Benjamin_Nevis Posted April 11, 2023 Share Posted April 11, 2023 7 hours ago, Venti said: Might be a wee bit weird. Do you guys hike on your own? Or is there like a group? Wouldn't mind joining. 31 minutes ago, invergowrie arab said: Walkhighlands do meet ups and they have a section of the forum where you can arrange to meet others. I think @Benjamin_Nevis has done some Yeah I regularly went to WalkHighlands meets from 2013 until about 2016ish. Covid obviously kiboshed them - I'm not sure if they have re-started or not. The site itself is free to join and there's a thread for meet ups etc. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
invergowrie arab Posted April 15, 2023 Share Posted April 15, 2023 Got a bit caught out with the amount of snow still about with no ironwork on me (not that it would have done any good in knee deep slush) so binned the Grey Corries round and made do with Stob Bàn. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sugar_Army Posted April 16, 2023 Share Posted April 16, 2023 9 hours ago, invergowrie arab said: Got a bit caught out with the amount of snow still about with no ironwork on me (not that it would have done any good in knee deep slush) so binned the Grey Corries round and made do with Stob Bàn. Mrs SA is away with our club to Knoydart. I stayed home to get the garden sorted before we go backpacking round Japan. To say our day was different is an understatement. She was up the hills having a great time while I cut the grass, gave these an airing and watched the Motherwell game through my fingers. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benjamin_Nevis Posted April 16, 2023 Share Posted April 16, 2023 On 11/04/2023 at 15:33, invergowrie arab said: Eg I was up Ben Lomond on Saturday via Ptarmigan and that took 5 hours which is about average but I was almost 10 hours for Sgurr Mhic Coinnich alone in windy sleety conditions. What route did you take for Sgurr Mhic Coinnich? I had looked at adding it to the Sgurr Dubh Mor/Sgurr Alasdair route but the slabs from the intervening top are a climbing grade in any book i've seen, so we just dropped down off Alasdair. I did see the Steaming Boots guy found a way across to Collies Ledge from the Stone Shoot though. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benjamin_Nevis Posted April 16, 2023 Share Posted April 16, 2023 (edited) Anyway, most of my walks this year have been local stuff, I also signed up for the Clova Duathlon in a total brainfart moment which means I have to try and do some trail running. I was dreading this tbh as i absolutely detest road running, but running hills (or small parts of them) has been surprisingly excellent fun so far. Started last week with the traditional Mayar and Driesh route in 2:55, then yesterday up to Loch Wharral and down Loch Brandy and back along the road in 2:25. My other walks this year have been taking my bro-in-law out to do Tolmount and Tom Buidhe (good day) and Lochnagar and a pish hill beside it (awful pea souper). Doing Jock's Road again next week then 10 days in Skye and Kintail at the end of the month, which can't come quickly enough. Edited April 16, 2023 by Benjamin_Nevis 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swello Posted April 16, 2023 Share Posted April 16, 2023 1 hour ago, Benjamin_Nevis said: What route did you take for Sgurr Mhic Coinnich? I had looked at adding it to the Sgurr Dubh Mor/Sgurr Alasdair route but the slabs from the intervening top are a climbing grade in any book i've seen, so we just dropped down off Alasdair. I did see the Steaming Boots guy found a way across to Collies Ledge from the Stone Shoot though. We did Mhic Coinnich with the InnPin - I can't remember any huge problems linking those two but I never even thought of trying to link it with Alasdair as I honestly didn't know it was possible. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benjamin_Nevis Posted April 16, 2023 Share Posted April 16, 2023 4 hours ago, Swello said: We did Mhic Coinnich with the InnPin - I can't remember any huge problems linking those two but I never even thought of trying to link it with Alasdair as I honestly didn't know it was possible. Aye it can be done by going over the top of Sgurr Thearlaich, the tricky bit i think is the descent from that. One route is a Mod grade but involves dodgy slabs with huge exposure, the other is either a Severe or a V Diff. Both sound sound fucking terrifying and I won't be touching them with a 10 foot bargepole. We did the Dubh Mor route onto Alasdair via the chimney by the Sgumain bivi cave which was superb. SMcCh looked really close from the top of the stone shoot but the Cuillin traverse guidebook was sufficiently off-putting to sack it there and run down the shoot. The youTube guy Steaming Boots/WilkieMurray went down the shoot a bit then cut across to access Collie's ledge. Not sure I fancy that either. I think i'll just wait until i get a guide for the Pinn and add it on. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
