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Weather:
A very clear
day of
visibility about 70 miles.
The sun was out with some cumulus clouds about,
although blue skies all around. A hot, bright day, although it a little too warm in Coire na Tulaich. Asides one or two biting but quite weak gusts of wind
at the summit, it was calm. Overall,
a great day for weather.
Accompanying: Dad |
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On the morning of the hillwalk
I got up at about half past
eight. It was only the day before we
decided to do this mountain,
and in the morning
I
packed
my stuff.
We left about half past nine, and drove to Glen Coe, arriving at about eleven.
Ascent
We were walking by half past 11
or so, taking the small bridge over the river to the trail that lead in. I was a little
unsure of how the terrain below the col would be - would it be too steep? It all
turned out to be okay and I don't know why I was so worried. It was boiling in Coire
na Tulaich, but we followed the (deteriorating) path upwards. Views were
beginning to open up but we kept going. After a while there was no path, just scree and boulders all the way up. The terrain steepened and although
there were some bits of a path left, it was soon no more and I began finding a
way up onto the col. I climbed myself into a very obscure place where I realised
that I couldn't get up, so I'd have to go back and find another way up. Beneath
my feet the scree slopes dropped away for several hundred feet and I realised
that it was a place I did not want to fall. I was fine though and got up to the
col without any trouble. However,
a little bit of me was glad that small last part was over.
Now came the last bit, the ridge
to the very summit of Stob Dearg. It took a small while, clambering over the
boulders - and there were many false summits on the way. I fell at one point,
but it resulted in nothing more than small cut. An easy walk over the flat top took me to the spectacular and
precarious summit of Stob Dearg - the front of the Buachaille Etive Mor. Amazing
views!
Dad arrived soon after
but in the meantime I sat and ate lunch while taking in the great views. Several groups
came and left although we stayed a
while longer, spending the best part of an hour up there.
Descent
Upon leaving the summit, we were going to go to Stob na Doire, (the first top on
the ridge) however upon arriving at the col we just went back to the car. I had
a slight worry about the initial steep descent but it turned out that some of
the rock created natural steps which took us down the first section. After that
it was all easy, but my feet hurt insanely - I was using old 4-season boots
which didn't leave me with the most comfortable feet. Why on earth did I want to
go hillwalking after having my feet go through that? In the latter sections it was a very painful descent.
Return through Glen Orchy
Nevertheless, we got down without any trouble and sighted some wild deer too.
(reindeer?) We packed the stuff up and left soon
after - however instead of going straight home we took a detour through Glen
Orchy, stopping at three waterfalls for photography. The last was certainly the
most impressive. We drove home after that - Marillion and Genesis in the car,
all the way.
Panoramas
From summit of Stob Dearg
Written 2005-05-15
Proofed 2007-11-01
2008-05-21
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