Page 16 - 2009 AMA Summer

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ARTICLE MUNRO BAGGING
By Mark Gregory
It had been a long time since I last undertook a long haul venture
I set off on my first Munro ‘bagging’ session from Loch Treig, aim- into the mountains and even longer since I visited the Highlands.
ing to tick off Stob a’ Choire Mheadhoin and Stob Coire Easain. That was during 2005 and my first and over-ambitious expedi-
Despite the track that was more defined than my OS map sug- tion to Scotland; the home of Sir Hugh Munro and the 284 sum-
gested, accurate navigation was still necessary as the ever present mits named in his honour. Back then I had certainly set the bar a
Scottish weather made itself felt; consistent showers enveloped
little too high, intending to walk 10 miles a day for 5 consecutive days with full kit, an emotional experience! This time round, with the benefit of experience I focussed my planning not on distance but on time, aiming to complete 7 quality mountain days whilst bagging a good number of Munros for the effort. Breaking the trip into day walks & rest days, this outing proved far more manage- able and enjoyable. Approaching mountaineering in this fashion is by no means taking the easy option as you still gain all the chal- lenge, excitement and exercise that you would with a full blown expedition. In fact you can push a little harder with the reassuring knowledge that there would always be a hot shower and a beer to greet you at the end of the day.
I had stayed at the Glen Nevis Campsite near Fort William in the past and was automatically drawn back. Although the cost can quickly escalate, it is a great location as a base camp, with show- ers, laundry, bar, restaurant and easy access to many great walks around Fort William, Spean Bridge and Tulloch.
the area and I sat on top of my first Munro surrounded by cloud threatening to soak me. The route on to Stob Coire Easain was simple, rocky ground descending a pleasant decline and then an easy rise to the second summit. Cameron McNeish in his book ‘The Munros’ describes a more circuitous route down the North West Spur and on towards Tulloch Station, but I opted to retrace my steps through the cloud and rain, descending steep ground down to the river and then North east between the woods and to my start point. The hot shower at Glen Nevis was very welcome indeed, as were the laundry machines that slowly removed the moisture from my waterproofs, in preparation for the next day and the hard work that they were going to do.
As day 2 slowly dawned over the valley it was clear that there would be little in the way of sun to warm my ascent of Aonach Beag. Zig-zagging up through the trees that grow above the Fort William Ski Centre was easy underfoot and the overcast climate ensured that the mountain bikers that often swarm over this area,
Fine Scottish weather on the summit of Stob a’ Choire Mheadhoin
Stob Coire Sgriodain prior to ascent.