A strange not-quite-winter day. I led two around this stunning two Munro circuit. It was cold but sunny in the Glen and relatively good tracks most of the way round. Getting up to the undulating ridge to Sgorr Ruadh was straight forward enough on a good stalkers path. But then we turned off across an undulating Lochan-filled morass which although "interesting" was relatively straight forward.
I did joke that this would have been an ML graveyard in poor visibility. The terrain was largely trackless as was the ascent up Sgorr Ruadh which became increasingly bouldery.
There may have been a track elsewhere but perhaps as we were doing the circuit in reverse it was on the other side of the ridge.
From ca 850m the ground became uniformly covered in hoare & rime and light clag came in. Navigation wasn't difficult however.
From the summit, a narrow shattered ridge heads off which was icy, slippery and scrambly. One client I had to be rather more conscious of but he seemed to be unphased. From the lowest point we had to break down steeply to the cop and around a 726m blob. I was intending to go over it but a good baggers track led around it so I decided to contour round. As with most contour tracks it soon dissipated among the boulders but we soon found the start of the ascent on Beinn Liath Mhor. The first section of about 100m is steep, very scrambly and was also extremely icy. Again, client care on strep ground was used and as we got higher ontl less steep ground, the shattered boulder strewn landscape made for a beautiful sunset ascent.
By now the air temp was well below zero and we caught the last rays of sun from the summit. Both were keen to descend rather than take on the three subsidiary tops of the ridge so we descended the way we came. Again conscious of the steep icy scramble in descent, client management was used and we again traversed the 726m blob. The good but long drovers track leading down toward the road was just visible before headtorches were turned on.
Although the track was good, a keen and regular check of the map was required - more for morale purposes as the guys were tired.
Great day!
- the individual takes part in the planning and leadership. I planned it, led it, adjusted for changes in my groups wishes.
- navigation skills are required away from marked paths. Not extensively but enough to need to keep a firm grip on where we were at all times plus a few bearings. Night nav for the last few hours out.
- experience must be in terrain and weather comparable to that found in UK and Irish hills. Yep!
- knowledge is increased and skills practised
attention is paid to safety. Very much so on the icy sections which were scrambly!
- five hours or more journey time. 9 hours total.
- adverse conditions may be encountered. Very cold. Not full winter though ace and crampons were carried by all. Limited light plus clag on one of the summits.
- ascent of a substantial peak would normally be included in the day. Two complex and magnificent Torridonian Munros
Area :
Cuillin and Torridon (Liathach)
This area is on the west coast of Scotland and its most well-known mountains are probably Beinn Eighe (1010m) and Liathach (1055m). The area is bordered by Loch Maree and the A832 to the north and Glen Carron and the A890 to the south. It should not to be confused with The Cuillin which is on Skye and listed in the Western Isles region. The mountains list contains all peaks above 800m.
