ROUTE: Standard path from SMC Guidebook "Corbetts and Other Scottish Hills". Many variations in line possible for scrambling above the col with Sgoor nam Fiannaidh.
PARTY: With Marion and her friend Zoe McFadzean
CONDITIONS: Clear blue sky, excellent visibility, sub zero temperatures above about 500m, ice on path at all levels from overnight. Light dusting of snow in a very few places.
DURATION: 5hr 10mins elapsed time
SKILLS PRACTISED: Planning of objective to suit party. I was recovering from a cold, Zoe unfamiliar with the Glencoe Hills, didn't want a long or complex day. Some easy scrambling on dry south-facing rock above the col. At summit, we met an Australian couple on holiday (Mia and Max), they had had some difficulties on the scramble - following an app "All Trails". They asked if we could lead them down. I said - "funny you should ask that..." Showed them the route down, with some occasional spotting.
MOUNTAIN ENVIRONMENT: Rapid transition from Lowland zone in the forestry car park, and enclosed grassland, to wet heath with birch scrub in the steep-sided stream gullies, then out on to more open heath at the col . Exposed volcanic rocks on the scramble to the summit. Saw some meadow pipits in the montane heathland zone and two ravens near the summit.
KEY LEARNING POINTS/CONTRIBUTION TO EXPERIENCE: Fairly relaxed day, consolidating skills of safe walking, route-finding and scrambling in clear but sub zero conditions. Happy to agree to "help" another party given a dynamic risk assessment of likelihood/consequence of any slips on the steeper ground, did not compromise the safety of my own party.
Area :
Glencoe South (Loch Linnhe To Loch Etive)
The southern side of Glen Coe includes some very well-known mountains and can be split into two groups; the ones you can see from the A82 and the ones you can’t. Included in the former group is Buachaille Etive Mor, Buachaille Etive Beag, the Three Sisters and the Ballachulish Horseshoe, and in the latter, three Munros between Glen Creran and Glen Etive (Sgor na h-Ulaidh, Beinn Fhionnlaidh and Beinn Sgulaird). With huge amounts of climbing and walking in summer and winter, this area is also home to a large cairn built for Queen Victoria, or so the story goes. Includes all major peaks above 600m.
