Stob Ban + Mullach nan Coirean from Glen Nevis...
I started today with an early rise in Aberdeen then a slow drive to Glen Nevis....it wouldn't have been quite as slow if I hadn't got stuck behind tractors on country roads, road works and then finally someone driving at 35mph along the shores of Loch Laggan!!!
When I eventually arrived at my destination, the Achnabach car park in Glen Nevis, it was almost twelve o'clock...plenty daylight time left to tackle these two Munro's hopefully.
From the car park you walk through the access gate to open land and start walking south, keeping the river flowing down the Allt Coire a'Mhusgain on your right hand side.
The path is quite clear at this point but does start to fade as you gain height...be careful not to take the higher path as it leads up to Sgurr a Mhaim...stay adjacent to the river as you continue to pick out the faint path leading up the Coire a'Mhusgain. Walk through the deer fence, which is the entrance to the upper coire a'Mhusgain...a little further on the path splits and the higher path keeps you well above the corrie floor on the slopes of the Devils Ridge...the lower path, which I followed, keeps skirting the river and gives you more of a challenge to traverse. Halfway along this path you start to doubt if it was a wise decision, especially when you come across a slab of smooth wet rock in your way and have to scramble up it. It hangs very close to the edge of the waterfall below and would prove a walk stopper if you slipped at this point. Take your time to assess the rock face and decide which of the slight holds you want to start on, throwing my sticks high up on the rock out of the way, I started to scramble up and must admit to loving the extra challenge.
It was not long after this that the rain decided to start...quickly adorning my waterproofs I continued on my way...but now with the swish swish sound of waterproofs to keep me company...there are few things that dishearten me when I'm out walking...but swish swish swish as you walk along in the rain, lack of visibility caused by pulling your hood up tight to keep the incessant rain off, the mist that inevitably follows the rain and then the chill that hits your body core as the temperature drops and wetness starts to seep into your soul is enough to do it for me!!
I eventually pulled myself up the remainder of the path, which actually improves as it gains height, and found myself on the bealach between Sgurr an Lubhair (which lost its Munro status in a previous remeasurement carry-on) and Stob Ban. The path from this point onwards is very good and is followed west along the length of a narrowing ridge which rises sharply near the climax and has to be attempted carefully in poor conditions and wet...just like today.
The summit of Stob Ban lies on a rocky summit with drops off each side, perilous in poor conditions, at 999m. The wind had picked up on the ascent and the rain was stopping me taking many pictures today...but Jelly McBaby still managed to pose on the summit cairn as usual.
Take great care in low visibility when coming off Stob Ban as the drops are steep on all sides and the path is hard to find.
Once off the rocky prominance the path is regained and follows a ridge which narrows tightly in places along the edge of the steep faced corries below.
Cross a wide bealach then a narrow summit at 910m then a wide plateau further along at 917m. There then follows a second bealach before a gentle rise to the summit cairn of Mullach nan Coirean at 939m.
Visibility was coming and going at this point and the cold was starting to seep into my bones, driven by the rain again, so I didn't linger long on the summit.
I followed a nice path along the edge of the ridge down into Coire Riabhach...and then followed a soaking wet boggy horrible path off the slopes until I reached what used to be a forest. This has been decimated, recently by the looks of it, and a new path is being constructed through the remains of the tree stumps. I would have been far happier if things had been left as they should...its not true that the more things change the more they stay the same...eventually the 'path' leads down to an access road for the forestry workers...follow this back to a bend in the road then head off right through the trees until you turn onto the tarmac road that will lead you back to the car park at Achnabach...wet but happy...and still with plenty in the locker for tomorrow hopefully.
Thankfully the drive back along the Nevis road and through Fort William went quickly and I was settled into my digs by half five...Ready for day two...Ballachulish horseshoe awaits...
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