Conival

Ben More Assynt and Coigach are really special mountains and the highest in the wild country of Assynt. I already tried to tackle them in 1992, but due to severe weather conditions – heavy winds and very poor visibility – i did not suceed. So this time, it was 1995, i was eager – maybe to eager – not to fail again. Birgit was with me, as in 1992, and maybe my eagerness was making her too quiet. “Nothing’s gonna stop me”. Yeah, you bet it does.

The Inchnadamph approach is really nice, the climbing steep, but nothing too difficult. Except the fact, that i chose the ascent through a very steep chimney and snowy showers on the ridge, business as usual. The walking though over quartzite stones and scree was hard. But we reached Conival in time and continued to Ben More Assynt. We descended east along a stony ridge and soon arrived at the flat summit. Since i intended to do the traverse over to Carn nan Conbhairean we stayed on the ridge.

And here the troubles began. While we had views of Dubh Loch Beag in the beginning, it was now completely out of sight. Due to this poor visibility, poor navigational skills of myself and lack of a compass we descended the wrong ridge. But i was too selfish and unexperienced to admit that i had choosen wrong. It was late in the afternoon, we had just a half litre of water and litte food left and i was not able to locate our position on the map. We started to panic a little, we hugged ourself and thought about our situation. We decided to follow the waterstreams down to the river in the distance and follow that river … there were signs of hilltracks, too. Finally we arrived at the river, followed the stream and decided to cross it. Luckily it was not in spate but none the less difficult to cross, it was quite wide (30m) and there were few stepping stones. But we accomplished … [Read More]

2017-09-19T14:19:29+02:00September 1st, 1992|1992, 1995, 1999 - 1991, Coigach to Cape Wrath|

Glas Leathad Mor

1992 Start von Garbat an der A835 am Wald vorbei. Nach kurzer Zeit brachen Katja und Wolfgang ab. Stürmischer Wind trug uns praktisch auf dem Gipfel, auf dem Sandra die Notwendigkeit eines Garderobenwechsel sah. Abstieg in Richtung eines Waldstücks. Hier überzeugte Sandra wiederum durch Eleganz im Kniefall in einen Bachlauf. Alles in allem ein nicht besonders aufregender Berg.

2002 When driving from Ullapool to Aviemore Ben Wyvis is a natural choice for a short but interesting walk on a good day. We started from Garbat and walked up the path along the fir plantations. Above the tree line a lot of repair work had been done recently and a new excellent path now leads up to about 500m. The old more direct approach path will grow over in the next few years thus healing an obvious scar in the heathery ground leading to the foot of An Cabar. The ascent was straight forward and the weather almost too good with plenty of sunshine but restricted visibility due to haze. Once on the level ridge the 2 km to the summit were an easy walk. At the summit of Ben Wyvis we sat down in the moss and stayed there for more than half an hour. Quiet and peaceful. When we returned along the ridge we met other walkers including a family with two dogs and two little girls. A very benign atmosphere on the hill.

2017-09-19T14:19:30+02:00September 1st, 1992|1992, 1999 - 1991, Loch Broom to Easter Ross|

Sgurr Fiona

1992 This was a really great day on a really grant mountain. Starting at the wrong point we fought ourselves through Rhododendron. First stop on Glas Meal Mor with great views. Then followed the ascent to Bidean á Ghlas with breathtaking views down to the Lochan and the ascent to Sgurr Fiona – again with great views. The scrambling over the ridge was marvellous. We then did a somehow uncoordinated descent, well who cares. What I did care was about my achilles problems while walking back along Coir á Ghiubhsachain.

This was without thinking my best tour ever … till then.

1997 Perfect day with sunshine and visibility. Assent from Loch toll an Lochan up the ridge between Bidein and Glas Mheall Liath. Over Bidein to Sgurr Fiona and bypass of the pinnacles to the west. Perfect views of Fisherfield. Descent back to Loch Toll an Lochan and hike back to A832. Stephanie spent half day at Lochan waiting for us.

2017-09-19T14:19:30+02:00September 1st, 1992|1992, 1999 - 1991, Loch Broom to Easter Ross|

Bidein a’Ghlas Thuill

1992 This was a really great day on a really grant mountain. Starting at the wrong point we fought ourselves through Rhododendron. First stop on Glas Meal Mor with great views. Then followed the ascent to Bidean á Ghlas with breathtaking views down to the Lochan and the ascent to Sgurr Fiona – again with great views. The scrambling over the ridge was marvellous. We then did a somehow uncoordinated descent, well who cares. What I did care was about my achilles problems while walking back along Coir á Ghiubhsachain.

This was without thinking my best tour ever … till then.

1997 Perfect day with sunshine and visibility. Assent from Loch toll an Lochan up the ridge between Bidein and Glas Mheall Liath. Over Bidein to Sgurr Fiona and bypass of the pinnacles to the west. Perfect views of Fisherfield. Descent back to Loch Toll an Lochan and hike back to A832. Stephanie spent half day at Lochan waiting for us.

2019-01-02T22:09:04+01:00September 1st, 1992|1992, 1999 - 1991, Loch Broom to Easter Ross|
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