The Easains. Another day with a weather forecast that did not exactly extend an invitation to eager hillwalkers wanting to do a high-level tramp over exposed terrain. We set off from Fersit in the middle of the morning in glorious sunshine. We passed the dam of Loch Treig and looked at the western slopes of Stob Coire Sgriodain with water tumbling down the burns on the hillside. In no time we reached the spot where today’s path branched off and headed up the slope to reach the shoulder of the hill below Meall Cian Dearg. First glimpses of the Grey Corries in sunshine. On we pressed over Meall Cian Dearg only to discover that on the hill the weather was about to turn foul. We trodded on over the very broad ridge and before the second stepening of the ridge was reached we put on our rain gear – only to discover here that Frank had forgotten to bring along his waterproof jacket. Oh my!

Through strong winds bringing along a considerable amount of drizzle we reached the summit of Stob a’ Choire Mheadhoin fighting against the breeze which was getting stronger. In the lee of the summit cairn we rested for a short while and ate some sandwiches and drank hot tea from the flask before we continued to the col between the first munro and Stob Coire Eassin. On the descent to the col the wind got really strong and for a second I considered heading straight down NW to Coire Laire. But looking each other in the face we realized that the weather would not stop us this day. So soon we climbed up the steep slopes to the summit of Stob Coire Eassin. The summit was gained and again we rested behind the cairn. The views were not too extensive but we were content with being sheltered from the wind. So after some more tea we headed down the north-west rige of Stob Coire Eassin which was quite steep, eroded and in places composed of a … [Read More]

On 3 May 2012 Frank and I wanted to walk on tracks we had done nine years before together with Alex. To complete the Grey Corries we still needed to visit Stob Ban and Sgurr Choinnich Mhor, the two outliers of the Grey Corries ridge.

As before we approached the mountains by way of the single-track road on the south bank of the River Spean. At Corriechoille we passed the farm and continued on the dirt road for another mile or so. Then we parked our car at a signpost and continued on foot beside the Allt Leachglach first trough some fir plantations and then through the open glen. On the right side of the glen the steep flanks of Stob Choire Gaibhre and Stob Coir nan Ceannain looked inviting indeed. Cruach Innse and Ston Innse on the left side were also very interesting Corbetts. But we had set our compass on climbing Stob Ban. After maybe 90 minutes we reached the bothy which lies at the foot of the north-east ridge of Stob Ban. There we rested for a short while and then continued up Stob Ban’s north-east ridge.

First there is a steep section of the path that surmounts a rocky hump and then continues through a grassy depression. At the top of this section of the climb a nice and airy path runs a couple of dozens of metres below the skyline above and provides for an airy continuation with great views of Stob Choire Claurigh, the Grey Corries and the Giant’s Staircase below. Then the path reaches the ridge at a grassy saddle before, after another rise in the ridge, the final steep section of the climb starts. This is the summit pyramid of Stob Ban which consists of quartzite. White stones everywhere, loads of loose quartzite scree but the path is always clear albeit sometimes very steep and scree-strewn.

At the summit we paused and drank some water. The weather was very good and sun was shining brightly. I decided that after two days of major … [Read More]