An epic round of the Mamlorn Skyline.
Started from KenKnock up the track to the col at NN448392 and up pathless boggy terrain up to the summit of Meall nan Subh (Corbett) in the mist. From here back a slightly different route to the col and up through the large coire and moraine fields around Coire Ban Mor to the ridge of Beinn Sheasgarnaich. From here, the mist cleared and it was a baking hot day made slightly easier by a cold strong wind. However any hopes of a path disappeared as regularly as any fleeting glimpse of a track. But we headed down to the 1029 (Stob an Fhir Bhogha) and down to the low col at NN398366 and up to Creag Mhor from the NE ridge. We handrailed the ridge around to Stob na Clach (956) and dropped low again before crawling up Carn Chreag. Very steep and pathless terrain throughout with huge drops. It was an equally steep drop down to Bealach Ghlas Leathaid made more interesting by old rusted fence wire trying to trip us up.
Up the very steep slope to Beinn Challum.
From here I decided it would be easier to drop an extra 100m to make use of the landrover track up which proved invaluable though the descent was still tortuous. We were getting quite exhausted now. Descents were OK but ascents painfully slow.
We headed down around the Old Shielings NN414325 along the east ridge of Beinn Challum and up the zig zag track up to the coire where we split off south up the main ridge to Beinn nan Imrean.
From here we heaed up Meall Glas via Meall Glas Beag and encountered the "Halle-*&^%&$^-lujah" track along the ridge to Beinn Cheathaich very fast. But in expected style the path vanished for the steep descent to another boggy col and a steep haul up the slopes to Sgiath Chuil where the sun set and clag also set in with a really howling wind. Descent directly north by headtorch and we rejoined the landrover track through the Glen and back to the van.
- the individual takes part in the planning and leadership. Yep
- navigation skills are required away from marked paths. Where there was visibility we still had to navigate less by bearing but by hill knowledge to find the best routes up and down with no paths. In the early and late clag we were at compass bearing.
- experience must be in terrain and weather comparable to that found in UK and Irish hills. Mamlorns, Southern Highlands
- knowledge is increased and skills practised. Getting better at planning big single day epics and endurance over really rough terrain.
- attention is paid to safety - water refills, over heating, over cooling and exhaustion were all factors. Fully aware of and planned escape routes should we have needed them (and nearly did bail at one point before the last two Munros)
- five hours or more journey time. 15h
- adverse conditions may be encountered. Very hot, also very cold wind.
- ascent of a substantial peak would normally be included in the day. 3 Corbetts, 5 Munros
Area :
Glen Lyon to Glen Dochart & Loch Tay (Ben Lawers)
This area covers the peaks to the north and east of Crianlarich. Glen Lyon forms the northern boundary while the road from Crianlarich to Aberfeldy is the southern boundary. The Ben Lawers group in the east of this area includes seven separate peaks, all Munros, which are part of an impressive 12km ridge line. The western side of this area is generally lower and not as steep but does still home some a number of Munros. All major peaks above 600m are included in the mountains list. The area to the north is Loch Rannoch to Glen Lyon.
