TGO Challenge 2010 - Day 5 Plan

Distance: 21.5km, Ascent: 1330m

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Another shorter day today, with no hills planned but ending with a high wild camp near Creag Meagaidh.

TGO Challenge 2010 - Day 4: Eas Chia-aig Waterfalls to Laggan Locks

There wasn't a cloud in the sky when I got out of the tent this morning. I set off walking up past the Eas Chia-aig waterfalls at 9am.  The going was easy for the first hour and a half along the forest tracks. The ground was then quite rough all the way up to the Cam Bealach, which I reached at 12:30 for lunch.

Leaving all my camping stuff hidden behind a boulder in the bealach, I nipped up the two munros: Meall na Teanga and Sron a Choire Ghairbh. It drizzled intermittently on the way up to the summits, but luckily the cloud stayed high enough to ensure I had some good views from the tops.

I reached the forest track above Loch Lochy at 5ish, then the hostel at 6:30ish where I met Peter & Avril. John, Andrew, Alan & Phil arrived somewhat later having been waylaid by the floating pub.

Position: llz=57.03409,-4.81418

TGO Challenge 2010 - Day 4 Plan

Distance: 21km, Ascent: 910m

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A shorter day today, mainly through forest but I should hopefully be able to include an ascent of Ben Tee.

TGO Challenge 2010 - Day 3: Sourlies to Eas Chia-aig Waterfalls

After spending my third night on the west coast (this time at Sourlies), I decided that it was time I actually made some eastward progress!

It was sunny when I left Sourlies at 8am, and the loch was still enough to give a fantastic reflection of the mountains. The going was rough again in places on the way up the Màm na Cloich Airde.  At the top of the pass, I got my maps out and had a good look at the route ahead. My plan was to head over to Glen Kingie to climb two more Munros and then head east to Tomdoun. However, due to the time and the distance left to go, this was now looking somewhat unlikely.

I therefore decided to forgo the Munros today and instead I planned to head east along the length of Loch Arkaig, with the option of climbing the Munros above Loch Lochy tomorrow. Therefore to monitor my progress today & tomorrow, you'll have to zoom out on the maps of my planned route.

I made it to A'Chùil bothy in Glen Dessarry just as it started to rain. I had lunch inside in the dry, whilst the shower passed. I continued east along the forest track to reach the end of the public road; now I had 20km of tarmac and forest tracks to look forward to!

The walk along Loch Arkaig was nicer than I expected, with many opportunities for rests on the sunny beaches. After many hours, I finally reached the east end of the Loch just after 7pm. I headed slightly further east to camp by the Eas Chia-aig waterfalls.  All in all, a very long day! (36.5 km)

Position: llz=56.95533,-5.00101

TGO Challenge 2010 - Day 3 Plan

Distance: 29.5km, Ascent: 1930m

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I have a long day planned for today, but at least there's a pub to look forward to at the end! Hopefully I should be able to climb the two Munros and one Corbett south of Loch Quoich before dropping down into Glen Kingie and the walk through the forest to Tomdoun.

TGO Challenge 2010 - Day 2: Barrisdale to Sourlies

I woke up to the sound of rain on the tent, which resulted in me having a leisurely start to the day. However, by the time I left Barrisdale at 09:30, it was dry and sunny.  It was very windy on the ascent of Luinne Bheinn and I reached the summit just before one. The views were excellent and it looked like it had snowed last night on the hills further north.

The ground was quite rough it places and I made relatively slow progress around the top of Choire Odhair to Meall Buidhe. The coire looked quite impressive and was filled with glaciated slabs.  Descending down to Mam Meadail was quite slow going as I picked a way down through the crags. The stalkers path provided easy going down to Carnoch, where I crossed the notorious rickerty footbridge.

Sourlies bothy was reached by a scramble around the bottom of the headland as the tide was now too far in to walk along the shore.  It had been a tough day so I decided to stop for the night at Sourlies, which is a lovely spot at the head of Loch Nevis. Hopefully tomorrow will be easier going.

Position: llz=56.99732,-5.51274

TGO Challenge 2010 - Day 2 Plan

Distance: 21km, Ascent: 1600m

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Assuming that the weather isn't bad, today's plan is to bag my two remaining Munros in Knoydart: Luinne Bheinn and Meall Buidhe.  After that I intend to drop back down to sea level at the head of Loch Nevis and then head east into upper Glen Dessarry.