Mopping up Glencoe peaks.
Day 1. Sgor na h-Ulaidh (peak of the treasure) 3261' M149
Drove up through really miserable weather around Glasgow but it got increasingly clearer and brighter the further north I went. I got to Glen Etive and it was quite pleasant.
This one is regarded as Glencoe's 'forgotten' mountain as it is hidden from view from that side. I did try to do it several years ago but was thwarted by an inability to cross a raging torrent of river so retired back to the Clachaig. Today, I wanted to do it from the Glen Etive side so parked up at the tiny hamlet of Invercharnan, ignored signs warning people to stay off the forest tracks in the area and went along a forestry road to the obvious path to the mountain's base.
Approach to Sgor na h-Ulaidh
Underfoot conditions made for some wet and boggy walking and although it might look easy, there are several convoluted ups and downs on the way to the climb proper.
After some steep donkey-work, the summit is reached.
Sitting proudly on the summit
Summit views
Looking over the Glencoe peaks
Looking north to Ben Nevis
More summit views
A 'top of the world' feeling
It's a shame this mountain tends to be regarded as one of the least worthy Glencoe peaks because while it might not be a fantastic climb, the views from the summit are amongst the best of any mountain in the area.
So I walked back to my mobile bedroom and assumed the weather would continue like this for a while. But it didn't. This day was a reasonably bright spot in a poor summer but you've got to make the most of what's available.
Views from my 'bedroom' as dusk fell
The glen was incredibly quiet and fortunately for me, there was sufficient wind to keep tomorrow's horrors away. But it was going to get very bad!
Day 2. Beinn Fionnlaidh (Finlay's Hill) 3651' M198
Because of the time of year, daylight comes very early and as sleep is difficult in such light, I jumped out of the car to make breakfast. It didn't take long before being there attracted the attentions of the most evil creature to infest Scotland, Culicoides impunctatus the dreaded Midge Studies have shown that recent bad winters has increased the numbers of this maddening creature rather than diminishing them. This is due to a decline in natural predators such as bats and birds.
It became tricky to make breakfast, eat and get ready for the day's climbing while making futile attempts to evade the on-going war of attrition with these pests. They are so prolific, you start actually breathing them in, which is not pleasant at all. I was in such a rush to evade the cloud of Culicoides impunctatus, I left the sanctuary of the car (a tent is always much worse as the thin fabric doesn't prevent the carbon dioxide leaving your lungs from attracting the bugs so when you wake, your outer sheet is black with a thick crust of Midges!) leaving a lot of stuff I normally regard as essential behind.
Approach to Beinn Fionnlaidh
A fine bridge!
A rough, stoney track rises steeply above the glen aiming for the summit of the peak. There are no problems encountered and it wasn't too long before the top was reached.
Reaching summit
The day was deteriorating and I wanted to grab some pics and get off before the heavens opened.
Some Culicoides impunctatus that have taken residence on my head!
Looking at Loch Awe through the settling mists
Looking across to yesterday's peak
A misty Scotland
A frog
The only living creatures I encountered the entire day were this frog, the evil Midges and a Royal (a twelve-pointed stag from out of my car window on waking that morning).
So after several trips to the glen, reaching the summit of this one meant I'd climbed all the Glencoe mountains so it was a nice satisfactory feeling to walk back to the car with.
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