Mountain Trainin Picture

Mountain Trainin Picture

Wednesday 23 August 2017

4 down 3 to go...

Today (23rd August) I managed to get back out in to the highlands with Josh and tick another two Munros off the list. We chose Crianlarich as we had five Munros left to climb having done Ben More and Stob Binnien last year. We decided on Cruach Ardrain and Beinn Tulaichean and caught the 06:30 train.

Near the summit of Beinn Tulaichean...
It was 08:00 by the time we were on the land rover track and moving quick up through Coire Ardrain. From here we headed up the steep North East slopes of Grey Height and finally arrived on the top at 09:39. Once here we had a quick drinks break and headed off along the wide and snaking ridge towards Cruach Ardrain. Moving quickly again we eventually arrived at the summit of our first Munro shortly after 11:00. Once here the cloud began to lift revealing all the surrounding Munros and providing excellent visibility all around.

We left Cruach Ardrain shortly afterwards and headed down to the bealach between the two Munros and started heading up the easy slope towards the second Munro, Beinn Tulaichean. We made quick progress and reached the summit at 11:55.Two mountains before midday. We discussed maybe heading over and doing Beinn a' Chroin and An Caisteal but decided to save them for another day. At the summit we had some lunch before retracing our steps all the way back to Grey Height.

From here we followed an alternative path down the North slopes and after trampling through boggy forest we picked up the land rover track and made our way back to Crianlarich village.

So four of the seven Crianlarich hills down and three more to go.


Route profile...
Distance: 16.7km.
Height gain: 1,060 metres.
Munros  - 2, Cruach Ardrain and Beinn Tulaichean.
Time: 7.5 hours.


Friday 18 August 2017

Bridge of Orchy mountain day...

Yesterday (August 17th 2017) I managed to get out in to the highlands and tick another two Munros from the list. I decided on Bridge of Orchy to climb Beinn Dorain and Beinn an Dothaidh.

Early view of the 2 Munros...
I cycled up to Helensburgh upper train station and caught the 06:30 train and arrived at Bridge of Orchy at 08:20. By 08:25 I was on the walk in and making quick progress up the Coire An Dothaidh arriving at the cairn on the bealach between the two Munros an hour after setting off.

Wanting to maintain the pace I headed off due South along the Am Fiaclach ridge arriving on the summit of Bein Dorain at roughly 10:15. Once at the cairn the rain had not persisted so I about turned and ran most of the way down to the Bealach for a quick drink break. Whilst at the bealach I met a Swedish couple and spent a few minutes discussing cycling routes in Sweden and Denmark. Future trip perhaps...

I left the bealach at 10:45 and moved quickly up and through the uneventful coire reidh arriving on the summit of Beinn an Dothaidh at 11:18. I spent 5 minutes on the summit having a quick drink and inhaled a sandwich before heading off again. I ran most of the way down to the bealach before descending back in to coire an dothaidh and arrived back at the train station at 12:22. Just less than 4 hours after departing.

Distance: 13km.
Munros - 2, Beinn Dorain and Beinn an Dothaidh.
Height gain: 1,100 metres.
Time: 4 hours.

Birds eye route profile...
Another good mountain day and hopefully not too long before the next...