Over The Hill

The north west ridge of Beinn Chabhair presents a fine mountain aspect as it rises in a series of twists and turns over the undulating skyline on a rocky and narrow path towards the cairn on a summit from which the views are quite stunning. At least, that was the case on my two previous visits to this mountain; my first on a beautiful sunny and hot day in May 2012 and the second, a late winter walk in fine snow condition in April 2013. An additional bonus on both of these walks was that the heat had dried out, and the cold had frozen the notoriously boggy and wet section along the Ben Glas Burn towards Lochan Beinn Chabhair. I mention these facts just to remind myself of what a delightful walk this mountain can be given the right conditions, because today this mountain bared it's teeth and demonstrated just how wild it can get on a summers day..

It was full waterproofs on even before we left the car park at Beinglas campsite and headed off up the rocky and very steep path, brushing shoulders with the high bracken, which at times almost engulfed the path, as we ascended towards the open hillside beyond the tumbling waterfall of the Ben Glas Burn. As if to match the wet conditions falling upon us from the skies, we now had to plodge our way through sections of waterlogged tussocks and grasslands as we continued on the now gentler ascent and headed for the distant Lochan Beinn Chabhair.

The briefest of stops at the lochan saw us looking at a mist and cloud shrouded ridge; not an inviting outlook as we headed towards the high bealach below Meall nan Tarmachan in conditions that were becoming more challenging with each step; the rain was now more persistent and heavy, the visibility dropping to mere metres, and a cold, and strong wind blowing directly onto us as we turned and started on the twisting path up the ridge.

Taken at leisure on a fine day, this is a beautiful ridge walk, but in the conditions we were encountering it was simply a matter of putting our heads down and getting up there as quickly as possible; so we were soon spread out, with those ahead or behind disappearing and re-appearing as the mist thickened or the path twisted out of sight, and all the while the wind was getting even stronger the nearer we got to the summit upon which it was strong enough to cause a few wobbles as we kept our balance and quickly acknowledged the cairn before making a hasty retreat back off the exposed summit and into the relative shelter offered by some convenient crags just below the summit.

Huddled behind the crags, we stopped more out of necessity than choice to take on some food and liquids before making our descent back along the ridge and down from Meall Tarmachan towards Lochan Beinn Chabhair and the swamplands of the Ben Glas Burn.

One point of interest: As we battled our way up the ridge in the wind, rain and poor visibility, Alan was noted to say we had in excess of 900 years of knowledge and experience between us, why therefore, with this depth of knowledge were we on this mountain in weather like it was. Oddly enough, no one seemed to take the hint and say, well then lets get off this mountain, as we continued our struggled onwards to the summit. Ah well, that's just how it goes.

This may have been a miserable day weather wise, but it was nevertheless an enjoyable day on the hills with great company. Thanks All.