Stob Coire Sgreamhach

New Munro 1997. Partly cloudy day. Route through the Coire Gabhail (hidden valley) to the bealach between Bidean nam Bian and Stob Coire Sgreamhach. Very beautiful assent to the beallach. Scree, waterfalls, the hidden valley. First Stob Coire Sgreamhach (showers and wind), then return to beallach above Coire Gabhail. Halo rainbows with Frank and me in the clouds below. Ascent to the summit of Bidean. In the clouds with rain. Heavy rain on Stob Coire an Lochan. Return to starting point through Coire an Lochan. Memorable day, satisfying walk.

2017-09-19T14:19:29+02:00September 1st, 1998|1998, 1999 - 1991, Strath Orchy to Loch Leven|

Bidean nam Bian

Partly cloudy day. Route through the Coire Gabhail (hidden valley) to the bealach between Bidean nam Bian and Stob Coire Sgreamhach. Very beautiful assent to the beallach. Scree, waterfalls, the hidden valley. First Stob Coire Sgreamhach (showers and wind), then return to beallach above Coire Gabhail. Halo rainbows with Frank and me in the clouds below. Ascent to the summit of Bidean. In the clouds with rain. Heavy rain on Stob Coire an Lochan. Return to starting point through Coire an Lochan. Memorable day, satisfying walk.

2017-09-19T14:19:29+02:00September 1st, 1998|1998, 1999 - 1991, Strath Orchy to Loch Leven|

Carn Mor Dearg

Overcast day. Summit of Ben Nevis in clouds all the day. Complete walk of Carn Mor Dearg and Ben Nevis. Start from the Youth Hostel in Glen Nevis along Loch Meall an t-Suidhe, across the Allt a’Mhuilinn to the Carn Dearg ridge, and the Carn More Dearg Arrête to the summit of Ben Nevis (heavy rain and wind). Return by tourist path with loads of tourists indeed.

2017-09-19T14:19:29+02:00September 1st, 1998|1998, 1999 - 1991, Loch Linnhe to Loch Ericht|

Ben More Assynt

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, 1995|1995, 1999 - 1991, Coigach to Cape Wrath|

Sgurr nan Gillean

1995 Nachdem Cord wegen Knieproblemen ausfiel – ich laborierte zwar noch an der Bänderdehnung, die ich mir wegen lustiger Videoaufnahmen (Rinderwahnsinn) zugezogen hatte – wollten Alex und ich mal einen Berg auf Skye besteigen. Vom Sliagachen Hotel aus sprinteten wir zum Fuss der Cuillins. Das Tempo drosselten wir erst wieder als vor uns eine 20köpfige Gruppe an einer engen Aufstiegsstelle nicht vorwärts kam. Es gab einige nette Scrambles und kurz vorm Gipfel noch einen Traudichschritt bzw. Bad Step. Auf dem Gipfel selbst herrschte drangvolle Enge (es war ein Sonntag). Es gab nur einen Weg zurück – den, den wir gekommen war. Abschließend nahmen wir noch ein Bier im Sliagachen Hotel zu uns. (RachefürSchumi-Tour mit Jacke vergessen Memorial und abholen am nächsten Tag).

 

2000 Staying at the Sligachan Hotel for four days with Stephanie and Fiona I had set my eyes on the three Munros lying south to south-west of our lodgings. On a fine sunny early Saturday afternoon at 1pm I set out from the Hotel walking up the easy path to the waterfalls of the Allt Dearg Beag where a small footbridge crosses the burn. In contrast to what the maps show the path up into Corrie Riabhach is quite well worn and obvious. In the upper part of the corrie, however, I had some minor problems finding the easiest route up to the south east ridge of Sgurr nan Gillean and a little enjoyable scrambling followed. Once on the ridge I paused to take in the panorama of the Cuillin ridge stretching out before me to the south-west. I met a few other hikers on the south-east ridge who were already on their way down the hill and found my way up to the summit of the Sgurr by first following the crest of the ridge and then walking over some bands of rock on the left-hand side of the crest. The tiny summit plateau was all mine. What a privilege – nobody there. I paused for half an hour and enjoyed the scenery from this marvellous viewpoint. … [Read More]

2017-09-19T14:19:29+02:00April 1st, 1995|1995, 1999 - 1991, The Islands|

Beinn Sgritheall

1995 Beautiful hill with good views over Loch Hourn and over to Ladhar Bheinn. Very steep ascent from Arnisdale. Circuit walk returning to Arnisdale by the undulating road along the lochside.Alex walked the way through the small forest to the route in the west. We caught him by car.

1996 Winteraufstieg. Steiler Aufstieg und grandioses Wetter. Die gewählte Tour führte nicht direkt über den ersten Gipfel sondern in nördlicher RIchtung darum zurück zur Ridge durch Coire Mih. Auf dem Gipfel warteten Claus und Birgit sowie eine andere Gruppe. Wunderbarer Ausblick Richtung Knoydart und zum Meer. Zurück nach Arnisdale entlang der Straße am Loch. Traumhafter Tag.

2017-09-19T14:19:29+02:00April 1st, 1995|1995, 1996, 1999 - 1991, Loch Eil to Glen Shiel|

Ladhar Bheinn

Rather fair day with sunshine and some clouds. Start from Kinlochhourn with 10 km walk to Barrisdale on the coastal path along beautiful Loch Hourn. After short rest at Barrisdale ascent of Stob A’ Chearcaill over Creag Bheithe ridge. Some good scrambling up the narrow ledges before the top. From the Stob over the main ridge (up and down) of the mountain around Coire Dhorrcail to summit of Ladhar Bheinn. Over north-east ridge the descent south-west into Coire Dhorrcail lead to stalker’s path to Barrisdale. Return to Kinlochhourn by coastal path. 33 kilometers, 1830m in height, 12 hours, hurting knees. Extremely interesting and rewarding hill-walk. Toughest walk I did so far (1998-12). Only to be recommended to the fit. Would do it again any time. Me too.

2017-09-19T14:19:29+02:00September 1st, 1993|1993, 1999 - 1991, Loch Eil to Glen Shiel|

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|
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