CHALLUM TO HEASGARNICH
Ben Challum (l) and Creag Mhor (r) from Heasgarnich ridge. Photo tms.nickbramhall.com
13.4 miles 1740 metres
Start Wednesday 17.30
Ben Challum 18.51
Creag Mhor 20.11
Beinn Heasgarnich 21.09
Finish 21.55
Squares: green - start, yellow - changeover. Circles summits: green - this leg, red - done. Map Colin Matheson
Time: Estimated 4.30 Actual 4.25
Alwyn writes:
Strange how every leg on this trip is completely individual in character, entirely unlike any of the others. These are big hills for their height, and the route was characterised by a succession of big slow climbs, and steep descents to cols, with very little running in between. Progress was made slow by the heavy, low cloud draping the hills; frequent compass checks were needed to ensure the right lines off summits and over the intervening craggy ridges.
The ascent up Beinn Challum from Inverhaggernie was a long, drawn-out trudge over boggy slopes awash with recent rain; the worst kind of ascent for jaded legs – not steep enough to to gain the summit quickly, and feasible to run only when the legs are fresh.
From Challum to Creag Mhor proved challenging in terms of both navigation in low cloud and in picking the best line over Cam Creag to gain Creag Mhor summit ridge – fortunately each bealach seemed to lie just below the gradually lifting cloud-base, enabling definite confirmation of position.
The descent of Creag Mhor towards Heasgarnich was steep and slippery (in Ron Hill 'Peaks' somewhat the worse for wear,) and brightened by clearer weather pushing in and glimpes of evening sunshine. The final 1400 ft up Heasgarnich not as tiring as expected, but unfortunately the summit ridge still in cloud.
The descent to the north is followed by a boggy half-hour run around the head of Loch Lyon to the changeover – There proves no basis in reality for Eddie's confident prediction that I shall be able to cut across the empty loch floor!
The Crianlarich hills are rose-cloud capped as I hand over to Dave at 10 pm and I enjoy a cold breezy walk down Glen Auch in gathering darkness, looking forward to some sleep in the 12 hours or so before my final effort.
Peaks done 257 time taken 11 days 19 hours peaks to go 20
Our vehicles. Van with Tony, car and mothership. Photo Rob Howard
A great discussion had taken place as to where people would spend the night. Tony did not want everyone to have to be disturbed in the night by moving, but I was certainly not prepared to sleep in the car, whilst others moved off. I suggested the compromises.
Tony and Rob should take the van down ready for Ben Cruachan. The rest should stay at Bridge of Orchy. Dave would finish at which point Ian would drive the car with Diana up to do Criese, (the Munro he left out a few days before.) When they returned, Ian would take me on to my next start, and continue to my finish. In the meantime Colin would get up and drive the sleeping(?) mothership to my finish. When I finished, I would open the mothership door, and collect the car keys to drive it down to Rob and Tony.
This would mean that there would not be anyone to drive me at the finish, which did not bother me in the least. In fact, I feel this was a rule which was neither necessary nor even desirable, as someone off the hills is far more alert than someone just woken up.
Dave came in in good light in the early morning.
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