Glencoe 2018

Part 1: A weekend in Glencoe

For our third Scottish winter trip we decided to give Glencoe a visit. Keen to advance our skills, we hired a guide (Simon Verspeak) for two of our three days. We asked for help learning some basics of outdoor ropework and being safe on the mountains.

It was a wet, windy day. Simon took us to Geàrr Aonach. It was partially sheltered from the wind, but we couldn’t go too high before the ground was too unstable. We focused on gear placement in the morning and emergency techniques in the afternoon.

For our second day we headed for the valley between Aonach Mòr and Càrn Dearg Meadhonach. The west side of Aonach Mòr had several groups headed for it that morning.

Simon took us up a not-too severe route. Probably a mix of grade 1 & 2. For the most part we probably didn’t need to be roped in - but it was good to practice our technique.

Our thanks to Simon for an enjoyable two days and for adapting so well to some less than ideal weather conditions.

Part 2: Mullach nan Coirean and most of Stob Bàn

For our final day in Glencoe we decided to explore the Mamores. We would ascend Mullach nan Coirean from the parking lot in Glen Nevis, and follow the ridge south-east towards Stob Bàn. We’d then Descend the north ridge of Stob Bàn to get back to the car.

For once we had relatively little wind and comfortable temperatures. But we’d chosen a route with lots of fresh untrodden snow. The ascent was slow and arduous - foot after foot of soft powder.

Near the summit of Mullach nan Coirean we separated briefly to get some long shots of each other - good fun with the ridges between us.

I think this is the first hike we’ve done where the winds dropped enough to hear each other easily. On the plateau summit of Mullach nan Coirean the ground was rimmed up and crunchy.

The summit of Stob Bàn is about 90m up from this point - but by now Chris and I were exhausted, and the weather was turning. We couldn’t see the summit, and didn’t fancy ascending to a peak in fog. We decided to head home.

The descent turned out to be more adventurous than we’d expected. In retrospect I expect most people ascend the north ridge, not descend it. Really tricky going in powdery snow and such steep steps. Chris was braver than I in continuing to take photos whilst we went down.

This last photo is from the next day and our return drive back to Inverness. So much of the countryside is simply stunning and demands you stop for a bit.