Sgurr Choinnich Mor 19 April

Sgurr Choinnich Mor.



There was a dilemma. Saturday we were at a friend's wedding in Ayrshire. Sunday the forecasgt was for superb weather, so we were keen to head north. It was a good wedding - two people who were so obviously in love with each other - but it went on a bit. There was even a three point sermon (a good marriage must be spirit filled, song fuelled and another SF that I can't remember except that the S was submission). Then there were speeches. We were looking to get moving north as soon as we could but it was after 8pm when we got away.

The idea was to head to the youth hostel at Crianlarich and then continue north Saturday morning to get into the Grey Corries. The hostel would be shut at 10pm and it was touch and go if we'd get there early enough.

We did but it was full! So we were stuck with a local B&B. Which actually was OK and very comfy.

Up early the next morning we were treated to fantastic views of Ben More mist hanging in the glen, sun illuminating all. After a good breakfast it was on north through Highland views that looked like they had slipped off calendars or biscuit tins.

Stopping briefly in Glen Coe village to go to the shop and get some supplies we were in the car park at Glen Nevis and ready to go by 10.

It was - as ever - a beautiful wander through the nevis gorge into the alpine meadows below the Steall falls. It was warm and as we passed spring primroses I was starting to wish I had a T shirt on rather than a thick wooly base layer.

People were having the normal fun tripping over the 3 wire bridge and just enjoying being in this wonderland.

We continued on up the Glen past the Steall ruins and on further round the shoulder that comes down from the outlier of Aonach Beag. Ben Nevis itself was peeking cheekily from behind the hills above us, snow decorating the CMD arete. Stunning.

We turned uphill following an intermittent path heading for the bealach between Aonoach Beag and Sgurr Choinnich Beag, then pulling up to the summit of this top.

All around us were the beauties of the West Highlands - Mamores, the Buchaille, the Aonachs - ridge after ridge stretching out before us. (Hope I'm not making you jealous).

Then a short drop and a pull up to the Munro itself. An airy perch.

Looking East the rest of the ridge was inviting and I was greedily contemplating just carrying on, at least to the next one. But it had been a fair walk in and would be a good walk out. Going further would have been good, but we had no transport at the other end and it would be a long walk back...... We are saving a nice circuit for the future.

Then it was back as we had come. But it was different. The sun had moved, the light had changed and each hill was lit differently, other features now emphasised by the afternoon sun.

Superb.

Back to the car and the day ended at the Great Glen Hostel (formerly know as the Loch Lochy youth hostel).

I think it is my favourite hostel (OK Glen Affric is better situated and Gerry's is wonderfully bizarre) but now this place has changed hands it retains its friendliness but is served by much better facilities and one of the best showers I think I've ever had. The warden is a great guy. I've been to this place lots of times and seen his family grow, a beard appear and disappear but there has always been a welcome.

Sitting outside, sipping a beer with a sunburnt face it was nice to reflect on a fine day....and look forward to more hills in the coming months and years.

Indeed there were two other guys at the hostel that we chatted to a bit. Both - based in Lancashire - had compleated the Munros and the Donalds and were now within sight of finishing the Corbetts and Grahams. They were off into Knoydart today for a few days picking off tops, having been in the far north for a few days. These were serious baggers and the sort of days that they had been doing were stunning - 30 plus miles and 3 or 4 Corbetts in a go - this from guys in their 60s. Amazing stuff.