106-109. The Grey Corries (Stob Ban (178), Stob Choire Claurigh (15), Stob Coire an Laoigh (38), Sgurr Choinnich Mor (52)) 13/12/09
Having booked sleeper trains nearly two months in advance for a weekend trip in December, we expected nothing less than to be met with gales, blizzard and drunk Glaswegian day-trippers. Much to our disappointment, we recieved none of these. Instead we had perfect weather without a breath of wind for two days and we didn't get within a mile of another human after leaving the train. We had a scare when alighting at Corrour at 8.30am when two other walkers also got off, but fortunately they felt similarly disgusted by our presence and strode off in precisely the opposite direction. Then the ten miles north to the Lairig Leacach were along terrain that would have struck fear into the hearts of even the most intrepid hillwalker during summer due to the all-encompassing bog, but this being a frosty december morning meant we were walking on top of it. In fact the only discomfort with the walk-in was the fact we had to carry all our fuel - about 5 kilos of wood each. The Lairig Leacach bothy was a cracker - one 5m x 5m room equipped with chairs, table, stove and wooden bunks. We spent the afternoon in burning wood to try and make it cosy and in playing cards and passed a remarkably comfortable night.
We left for the ridge at first light, climbing Stob Ban first - a little offset from the main ridge. The views all around were mildly noteworthy. There was a fair amount of re-ascent between this and Stob Choire Claurigh, the highpoint of the Grey Corries and the start of the ridge proper. There was snow from about 700m upwards and by 900m all the terrain was obscured by a blanket of white. Stob Choire Claurigh was reached by 11.30, where we ate cake took out our ice axes - not really necessary on the fairly broad ridge, but occasionally handy for balance nonetheless. Sunglasses were an important accessory and to raise the beachwear stakes further, I even stripped down to a couple of thin layers, since it was only about -2 degrees and there was no wind. We had a couple of miles of idyllic ridge walking with stunning views abounding and no difficulties - the last slopes of Sgurr Choinnich Mor were a bit steep, but the snow made for good step-kicking.
We then descended northwards towards Glen Nevis before turning east to Meanach bothy and then north from there back to Lairig Leacach, reaching our destination by about 5pm with only about half an hour of headtorches needed. More fire and cards ensued - I lost, living up to the saying: "he who is lucky in weather is unlucky in cards."
The seperate peak of Stob Ban
Looking west along the Grey Corries
Descending a crest on the ridge from Stob Choire Claurigh
The ridge turns south...
Looking back eastwards from Sgurr Choinnich Mor, with Stob Choire Claurigh in the distance.
We left for the ridge at first light, climbing Stob Ban first - a little offset from the main ridge. The views all around were mildly noteworthy. There was a fair amount of re-ascent between this and Stob Choire Claurigh, the highpoint of the Grey Corries and the start of the ridge proper. There was snow from about 700m upwards and by 900m all the terrain was obscured by a blanket of white. Stob Choire Claurigh was reached by 11.30, where we ate cake took out our ice axes - not really necessary on the fairly broad ridge, but occasionally handy for balance nonetheless. Sunglasses were an important accessory and to raise the beachwear stakes further, I even stripped down to a couple of thin layers, since it was only about -2 degrees and there was no wind. We had a couple of miles of idyllic ridge walking with stunning views abounding and no difficulties - the last slopes of Sgurr Choinnich Mor were a bit steep, but the snow made for good step-kicking.
We then descended northwards towards Glen Nevis before turning east to Meanach bothy and then north from there back to Lairig Leacach, reaching our destination by about 5pm with only about half an hour of headtorches needed. More fire and cards ensued - I lost, living up to the saying: "he who is lucky in weather is unlucky in cards."
The seperate peak of Stob Ban
Looking west along the Grey Corries
Descending a crest on the ridge from Stob Choire Claurigh
The ridge turns south...
Looking back eastwards from Sgurr Choinnich Mor, with Stob Choire Claurigh in the distance.
posted by graham at 1:41 AM
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