invergowrie arab Posted April 16, 2023 Share Posted April 16, 2023 (edited) 16 hours ago, Benjamin_Nevis said: What route did you take for Sgurr Mhic Coinnich? I had looked at adding it to the Sgurr Dubh Mor/Sgurr Alasdair route but the slabs from the intervening top are a climbing grade in any book i've seen, so we just dropped down off Alasdair. I did see the Steaming Boots guy found a way across to Collies Ledge from the Stone Shoot though. Just up and down through the campsite, Coire Lagan and An Stac screes similar to WH route. Was meant to add onto Inn Pin day but we ran out of time. The Thearlaich Dubh Gap is meant to be the hardest part of the ridge so not something I'll be doing any time soon. The only problem with the route was that the there and back meant that twice I had to do the clinging onto razor sharp ridge with head over a 2000 ft drop and feet trying to find holds on a sloping bar of soap. Like everything Cuillin probably no issue in dry weather and nightmare fuel in wet and wind. Edited April 16, 2023 by invergowrie arab 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benjamin_Nevis Posted April 23, 2023 Share Posted April 23, 2023 (edited) On 17/04/2023 at 00:23, invergowrie arab said: Just up and down through the campsite, Coire Lagan and An Stac screes similar to WH route. Was meant to add onto Inn Pin day but we ran out of time. The Thearlaich Dubh Gap is meant to be the hardest part of the ridge so not something I'll be doing any time soon. The only problem with the route was that the there and back meant that twice I had to do the clinging onto razor sharp ridge with head over a 2000 ft drop and feet trying to find holds on a sloping bar of soap. Like everything Cuillin probably no issue in dry weather and nightmare fuel in wet and wind. Cheers Aye we took the bypass route after Dubh Mor which was actually really enjoyable, via the Sgumain Bivi cave then the awkward chimney. Descending the shoot was pretty good fun but there's literally no force on earth that could possibly make me go up it. f**k that. Anyway, Jock's Road again yesterday as part of a countrywide charity event. I was asked to look after the folk on that section a while back, and was shitting it a bit at the prospect of getting 40-odd folk over Jock's Road in what looked like being shite weather earlier in the week. However a glorious day ensued and everyone enjoyed it. I'd been for another trail run over Mayar and Driesh two days before and as a result my thighs pretty much died on the road back to the Clova Hotel. Cracker of a day though. Edited April 23, 2023 by Benjamin_Nevis 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Count Mongo del Fantastico Posted April 23, 2023 Share Posted April 23, 2023 Absolutely glorious (looking) on Meall Nan Tarmachan yesterday. Less glorious in the actual wind, but a great morning. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jambomo Posted April 24, 2023 Share Posted April 24, 2023 Do any of you go hiking whilst on blood thinners? I love hillwalking but recently was in hospital with blood clots and they did say that a severe fall or cut with the blood thinners could be really bad, so I am a bit nervous to get restarted again. Is there any products/advice to stop heavy bleeding from injuries whilst walking? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swello Posted April 24, 2023 Share Posted April 24, 2023 (edited) Trip to North Wales at the weekend to do the Snowdon Horseshoe. It's a really nice place -but the experience (starting with the 20 quid pre-booked parking at Pen-Y-Pas) was very different than my normal stuff. The initial walk along the Pyg track was hilariously busy at 8am and even when we branched off for Crib Goch, there were still tons of people around. Crib Goch was the part I was looking forward to the most - it's probably the "scariest" hill in the UK that I haven't climbed - and it reminded me of the Aonach Eagach (although shorter) in that the scrambling was straightforward but the exposure and the consequences of a slip were quite full on. There were plenty of folk around that clearly weren't experienced and watching them walking along the crest flailing their arms around for balance gave me the total fear TBH. There was one stepped climb that was hanging over a 600m drop that was probably the trickiest part (and there was no bypass) but it was fine. After that it was a really nice ridge walk out to Crib y Ddysgl (2nd highest in Wales) with some simple scrambles all the way around until we hit the tourist paths and the railway (gulp). f**k me. The 30 min queue for the summit at least allowed me to play the Jobbie Counting game (I counted 7 within view of the queue), enjoy the rich variety of litter on offer and marvel at the utter hell that is the top of Yr Wyddfa/Snowdon. The fact that the cloud was down for the only time was almost fitting. It was a relief to drop down the Watkin path, which is the quieter side of the mountain (lots more human shites everywhere though) and onto the last part of the Horseshoe, the summit of Y Lliwedd, which was almost deserted once we branched off the main track. This was a classic walk - both ends of the Horseshoe were fantastic (Crib Goch alone is worth the admission price), the middle part WITH ALL THE SHITES not so much. Edited April 24, 2023 by Swello 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derrybiy Posted April 25, 2023 Share Posted April 25, 2023 19 hours ago, Swello said: f**k me. The 30 min queue for the summit at least allowed me to play the Jobbie Counting game (I counted 7 within view of the queue), enjoy the rich variety of litter on offer and marvel at the utter hell that is the top of Yr Wyddfa/Snowdon. The fact that the cloud was down for the only time was almost fitting. Now that I've done Ben Nevis by the tourist path 3 times I turn it down when someone suggests it because the crowds makes me enjoy it much less. I've always done Nevis during the summer and at weekends but it's never been anywhere near as crowded as that. I'd read about those crowds before but actually seeing it here is different and it looks like I won't be doing the main path at Snowdon anytime soon! