Loch Treig and Loch Ossian: Chno Dearg (86) and Stob Coire Sgriodain (174)

Walk date: 12/7/14

My Munro #'s: 259

Pronunciations - translations - heights:
Knaw jerrack - red nut or red hill - 1046m
Stop kora sgreeaden - peak of the scree corrie - 979m

Statistics:
Duration - 08:00 - 12:30

Distance -  15.8 km
Total ascent -  1257m
Weather - Very wet, cold and windy!
Team - with Paul P

Other hikers: none

Day 8 - Saturday

And lo!  It had to come to an end, both weather-wise and time-wise.  As if by some sort of curse, our doomed, never-climbed hills of last year became our only soaked hills of this year!  

It made sense for us to hit these on our drive homewards as the path up the back started from the private Corrour road.   Despite the dull start, I opted to start without my water proof trousers and to stay in my Merrells, both choices meant that from 30 minutes in I was completely soaked from the waist down.  From about 400m there was no visibility, and our knowledge of the hills became a GPS line and whatever bog/tuft of grass/ rocky outcrop was immediately ahead, all the time while being blown about by the increasing wind.  Ah, I'd missed this!

Without a good view, we snaked inefficiently between small cliffs and gullies up the NE back of Chno Dearg as the long grass and bog made sure we didn't dry out.  Eventually the incline increased and we sensed a summit, but one that left us exposed to the elements full-time.  

We merely patted the summit before beginning the longer-than-expected link between the peaks, which in the cloud was cold and very disorientating, at times being confused despite many GPS and compass checks.

Finally, we reached Stob Coire Sgriodain, but thought of little but returning as quick as we could.  These hills had defeated us before, and despite it being July, we were definitely taking the hint and getting down as soon as we could.  Once finally back down, we each required a full change, and shaky retreat into a warm but smelly car for some much needed food before the long journey back.

8 days, 19 hills; we were back!


A cold summit shot on Sgriodain:

An example of the fine visibility we experienced:

Finally back down below the cloud:

Our last views of the Corrour estate before heading home:

Loch Treig and Loch Ossian: an attempt on Stob Coire Sgriodain (174) and Chno Dearg (86)

Walk date: 17/4/13

My Munro #'s: N/A

Pronunciations - translations - heights:
stop kora sgreeadan - peak of the scree - 979m
knaw jerrack - red nut or red hill - 1046m
Statistics:
Duration - 08:30 - 11:30

Distance -  9.15 km
Total ascent -  600m
Weather - High winds with heavy rain that turned to fine, biting snow
Team - with Paul P

Other hikers: none

The blue line was the intended route 

(including the optional extra Beinn na 

Lap, but that hill was never really under

consideration due to the weather).  The

red line is as far as we got!

After taking a day out on the previous day due to the forecast all day long 100mph winds, we were determined to make something of this day; the winds were forecast to be high, but only in the afternoon, and so we hoped that we could repeat our Strathfarrar success by making a quick push in the morning.  We also sought to make things easier by taking the cue from the previous Ossian day and converting a ridge circular into a 'corrie-T'!

From the start the day was officially a wet one.  Constant heavy drops poured down as we set off through the tiny hamlet of Fersit.  After the houses, the track exits onto open farmland and the route departs to the right (south) across boggy fields and a crossing of a river that on a dry day probably isn't even there!

Height is nicely gained on fairly steep grassy slopes with a 'path' that dips in and out of view. Once over this initial burst of hill the incline softens and good paths are found.  Unfortunately for us the paths soon disappeared under the increasing snow.  To our right, the snow-pocketed northern ridge of Stob Coire Sgriodain disappeared ominously into thick cloud.  It was at this time too that the heavy plods of rain rain finally gave over to being white too, which worked to add a fresh layer to that already underfoot.

All through this stretch the southerly winds had been picking up, eventually to the level to make things difficult, and this was still at a relatively low level (~700m or so) and with the protection of the hills ahead.  This planted a healthy dose of doubt in our minds that progress could be continued.  We decided to get to Lochan Coire an Lochain, have a snack and make a decision.

However, about half a km below the lochan we came to some crags and the route on was through a channel between two outcrops.  As was to be expected, this channel had become a wind tunnel, with fierce winds flying through carrying fine harsh snow, both fresh and drifting.  After sheltering in the crags, we gave it a determined push, but soon burst out laughing at how ridiculous it was.  There was no decision to be made, with the conditions so difficult at this level, there was no sense in carrying on, and it was a return to the car for us.  No hills, but still a fair bit of fun was had!

Once back at the car, one other car came to the car park, with suited-up hikers inside.  They parked for 5 minutes, and then drove away, put off by the conditions!  That made us feel totally intrepid!

Paul taking shelter:

The channel between the crags below Lochan Coire an Lochain:

Loving it!

Snow banks on the river:

Resting it up in the Grog and Gruel, Fort William: