A ‘Hatrick’ of Munro’s ‘Bagged’

I had set the alarm for 6 –30 a.m., and early start, but I knew I had plans for a big day ahead of me. It was still pretty dark, and so I snoozed for a short time, getting up at 7 a.m. to greet the day, and face whatever challenges would be offered to me (and there would be plenty !)

My first being to finish breakfast, pack all my gear, and get going !

There were three ‘Munro’s’ in the vicinity to climb, http://www.munromagic.com/MountainInfo.cfm/30 and as I set off, looking at the mist covered mountains in front of me I was undecided as to whether I would climb all three today, or separate them into 2 different expeditions, which was fairly easy to do.

I had firstly to find a faint trail leading up off the main track, to my first objective of the day Na Cnapanan,623 mts, although I had decided that if I couldn’t trace this, I could always choose an alternative route, and attack it from a different direction. However, my unerring sense of direction, and navigational ability (which you’ll hear plenty of today!), found me locating a small ‘cairn’-pile of stones, indicating the track, and I then had to set off up the hillside,into the mist, which would accompany me for most of the day ! I managed to locate the top of Cnapanan, and onwards and up, tracking by compass bearing (and ability!) to the top of my first ‘Munro’ of the day – Carn Liath, 1006 mts . By this time the mist had really dropped, and the wind was getting quite fierce, but pleased that I could still find my way (the muddy track beneath my feet helped !).

I then changed into heavier weight clothing and continued along across a broad, mossy ridge, dropping down a col, back up to my third ‘top’ of the day Meall an t-Snaim,969 mts, with occasional glimpses into the valley below . Continuing along a narrower ridge to Coire a Chriochairein,991 mts – I was going great guns, enjoying the challenge, and becoming more confident in my navigational ability.

I stayed on the ridge, carrying on towards my second ‘Munro’ of the day Stob Poite Coire Adair,1053 mts high !,passing some snow on the side just before I got there, phew , it was good to get there, and only just after 12 noon, I had the rest of the afternoon to do as I wished !

As I was on this top, the heavens opened for a couple of minutes (being looked after again !) and I was able to see to the valley floor below, and across to the main summit Creag Meagidh if I chose to do it today ?)

     

 

 

 

The mist soon rolled back in, however I continued, and navigated my way to a ‘gap’ (Col) between the mountains, which i dropped several hundred metres down to, known as ‘The Window’… so, it was decision time, should I continue and do the whole range in a day, or should I wander back down to ‘Wally’ and return tomorrow,or another day to complete the full traverse – what would you expect me to do ? Yes, I continued! –full of unerring belief in my navigational ability( which I would regret!) and,not wanting to have to climb back up 700 mts (2200 + feet ), to re-start the route.

So, I continued down and across the ‘window’, having a brief sojourn beneath the clouds, then on and up, back into the clods again, as I followed the trail up to the summit plateau at 1090 mts. I continued along the tops of the cliffs, looking down into the chasms below, thinking I was on the right trail…then navigating into the mist, expecting to find the summit in front of me, and rising from the plateau – wrong ! Although I could get up to a height 10 mts below summit level (trusty Altimeter), I couldn’t find or see anything like a summit, and it’s two cairns shown on the map. Ooops, after some time of trying again and again to locate the correct point, I knew I had to try to return to somewhere I knew exactly where I was, or face being lost on the plateau !- once again my excellent navigational ability (!) got me back to the cliffs I had been peering down earlier, and I was then able to return to my start point on the plateau, at the top of ‘The Window’…Now, what to do, go back to ‘Wally’ and lick my wounds to return- NO , Never ! I just had to re-read my directions, and follow them correctly, as I should have done, rather than peering down chasms in cliffs, and quickly realised I had started in the wrong direction completely, so would never have been able to find the top – unless of course, it hadn’t been covered in thick mist ! 

I laughed as I went along the correct direction, suddenly finding the first cairn looming out of the clag, wondering how I could have missed it, then 15 minutes later (and an hour since first going wrong) I was at my final top, and Munro of the day Creag Meagaidh ,1130 mts high !

All I had to do now was find my way back off the plateau, down to the window, down to the valley floor….and walk 3 miles back – well there was an alternative route, but,decided not to chance it again !

As I descended into the valley I came out of the clouds  above the herds of deer,so was able to see what was ‘going on’ at close quarters (I had taken my binoculars ) – it was funny to watch, but not for this publication !!

I continued down , eventually arriving at Wally 10 hours after I’d left ,having climbed (and descended ) 1490 mts, and,even for me….pretty tired, but a good day…and most of all……Survived !!, Goodnight, I’ll sleep well….