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swello Posted April 25, 2023 Share Posted April 25, 2023 2 hours ago, derrybiy said: Now that I've done Ben Nevis by the tourist path 3 times I turn it down when someone suggests it because the crowds makes me enjoy it much less. I've always done Nevis during the summer and at weekends but it's never been anywhere near as crowded as that. I'd read about those crowds before but actually seeing it here is different and it looks like I won't be doing the main path at Snowdon anytime soon! I normally wouldn't bother but as I've done the Ben and Scafell, in a sad way I wanted to get the highest in Wales too We were talking to a bunch of locals who were up doing a volunteer litter pick (fair play to them) and they said that Saturday's conditions were nothing compared to what will be seen in July and August when it can take an hour - 90 mins to get to the summit and when the train is running to the top station (which it currently isn't), it's worse again. I can't even imagine it - and it makes me appreciate what we've got here all the more. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Central Belt Caley Posted April 25, 2023 Share Posted April 25, 2023 6 hours ago, derrybiy said: Now that I've done Ben Nevis by the tourist path 3 times I turn it down when someone suggests it because the crowds makes me enjoy it much less. I've always done Nevis during the summer and at weekends but it's never been anywhere near as crowded as that. I done Ben Nevis by the tourist path last year and some of the footwear folk had on was ridiculous. One woman had a pair of slip-on skecher type shoes on and was an accident waiting to happen. Anyway, West Highland Way for me next week then after that it’ll be back into the hills. Buachaille etive mòr and the Schoolhouse ridge are high on my list of priorities for this year. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derrybiy Posted April 25, 2023 Share Posted April 25, 2023 1 hour ago, Central Belt Caley said: I done Ben Nevis by the tourist path last year and some of the footwear folk had on was ridiculous. One woman had a pair of slip-on skecher type shoes on and was an accident waiting to happen. The last time I done it was before covid and I'm guessing a rise in people on the hills. On the way down we passed a guy in shorts, t shirt and trainers. Carrying 1 bottle of water and no bag. There was still snow at the top. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benjamin_Nevis Posted April 29, 2023 Share Posted April 29, 2023 Nevis was my first munro, by the tourist path. Because i was new to it all, I thought it was amazing. I've since been back twice, once adding it to the Aonach and CMD and then up by Coire Giubhsachan. The latter both get onto CMD via it's east ridge which is absolutely superb. Anyways, on holiday now and on the countdown to Skye for 3 nights camping, then a week in Dornie. Anxiously watching the forecast 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Swello Posted May 1, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted May 1, 2023 (edited) In a week, I went from climbing the busiest hill in the UK, to climbing 3 of the least frequented hills in the country. I was heading for THE VOID - the empty place north of Kintail that I've never known what to call. I was going to base myself near Maol Bhuidhe bothy which is probably as far from a public road as you can get in the UK - so that meant I was going to be using my bike to help make the most of time. The bike in from Killilian along Glen Elchaig is fantastic until you get to Iron Lodge at which point there is a long, steep climb to the high point of the path that isn't ridable - and the part from the high point to the Bothy varies from perfectly rideable (for about 25 metres at a time) to swamp. Before I took on the hellish part, I dumped the bike and headed up a disused stalker's path to get to the summit of Faochaig, which was easy going but was cold and fairly miserable in the cloud (which was the case for the whole weekend from this point). Maol Bhuidhe shouldn't exist as it ridiculously remote - and getting there is a nightmare from any direction but I was glad to see it and leave the bike. I never sleep in bothies when I can help it - so I chucked my tent up and waded the deep river (Ling?) that flows East-West here to climb Ben Dronaig. I'm not sure the hill is ever done from this side any more - but there is another disused stalkers path that makes it a bit more pleasant. It was about 6:30pm when I reached the summit and I was knackered/hungry, so I headed straight back. Once I dropped below the cloud, tomorrow's target Aonach Bhuide looked a bit scary behind the bothy. Normally I would sit in the bothy and have my dinner but I was soaked and chilled, so I got into my sleeping bag to warm up and had dinner in the tent. The weather was worse on Sunday morning, so I canned my plan to find a route up Aonach bhuide from the North as it is very steep, has lots of cliffs and visibility was crap - instead I climbed it from the SW which was a lot safer. All that was left was the bike out - the first bit was a long, rough descent over 3 or 4km, which was great fun if you like that sort of thing - my brake rotors were smoking by the time I reached Iron Lodge but it was all rideable. The final bit was along one of the nicest glens in Scotland - even if it wasn't green yet and it was raining, it was still a pleasure. The opposite of a touristy walk this one - a really tough weekend but satisfying to get 3 nightmare hills done in one trip. Edited April 29 by Swello 21 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
invergowrie arab Posted May 9, 2023 Share Posted May 9, 2023 Cheated my way round Strathfarrar this weekend by climbing 3 on the Saturday and returning for Sgùrr Fhuar-Thuill on the Sunday. I might have made the gate next month with the extra hour but made decision to do it over two relaxed days. Much better option IMO as Strathfarrar is well worth a second visit and taking your time over. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swello Posted May 9, 2023 Share Posted May 9, 2023 Nice one - is that picture looking west to Loch Monar? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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