Serra Del Cavall Bernat Ridge - Mallorca 23rd September 2010.

A lazy week in the sun in Mallorca gave us the opportunity to finally do the Serra Del Cavall Bernat Ridge which rises out of the Boquer valley to a maximum of only 353m but on it's seaward side, the ridge is near vertical into the sea, which is quite impressive as you reach the col to the right of an obvious "window" at 261m and look straight over and down to the sea!

Looking up at the first rock tower which can be climbed by almost any line making it as easy or difficult as you like, although there is a bigger drop the further right you go! Not sure what the grade is meant to be but there's lines to suit all and probably never over grade II max? (unless you stray out over the seaward side - not recommended!).

The view to the end of the Boquer valley with the Cap Formentor just visible in the distance.

Pleasant scrambling on very grippy,and sometimes very sharp, rock leads to the top of the first tower.

The first "window" on the ridge with views down to Cala de Sant Vicenc.

Looking back at the route over the "window" after we looked through it!

The wrong way down!

Looking back across the ridge again, just before we got to the second window.

Lorna on top of the second window, which can't be seen from below in the valley.

Lorna almost the high point, Talaia Vella at 353m!

This is a photo I took last year from the Cala de Sant Vicenc side. You can just see the first window that we crossed to the right of centre of the picture.

Sron na Lairig and Stob Coire Sgreamhach - 12th September 2010.

Today was to be John's penultimate munro; Stob Coire Sgreamhach in Glencoe, so myself and Lorna were dropped off at the car park opposite the memorial in Glencoe, whilst Stevie and John went to the main car park opposite Gear Aonach. We headed South West along the Alt Eilde whilst Stevie and John walked up into the Lost Valley. At the path's highest point, marked by a cairn we turned north to reach the foot of the ridge identifiable by the large sloping slab at it's base.

As you gain height, the ridge becomes more defined with a mixture of grass and rock.

Looking across to Beinn Fhada and the down climb you have to make to continure along it's ridge.

Looking back down the ridge as it  reaches the narrower section, but never difficult even in the wet as it was today, although we had to avoid some slabby sections of rock as they were treacherous.

Another narrow section which would be great to do in winter, very alpine and almost a mini Tower Ridge with a short walk in.

Glen Etive and Loch Etive in the distance. Fortuneatly the rain never came to much!

Looking back dwon at the ridge as we made our way to the summit of  Stob Coire Sgreamhach to meet John and Stevie.

Looking along the Beinn Fhada ridge with the Lost Valley to it's left.

Stevie and Lorna making their way down the steep, eroded path into the Lost Valley. It's very easy to slip here, as I can vouch for !

John, Stevie and Lorna at the large boulders in the Lost Valley. From here it's downhill all the way through the trees and back to the car park on the A 82. The summit of  Stob Coire Sgreamhach can be seen high on the left.

Mullach nan Coirean - 5th September 2010.

After a change of accommodation from the Glen Nevis Youth Hostel to the Achintee Bunkhouse (due to a booking error with SYHA's central booking system) we bravely managed a coupe of beers in the Ben Nevis Inn and a fairly decent night's sleep after a long day yesterday! 
In the moring it was then only a short drive into Glen Nevis to the car park just before the bridge, and the start point for John's 281st Munro: Mullach nan Coirean. As we set off on the described route into the forest, we were diverted by Forestry Commission signs (warning of work being carried out) to an alternative track up to the broad ridge of Mullach nan Coirean. The wind was even stronger than yesterday as we topped out on the ridge and headed for the summit. Again it was touch and go as to if we should turn back but we carried on and it wasn't long before we reached the large summit cairn at 939m. However photography wasn't top of the agenda today as staying upright was more important!
We returned down the ridge we came up but chose to ignore the diversion sign back to our route of ascent, and instead stayed on the ridge all the way back to the forest (the normal way) only to find the path completely obscured by felled trees and huge tracks and puddles left by the forestry vehicles. So we stubbornly struggled on over tree stumps, logs and branches, and skillfully avoided the eye of the Forestry staff hard at work by using our skills at covert movment to eventually pick up the original track we set off and back to the car!

Beinn Sgulaird - 4th September 2010.

As soon as work was over, myself John and Stevie drove north via Tyndrum towards Loch Creran, just above Oban. Our goal today was to start ticking off the last five of John's munro's before he completes the last one, Ben More on Mull in October. From Druimavuic, where we parked next to the Loch, it was uphill for most of the way and as we gained height we had to battle with the ever increasing wind. At one point we seriously considered turning back as it was getting quite serious. However we gave ourselves some more time to see how it went and miraculously the wind eased as we gained the broad ridge and it's three rocky summits.

 

   

John battling with the wind despite the marked drop in speed.

Looking back down to Loch Creran and the bridge carrying the A828 to Ballachulish

"It's that way back!"

Nice use of the self timer as there was no one else around to take a photo. After the obligatory cup of tea we set off back the way we came for the surprisingly long walk back to the car, and then the drive to Fort William where we would stay the night before ticking off one more of John's munros: Mullach nan Coirean.