Escaping the East Coast clouds and rain
With a few days off this week and nothing planned, Mo and I decided to head west and climb some hills in the Laggan area. We drive this road a few times a year, but never seem to have time to stop and climb the hills!
Chno Dearg is a SOTA summit and Munro. Stob Coire Sgriodain is a Munro. These two are usually climbed as a loop, which is what we planned to do, given that Stob Coire Sgriodain is a much more shapely mountain, with better views.
The weather forecast was for cloud clearing by lunchtime, so we opted for Chno Dearg first, saving the best views for later on.
0715z saw us depart the car park at Fersit, heading through the Estate cottages and eventually up onto the grassy, heathery hillside, following tracks made by an Argocat.
the initial estate track
The climb was tedious. A steady angle, over damp and soft ground. Energy sapping and with no end in sight.
clouds clearing to the west
clouds clearing to the east
Peat hags were followed by a steeper section of rough rocks and these led abruptly to the flat summit. It had taken us just under 3 hours. 1015z.
I set up station, using the 7m pole, inverted V for 40/80m and the KX2. There was decent 4G, and a plenty of space on 40m and I was good to go by 1025z.
Band conditions aren’t great just now, so I was pleased to work G4IVV, PA1BR and G4OBK in a matter of minutes. Then it died. I was fearful that this would be a repeat of my last activation on Morrone, so I re-spotted myself on 2m (but left a comment that I was still listening on 7.0875MHz). I felt that 2m (handheld) was worth a try as it was a Sunday. Nope. Dead.
Then G0FEX called me, having seen the comment on my spot. Things got better and I worked GORQL, 2E0AGB then heard a S2S call. It was very weak and I thought I’d got it right, but I copied 2W1PIP/p on GW/NW-047. On getting back down and checking sotl.as, I could see it was 2W1PJE/p that activated that summit today, so no go.
Anyway I finished off the activation with QSOs with MW0GWG and 2E0FEH. So, 8 stations in all, in around 15 minutes. Not too bad considering the band conditions today.
attempting 2m
It was compass work that got us off the summit in the correct SW direction, surprising two young red deer stags as we descended.
The cloud was slowly drifting across the bealach (col) and Stob Coire Sgriodain seemed to be clearing.
Before climbing, we had to cross some bog
The ascent was a little more interesting than that of Chno Dearg. Little rocky bumps, paths in places, narrowing ridge and then we popped out on to the summit, one that should have had stunning views over much the West Highlands. Only, it had started raining. The cloud hadn’t closed us off completely, however.
looking south down Loch Trieg
Descending - initially along the ridge, often on bare slabs, not losing much altitude along the way, fairly pleasant, despite the rain and not much visibility.
Then…dropping through outcrops, around crags over tussock and repeat for about 500m vertical. Not pleasant. Oh, and it was all wet. Really wet.
the descent
one for the botanists
happy heather
It was pretty much pathless heather, rocks, knee deep grass all the way back to the Estate track.
Summary
I suspect most folk only come here once. Except Robin @GM7PKT. He’s activated it 10 times. Hats off Sir.
Ascent 3h.
Summit time 30 mins.
Time to 2nd summit 1 hr 45 mins
Descent from 2nd summit 2 hr 15 mins
Total ascent 950m
Total distance 9 miles/ 14.5km
Total time 7 hours 30 mins
First day of our holiday and out boots and gear are all soaked. Standard for the West Highlands.
Escaping from the endless east coast cloud took us over to west highland cloud, rain and midges. Never mind, Creag Meagaidh (GM/CS-002) tomorrow. At least that one has a path!
Thank You Chasers. Great work, All of you.
73, Fraser