Sue and Martin in Mallorca 2019

Sue and Martin in Mallorca 2019
On the Archduke's Path in Mallorca

Sunday 12 May 2019

TGO Challenge 2019 - Day 2

 
 
 
 
Date: Saturday 11 May 2019

Route: Loch Etive near Glennoe to Allt Dhoireann, south of Glen Kinglas, NN 159 352, 300 metres, via Beinn Eunaich and other summits on the 11 km ridge

Distance: 15 km (Cum: 41)

Ascent: 1500 metres (Cum: 2000)

Time taken: 9.5 hrs including 2 hrs breaks

Weather: sunny with a few clouds. Cold wind strengthening from the NW

A fine mountain traverse along an 11 km ridge with five summits. Pretty tiring when you are each carrying about 13 kilos, as we were.

I wouldn't say our night was disturbed, but there were interesting noises from the loch after the cuckoos had retired and the shore was silent. Fish were jumping. Sploosh.

William, Peter and Rachel all left well ahead of us on their low level routes, but when we went to visit Richard and Rosie at 8.30 they had only just risen. Like us, they were planning to walk along the long ridge above Glen Noe.

So we left them to enjoy a lazy start to a big day. On our way to the Glen Noe path, we bumped into Ken and Nina. We soon left them to take the low level path to Glen Kinglas. Not many Challengers go high - it is hard work! And we only met one other person - a shy Munro bagger - all day.

It was hard work. We admired the lousewort, milkwort and rock roses that manage to flourish on the steep hillside. Note that forgetmenots (lots) should be added to yesterday's list. We were glad of a break for a brew after a while. Here there were fine views over to Ben Cruachan, looming high above us. We failed to spot Caburn, but the golden eagle that was floating high above us might well have been able to see him. A herd of deer ran off in the distance.

The first summit, at 730 metres, was reached at 12.20, shortly after which we enjoyed lunch on a small plateau sheltered from the wind.

Then it was a slog to reach the Munro summit (980 metres) of Beinn a'Chochuill. There were fine views to Glen Kinglas, and also across to Ben Cruachan. Sue called Dot and having just turned my phone off, I turned it back on for another photo. That produced a 'screen of death'. An exclamation mark in a 'danger' triangle, above an upturned turtle, above the words 'no command'. Nothing I could do would bring it back to life.

There were great views from here on this really clear day. In the west we could see from the Paps of Jura to the Cuillins of Skye. Most of the recent snow had gone from the closer hills, but slabs of white remain on some - such as Ben More above Crianlarich.

Meanwhile, we progressed to the second Munro, Beinn Eunaich, and thence to a summit at 880 metres. Here after a good couple of hours of pressing buttons as per on-line guidance, the phone finally decided to come to life again. Lesson learned - don't try to turn your phone on whilst it's still shutting down from having been turned off.

En route we had seen ptarmigan and a noisy gathering of plovers.

With an increase in the velocity of the cold wind, and a desire to set up camp we hastened over our final summit, Meall Copagach, before descending steeply to Allt Dhoireann, where we soon found a flatish spot on which to camp at 6 pm.

I was really tired and Sue's shoulder was bothering her, so we were glad to find this spot. No sign of Richard and Rosie, who we'd seen on the ridge about an hour behind us. We will find out where they finished up in due course.

Once our camp was established a brew was on (the first effort fell over!) and then Sue cooked another excellent meal.

Now 8.30 and our site by a babbling brook is still in the sunshine.

Today's pictures:
Ascending to the ridge - the view back
Ben Cruachan from Beinn a'Chochuill
Glen Kinglas from Beinn a'Chochuill
Camp by Allt Dhoireann

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