The Fersit four...day one

After yesterdays inclement weather I was hoping for some better luck today...thankfully I got it.

The start point of the route was a couple of miles down a winding country 'road', parking near An Dubh Lochan near the small settlement of Fersit (think three houses and a telephone box).

The path starts gently rising alongside the Lochan, keeping to the right of it, and climbs to the minor top of Creag Fhinaclach...bringing Loch Treig into view...the downside is that it was completely boggy and soaking due to the amount of rain that fell last night.

Gaiters were worn today, but no waterproofs were required as the rain decided to cut me some slack. Stob Coire Sgriodain and Chno Dearg were in clear view to the left of me, across Loch treig, as I continued to climb. Beyond Creag Fhinaclach and across a boggy plateau till I started to climb an unnamed height above Coire Shomhairle.

This involved a little bit of scrambling and made me wonder what it would be like on the way back down?? Once I had gained this height, around 800m it was a fairly clear path onwards and upwards on a broad shoulder, with cracking views as I gained height of everything around, until I started to climb steeply up to the summit of Stob a Choire Mheadhoin.

The Grey Corries were to my right and Stob Coire Easain loomed large in front of me, the Ring of Steall sat to the back of Easain, Loch Treig was to my left...everywhere you looked there were Munro's I had climbed and wanted to climb. Even Scheihallion was visible in the distance, its iconic cone shape easily spotted from miles away.

I had a quick drink of juice and took some pics on the summit...Jelly McBaby looking as relaxed as ever...then headed down the steep slope towards the bealach between here and Easain.

There is an escape path off at the bealach, for those not wanting to re-climb Mheadhoin again after Easain, but it is very boggy in the lower slopes and quite a lengthy walk back, far better to return on the same route for once.

The climb to Easain is exceptionally steep and rocky underfoot, but it is still only 30 mins between summits. I arrived at the summit cairn completely pooped and was feeling the effects of a leg sapping ascent...but a bite to eat and juice soon allayed the effects.

Jelly McBaby got his pic taken with some pretty impressive backdrops provided by Grey Corries and Ring of Steall. I started back down the slopes, carefully, and halfway down met a young lady coming up. She was holidaying nearby with her family and had left them to climb some Munro's. I regailed her with my stories from yesterday and she told me about her trip up Chno Dearg on Monday...I gained some useful route information from her for tomorrow then bid her good luck and farewell as I carried on my merry way. The re-ascent of Mheadhoin took me another 30 mins, meaning that I had summitted three Munro's (technically speaking) in 3.5 hrs...well ahead of schedule again.

The sun appeared as I started my downhill journey...making me uncomfortably hot but giving me fantastic views again (something I truly miss when the weather closes in..or when im stuck at work..or doing something equally tedious other than walking in the hills). 

For some strange reason the path seemed to disappear more on the return route than going up...but it didnt really matter.

The traverse down the steep slopes I had ascended earlier was also harder on the way down...but quicker (even taking into account the care that I was taking with each step). After another 2 hrs I found myself back at the Lochan and my car still waiting for me...5.5 hrs is not bad and well within the suggested time frame. A good day all round and some valuable information to help me tomorrow (bonus), back at the B&B for quarter past four...a shower and change then off out for fish supper...sitting in the sun eating post Munro fish supper is the best fish supper in the world.....cant wait for day two in Fersit.  

   

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