November 2020 Activity: Miscellaneous walks and a reminder of last year

With the COVID restrictions really curtailing FVMC activities we remind ourselves that there are still some accessible places to visit. First up, DY and a walking pal visit Stob a' Choin and Stob Breac on 20/11/20, enduring steep, boggy, soggy ground, from the new bridge over the River Larig at Inverlochlarig. Second is another trip by DY to our well visited Stuc a Chroin via Ben Each. And lastly a reminder of the more wintry conditions last year at the FVMC Dinner Meet, November 9th 2019, when some members had a grand day out on Corbett Garbh Bheinn above Kinlochleven. A week later, 16/11/19, Bavarian FVMC member KH had been blessed with an excellent 3 x winter days in The Arrochar Alps, Glen Dochart and Ben Lawers.

The objective Stob a Choin.

...on the beautiful bridge to nowhere.

A reminder that it's November.

Looking across to Ishag Glen. Beinn a Chroin, Cruach Ardrain and Beinn Tulaichean.

Ptarmigan.

Having completed Stob a' Choin, with fading light they crossed the bealach to An Stuchd on the north side of the hillock of Cnoc na Nathrach to ascend another energy sapping slope of foot tugging grass, moss and half hidden slippery old fence posts. From An Stuchd it was still 2km to Stob Breac along a ridge that seemed to have far more lumps and bumps than shown on the map. After a short break, they left the top at just after 5pm to follow the Allt a' Choire Bhain down hill, head torches now on, and down the "normal ascent route" through dense forestry. If there had been a live commentary, at this point, the phrase "and they think its all over" may have been uttered. All went well till they reached the waterfall. No way round looked feasible except by entering the densely packed forestry. After crawling and crashing for some distance, they identified "a space", which eventually led down to older, more widely spaced trees and thence to the track. Arriving back at the car park 9 hours after setting off. A memorable day.

A week later DY's on the auld favourite Ben Each looking toward Stuc a' Chroin

Final view of Stuc a' Chroin before descending to Bealach Glas.

DY's final pull.

At last year's Dinner Meet, 09/11/19, BR & IH descending west side of Garbh Beinn.

One taken earlier on 09/11/19 with ARob, AA, EA IH & BR at the top of Garbh Beinn with The Ben in the background.

This one from November 16/11/19; as well as getting Meall Glas done in poor weather the previous day, BR & KH got Beinn Ghlas and Ben Lawers done in excellent, clear, cold weather...looking north west from Ben Lawers.

This one from 14/11/19; looking out over Loch Long from Beinn Narnain.

Earlier on 14/11/19; looking from Beinn Ime south east to Beinn Narnain, with The Cobbler on the right.