3D - SGURR A' MHAORAICH
View from slopes of Sgurr a' Mhaoraich. Ladhar Bheinn, the next Munro middle distance, Skye Cuillin far distance. Photo https://big-gorse-bush.blogspot.com/
4.7 miles 820 metres
Start Monday 04.45
Sgurr a' Mhaoraich 05.49
Finish 06.17
Squares: yellow - changeovers, red - finish. Circles summits: green - this leg. Map Colin Matheson
Time: Estimated 1.45 Actual 1.32
Steve writes:
Continued from Cluanie In to Loch Quoich with Mark + parked up at start of path up Glen Quoich. After cup of tea set off on mountain bike up glen in pleasant conditions but rapidly failing light. Chased by bull for part of way, or was he chasing the two cows in front of me?
Arrived at bridge next to changeover point + set up flags – approx 10.45 pm. Very, very midgy! Got into bivvy bag very quickly + settled down. Unfortunately it started to rain + bivvy started to leak in upper part. Tried to keep dry but rain got heavier; got out and pulled orange survival bag over bivvy – very claustrophobic! Had to keep opening zip to breathe!! Most uncomfortable night I've ever had – nearly slipped into river.
Awoke at 3 am to fairly heavy rain, very dark and very uncomfortable!! Actually dozed until Graeme turned up at 4.40 am – he'd spent 4 hrs on the tops in very poor conditions. Spent 5 mins at changeover then set off up path up Allt Choire a' Chaorainn – very wet + boggy path, saw two herds of deer who were very surprised by my presence. At top of Choire took bearing towards the top + found good line out of Choire onto ridge – found path + followed it to top in 1hr 4mins (+5 for changeover = 1.09).
Took bearing off top for safe route but ended up descending fairly steep gully; once out of this it was a very quick descent to path and out to road. Finished 1hr 33mins (descent 28 mins) + 5 mins.
Drive Mark to Kinlochhourn (12 mins) then parked up + spent pleasant morning pottering around + having a doze.
Peaks done 25 Hours elapsed 21 Peaks to do 252
Graeme writes:
Once Ifor was gone and Steve had passed the baton on to Mark I drove the van back out along the rhododendron lined Loch Quoich to join the troops at the mothership.
Craig and I then drove it along the long undulating Loch Arkaig road to Strathan skilfully managing not to ground it once. We had a bit of a shock at the the public road end as a new gate and notice had appeared to stop unauthorised traffic continuing to our scheduled rendezvouses. We decided to ignore it, but it bothered me as I slept in the van after Craig's departure. In the event an official looking gent arrived who was only too pleased that we had continued.
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