10.6km + 1120m. Glen Shiel, North West Highlands.
Car park A87 GR 972138 (09.40), followed path into Coire Toiteil to the crossing of the stream. From there I cut north-west to join the ridge up onto Faochag (12.15). Followed the ridge and then dropped down snow fields to Bealach Coire Mhaalagain (12.45). I had a big internal debate whether to head westward and up the broad south ridge of The Saddle or head north-west straight up onto Sgurr na Forcan and onto the Forcan Ridge. The thought of the latter won - big mistake. I should have realised how poor the granular snow was going to be, and in the end I had to retreat via a steep snow field, not before I had retrieved some swag where a previous party had abseiled off. I then followed the wall below Easter Buttress to join the main path back to Bealach na Craoibhe and the stalkers path back down to the van (16.15).
A poor decision to attempt the Forcan Ridge a good decision to run away! I still have the deleted north top of The Saddle to do.
Area :
Loch Eil to Glen Shiel
The Great Glen to the east, the A87 to the north and the A830 to the south separate this area from its surroundings and enclose an area of high mountains and low glens. The highest mountain is Sgurr na Ciche (1040m) and further north the South Glen Shiel Ridge is formed by a whopping seven Munros! Also in the area is The Saddle (1010m) which is home to the classic Forcan Ridge. Peaks in the mountains list are all above 900m.
