Driving to Ballachulish from Inchree where we had spent the night at a nice B&B Beinn a’Bheithir’s skyline promised an interesting walk and a fine long day on one of the hills we had been talking about and looking forward to for years. We parked the car at the start of the right of way to Glen Creran close to the school house in Ballachulish. This being a Saturday there were quite a few people on the lower slopes of Beinn Bhan. All members of a hiking club whom we met later on the main ridge.

After 15 minutes we left the track and headed up the ever steepening ground leading to the north-east ridge of Sgorr Bhan. The first 400 m were gained quickly albeit with considerable effort due to the very steep slope of grass and heather. Soon we reached the section where the ridge becomes more defined and rocky. The last 200-300 m below the summit of Sgorr Bhan were an exposed scramble in some places and required attention indeed. Real fun and very enjoyable in the nice and dry conditions of the day. Not a place I would like to be in bad weather, though. Climbing the last final scree slopes we reached the easier ground leading to the summit of Sgorr Bhan where a light snow shower greeted us at the summit.

Without stopping longer than for a short snack we headed on over the connecting ridge to Sgorr Dearg but could not get a good impression of the symmetry of this curving arc since the snow shower hid much of the beauty from our view. Then, at last, we saw the summit of Sgorr Dearg and reached the cairn soon after. From here on the view improved. The impressive east face of Sgorr Dhonnuill, the Pap of Glencoe, Bidean nam Bian and so on. The hill-walking club was catching up with us and soon we moved on heading down towards the beallach between the two munros. Down at the col another group joined the … [Read More]

Driving to Ballachulish from Inchree where we had spent the night at a nice B&B Beinn a’Bheithir’s skyline promised an interesting walk and a fine long day on one of the hills we had been talking about and looking forward to for years. We parked the car at the start of the right of way to Glen Creran close to the school house in Ballachulish. This being a Saturday there were quite a few people on the lower slopes of Beinn Bhan. All members of a hiking club whom we met later on the main ridge. After 15 minutes we left the track and headed up the ever steepening ground leading to the north-east ridge of Sgorr Bhan. The first 400 m were gained quickly albeit with considerable effort due to the very steep slope of grass and heather. Soon we reached the section where the ridge becomes more defined and rocky. The last 200-300 m below the summit of Sgorr Bhan were an exposed scramble in some places and required attention indeed. Real fun and very enjoyable in the nice and dry conditions of the day. Not a place I would like to be in bad weather, though. Climbing the last final scree slopes we reached the easier ground leading to the summit of Sgorr Bhan where a light snow shower greeted us at the summit. Without stopping longer than for a short snack we headed on over the connecting ridge to Sgorr Dearg but could not get a good impression of the symmetry of this curving arc since the snow shower hid much of the beauty from our view. Then, at last, we saw the summit of Sgorr Dearg and reached the cairn soon after. From here on the view improved. The impressive east face of Sgorr Dhonnuill, the Pap of Glencoe, Bidean nam Bian and so on. The hill-walking club was catching up with us and soon we moved on heading down towards the beallach between the two munros. Down at the col another group joined the … [Read More]

2008 Schon seit vielen Jahren verbringen Joachim, Markus, Stefan, Thomas und ich einmal im Jahr ein verlängertes Wochenende gemeinsam zum Wandern. Nachdem wir bislang eher “flach” unterwegs waren, fiel die Wahl für 2008 auf Schottland. Schon länger wollte ich den Jungs die Schönheiten des Highlands und vor allem auch meiner Leidenschaft der Munros näherbringen. Mir war aber auch klar, dass ich hier im Gegensatz zu den bisherigen Wanderungen ausdrücklich auf Ernsthaftigkeit, Wetterbedingungen und konditionelle Bedinungen hinweisen sollte und musste. Was sich dann auch natürlich auch bewahrheiten sollte. Und da wir noch ein Bett frei hatten und nach meiner Ansicht Cord auch gut zu den Jungs passen würden, gewährten wir ihm auch Asyl für die 4 Tage in Schottland.

Nachdem wir am Vortrag von Köln nach Edinburg geflogen waren, Cord traf in Köln aus Berlin kommend ein, folgte zunächst die Fahrt nach Kinlochleven. In Callander kauften wir Lebensmittel und Getränke ein und fuhren dann durchs Rannoch Mor mit obligatoricher Fotopause. Das Wetter war frisch aber angenehm. Als wir uns Glen Coe näherten, majästetisch bewacht durch den großen Hirten, rief mein Hinweis “da gehen wir morgen rauf” eher ungläubiges Kopfschütteln hervor. Im Glen Coe selbst legten wir eine erneute Fotopause ein. Danach ging es straigt nach Kinlochleven, um das schön gelegene Garbh Bhein Cottage, dass tolle Blicke auf die Mamores bietet, zu beziehen. Bierchen, Feuer und Abendessen waren der gelungene Schlusspunkt zum Ankunftstag.

Am nächsten Morgen zeigte sich, dass mein Hinweis auf die schottischen Wetterbedingungen und die eindringliche Aufforderungen, regensichere Kleidung mitzunehmen nicht umsonst gewesen waren. Es regenete stark, die Sicht war erheblich eingeschränkt und die Motivation war deutlich gesunken. Hier zeigte sich, dass es von Vorteil ist, Motivationskünstler und Regenignoranten dabei zu haben. Um 10 Uhr standen wir dann – zwar noch etwas unsicher, aber immerhin voll eingekleidet und ausgerüstet – auf dem Parkplatz bei Altnafeadh und starteten, dem Regen trotzend!

Der steile Aufstieg durch das Coire na Tulaich nahm auch gleich die ganze Konzentration in Anspruch, dass wir uns erst sehr spät mit der Tatsache beschäftigten, dass die Überquerung des Bachs, der Hochwasser … [Read More]

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.

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.