delighted I did so because I was treated to a fantastic sunrise and awesome views. It's the first munro climb I've ever done that I've not encountered a single person either, which seems quite remarkable. However, the hike was soured after I made a grisly discovery on the summit of Conival on the way back. The morning light revealed a Union Jack, which had been unfurled and held down by rocks for display - not a massive thing but the kind of size that someone would maybe hang in their room or from a pub ceiling. Needless to say, I immediately removed it and took great pleasure in launching it into an Ullapool bin on the way home.

That's Ben More Assynt and Conival ticked off, taking me up to 42 munros.

 

Brilliant photos

[Benjamin_Nevis]

On Sunday I did my first night-time munro hike with the mission of getting some nice sunrise pictures at the top, rather than simply climb during the day. I was delighted I did so because I was treated to a fantastic sunrise and awesome views. It's the first munro climb I've ever done that I've not encountered a single person either, which seems quite remarkable. However, the hike was soured after I made a grisly discovery on the summit of Conival on the way back. The morning light revealed a Union Jack, which had been unfurled and held down by rocks for display - not a massive thing but the kind of size that someone would maybe hang in their room or from a pub ceiling. Needless to say, I immediately removed it and took great pleasure in launching it into an Ullapool bin on the way home.
That's Ben More Assynt and Conival ticked off, taking me up to 42 munros.




 

That's glorious [emoji41]

[Swello]

3 hours ago, jamamafegan said:

On Sunday I did my first night-time munro hike with the mission of getting some nice sunrise pictures at the top, rather than simply climb during the day. I was delighted I did so because I was treated to a fantastic sunrise and awesome views. It's the first munro climb I've ever done that I've not encountered a single person either, which seems quite remarkable. However, the hike was soured after I made a grisly discovery on the summit of Conival on the way back. The morning light revealed a Union Jack, which had been unfurled and held down by rocks for display - not a massive thing but the kind of size that someone would maybe hang in their room or from a pub ceiling. Needless to say, I immediately removed it and took great pleasure in launching it into an Ullapool bin on the way home.

That's Ben More Assynt and Conival ticked off, taking me up to 42 munros.

 

Did you camp or was it a walk up in the dark and enjoy the sunrise job?

[jamamafegan]

Thanks lads.

Did you camp or was it a walk up in the dark and enjoy the sunrise job?

I camped at Inchnadamph car park. Hoped to get a couple hours sleep but I couldn’t get comfy in my tent and then folk started playing loud tunes somewhere nearby and the bass was droning in my ears. I left at 0000 and was back for 0800. I had my head torch but it was just about light enough to not really need one. When I first set off it was like “why am I doing this” [emoji38] but I got my reward and it’s left me feeling inspired to tackle more munros at night.

[Swello]

8 minutes ago, jamamafegan said:

Thanks lads.
 

 

I camped at Inchnadamph car park. Hoped to get a couple hours sleep but I couldn’t get comfy in my tent and then folk started playing loud tunes somewhere nearby and the bass was droning in my ears. I left at 0000 and was back for 0800. I had my head torch but it was just about light enough to not really need one. When I first set off it was like “why am I doing this” but I got my reward and it’s left me feeling inspired to tackle more munros at night.

 

Up there, you probably just missed the sunset leaving at midnight  

I climbed Ben More Assynt to watch an eclipse years ago but mystifyingly didn't do Conival when I was up there - still annoys me that I had to do it again (in the clag). Every year, we used to do a hill at midsummer, climbing up after a couple of pints at the nearest pub at closing time - I climbed Schiehallion, Cairngorm and Ben Lomond for the first time that way and Ben Lawers for the 2nd time. We only saw a sunrise once and canned the idea completely after 3 years of sitting about in clouds freezing for 5 hours 

[Swello]

I made the decision that I would try to sneak a hill in this morning that would be short enough that I could get it done with a decent margin of error before the bad weather that was forecast (when there is a high chance of lightning forecast, don't do it kids). When I was wracking my brains for what to do, it occurred to me that the two shortest/easiest Corbetts were actually really close to each other - and I would never set out to do either of them under normal circumstances as the walks are too short.

I left the house last night about 8:45pm and I was through Killin and heading up the steep hill from Loch Tay for the umpteenth time by about 10:30pm. I parked up at the wee quarry past Lochan na Lairige and had a decent car kip. I was up at 5:30am with the light and after some breakfast, headed up Meall nam Maigheach - which at 780m with a 550m start from the car was hilariously easy. The forecast was gash but I did get some minor views but nothing special.

