Skip to main content

Special

I'd the whole week off work and had planned to do stuff at the beginning of the week when Steve would be about. As ever the weather had better ideas though we did manage to get something done between deluges. True to form the weather forecast improved for the end of the week but Steve had the kids for the weekend and the rest of the usual suspects weren't available. Out came the maps, books and public transport timetables.

Planning a trip to the hills via public transport is always entertaining and I had a few options but I decided to go with a wee trip on the train. Another look at the maps and I had a number of options when I got out there.



First stop Rannoch Station. I had a wee bit of a walk along the road before heading along The Road To The Isles. Before I knew it I had the first target of the day in view Sron Leachd a Chaorainn. As it had been so wet I had already decided that the best way, and hopefully driest, to get onto the ridge was to continue a bit further on the track to Corrour to around the 500m contour line then NE onto it. It was still wet but the Sealskin Socks were doing their stuff.




Its a great wander along that ridge and the view was just opening up in front of me over Rannoch Moore to Glencoe, Blackwater Reservoir, the Mamores even Ben Nevis - heaven







Once I was on the summit of Carn Dearg I had to decide if this was to be my hoose for the night or the next summit Sgor Gaibhre. I figured I still had enough time before it got dark to get over to Sgor Gaihbre and pitch the tent but didn't factor in my faff time of stopping to take photies every five minutes of the sunset and watching the massive herd of deer that appeared in front of me.











I got the tent up just as it got dark and set about organising myself for the night. I had a few new things with me. The biggy was the Thermarest Neoair which had arrived just the day before so this was a proper first test. I'd got the regular size which is luxury and certainly filled the tent. I also had the Sea to Summit X Mug which saves space and kept my chocca mocha nice and warm.



Dinner was couscous and Look What We Found Fellside Beef Chilli. I had seen the discussion on Outdoorsmagic about these so I had a play about to see how they fitted in my Ti Mug for cooking and decided they did fit better being boiled in a pour & store bag which meant I could use the water for my drinks. It was certainly scrummy.

As I settled down for the night I noticed the wind had picked up a wee bit. I hoped it wouldn't get any worse as I hadn't really positioned the tent to take a battering. Due to the wind sleep wasn't as forthcoming as it could have been but the Neoair was just fantastic. With my Ajungilak pillow I was well comfy. It's the first time I've really been able to sleep on my side on any mat. It also seemed to handle the cold quite well too. Not sure how cold it got overnight but it was certainly nippy when I got out the tent in the morning.

I had positioned the tent to look over to Schiehallion for sunrise and did I get some views :D)









While having breakfast I weighed up the options for the route back. I could head back to Rannoch via Meall na Meoig but the pull of a hot cuppa and bacon buttie at the Corrour Station House won out. So it was over to Sgor Choinnich and down to Loch Ossian. It was strange being back on a path having done most of this route off path.



All too soon I was back in the real world, meeting another couple of walkers on the path, the first people I'd seen since leaving Rannoch Station. I certainly enjoyed my bacon buttie while waiting on the train. I wonder what will happen to Corrour Station House as the current tenants haven't had their lease renewed and they've no idea what Corrour Estate have planned for its future. It'll certainly be missed by many a walker waiting for the train.



To say that I'm pleased that my first solo wild camp went off without a hitch would be an understatement but it's nature and the hills who win hands down for making the trip what it was - special :D)


Comments

  1. Absolutely fantastic photos. What a brilliant first solo wildcamp. The views from your camp were just superb.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I couldn't have hoped for better views and suspect it may be a long time before I get to see them again

    ReplyDelete
  3. Brill! You must have had to rub your eyes before you believed that view from the tent! ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  4. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Salomon Mission GTX Boot

I've had these on a few times now and so far they are just what I've been after to get me through the winter for most of my days out. Salomon describe them as being perfect for "light hiking" - take that whatever way you want ;-) They come in at 1210g for the pair and feel fairly easy on the feet. They've handled saturated grassy stuff without me applying the famous arse plant (so far!!). They even seemed to be OK on rocky stuff too. Where I have been really impressed with them is how they handled the snow on Na Gruagaichan. It was hard enough that we were kicking steps. This was easy enough for Steve in his Scarpa SL's and Iain in his La Sportiva Nepals. Initially I followed their steps then decided to give it a go myself. I occasionally had to kick a couple of times on some of the really hard stuff, probably more down to my poor technique than the boot, but they managed well on the cover we had for the ascent. As my balance is rubbish I decided to apply

Creag Meagaidh MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

Creag Meagaidh has been on the to do list for so long. The past couple of years have seen us have to abort at least three attempts at the last minute because conditions weren't for us. So were we going to get it done this time................. YES  The weather bods said mostly dry with a risk of potential showers later in the day.  It was warm so even if it did rain it would be warm.  Off we set having smothered ourselves in factor 50 and Smidge. Warm they said.......... baking I said!!!! We had decided our ascent would be via Coire Ardair and The Window to ease us into the walk on a good path.  It felt more like a slow roasting.  It is a gorgeous walk out to Coire Ardair on a very good path but as soon as we were out of the forest the heat and humidity kicked in.  When we reached Lochan Coire Ardair there was only one thing on my mind, getting my boots off and getting in.  It was at this point I began having major doubts as to whether we would get this done. Bre

Mullach Clach a'Bhlair

Our ascent of Geal Charn Mhor had given us food for thought on what was to be our next hill target.  We'd had notions on either Braeraich or  Beinn Mheadhoin but the lack of winter equipment and uncertainty on the true extent of the snow cover put those ideas on hold for the time being. So maps were scoured and the Glen Feshie hills were winning out.  Steve had already done both Munros, Rob and I had done one (though not the same one) and Kate hadn't done any of them.  A cunning plan was hatched that meant we could all start at the same point but we would split into two groups.  Rob and Kate would head for Sgor Gaoith while Steve and I would go for  Mullach Clach a'Bhlair. The Glen Feshie Estate have done an amazing amount of path work which makes the ascent up Coire Fhearnagan to the beallach an absolute pleasure.  We hit the snow line around 700m but thankfully it wasn't too steep.   The traverse over to Mullach Clach a'Bhlair required a w