I was back at the car before 8am which was a bit weird, but I headed down to Glen Lyon and the end of the public road at Pubil. I've never really understood the status of the high road that heads from here over to Glen Lochay but there is nothing to stop you - so I headed up the mad potholed, no tarmac in places steepness to the highpoint at over 500m. From there, I was back into the walking gear and headed up Meall nan Subh which was only 1.5km and 300m ascent away. This was again hilariously easy and I was there and back within 50 mins. More limited summit views on a day where I should have got none at all was a minor bonus.

The other side of the road was in even worse nick but I knew that having been on part of it when I climbed Creag Mhor and Beinn Heasgarnich - and I was glad when I made it to Glen Lochay with the car intact. 2 pretty unspectacular, easy Corbetts walks done before 11am on a shite weather day something that I wasn't expecting..

 

Edited July 4, 2021 by Swello

[Central Belt Caley]

Bagged another Munro this morning taking my total to 3! Set off for Ben Chonzie this morning at 5:45, picked a mate up en route and on the trail by 7:00. Mate has 0 fitness and was doing his first so struggled at the steep mid section but got there in the end and was rewarded with some cracking views at the top! 

Not a breath of wind at the top either! Beautiful day for it! 

[Benjamin_Nevis]

Aonach Eagach yesterday, for the third time. It really is one of the best ridgewalks/scrambles around. The forecast was shite so we were fully prepared for the wee Buachaille as plan B, however the weather was mostly glorious, and I'm nursing some tremendous sunburn, and agonisingly sore thighs after taking the direct descent back to Glencoe. f**k ever doing that again.

[the aggressive beggar]

Thought I'd give myself a wee shock to the system today, so decided on the Curved Ridge on Buachaille Etive Mor.

Yeah, that done it.  My first real attempt at some scrambling and I'll be honest, at times I was shiteing myself.

Started off as a cracking walk round the base to the Water Slab. 

Was following directions from a forum post on walkhighlands when I saw a couple of guys descending from what turned out to be D Gully.  They'd got lost but now reckoned they knew where they were going so I tagged along for a bit.

We crossed over above the slab and started heading up.  A couple of tricky bits then came to a section where I thought this is pretty dodgy.  Had to compose myself and managed up.  At which point I realised there was no way i was able to downclimb and was committed.

Got to the ledge just below the Rannoch Wall and was pretty nervous now.  The guys had charged on while I sat for a bit, I looked up to see where they were and thought how the hell am I getting up there!   A few folk passed and offered some much needed words of encouragement.

Then onto the Curved Ridge.

I have never in my life been in the position where a slip or fall would be fatal (apart from maybe the good old days at Brockville). So this was incredibly intense. 

Managed the Crux no bother after a bit of investigation, then up and down the Crowberry Tower.  Just a shame the views were hidden behind a constant blanket of cloud from this point.

Last scramble from there up to Stob Dearg.  Then pretty straightforward over to Stob na Broige.  Just over 6 hours all in.  

 

Edited July 14, 2021 by the aggressive beggar
Phone died

[Swello]

Good effort - always thought it looked full on and you've confirmed it.

I've only been up the Buachaille once (it was my final Munro) but if I do it again, I'd likely have a go at Curved Ridge (although I always assumed that I'd take one of my mates who are good at climbing along for moral support )

[the aggressive beggar]

2 hours ago, Swello said:

Good effort - always thought it looked full on and you've confirmed it.

I've only been up the Buachaille once (it was my final Munro) but if I do it again, I'd likely have a go at Curved Ridge (although I always assumed that I'd take one of my mates who are good at climbing along for moral support )

Thanks, I highly recommend it.  If you've got a mate that's into climbing then it would be a very good idea to take them along!  I felt totally out of my depth at times but I think that was mostly down to being my first time scrambling.

It's quite tricky to locate the ridge in the first place but this guys post is a great help.

https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=8599

[vikingTON]

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/jul/15/scottish-villagers-bid-to-buy-most-remote-pub-on-mainland-britain

And good luck to them. 

 

[invergowrie arab]

Not quite curved ridge or the AE but an enjoyable muck about on the Tarmachan Ridge the other day. Clockwise to enjoy what scrambling there is on the way up.

 

[invergowrie arab]

1 hour ago, virginton said:

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/jul/15/scottish-villagers-bid-to-buy-most-remote-pub-on-mainland-britain

And good luck to them. 

 

It's a great wee bar. Just need to get that Belgian dick out.