Couldn't think of an interesting name for this blog entry! Not that Gairich is a boring hill - not at all. It stands majestically above the south shore of Loch Quoich, and you need to walk across a dam to get to it; it is a fine small mountain ... I just couldn't think up an interesting title, that's all!
Gairich from the north, across Loch Quoich (left)
Still based at Glen Nevis. Tuesday 22nd was a dull cloudy day after overnight rain, but Wednesday 23rd looked a bit brighter. As we ate breakfast outside the tent, the cloud was steadily lifting off Ben Nevis, so we decided to head for Gairich. Enjoyed the drive up Loch Garry, past Tomdoun and Kingie, to arrive at the Quoich Dam at 11.30am. There were still clouds lingering about the summits at around 900m, but it looked like it would clear as the day went on, so we set off hopefully across the dam.
The path led south just above the shore, rather boggy in places, but gradually rising to higher drier ground, before dropping to the bealach at the end of Gairich's long east ridge, Druim na Geid Salaich. A zig-zag track led up to a broad stony ridge, along which we tramped for an hour or so, rising steadily towards the foot of Gairich's summit cone (right). A good path led the way, with one very suprising point, where the path appeared yo be coming to an abrupt end; with a couple of paces to go, it suddenly became clear that the path turned sharp right across the hillside! Zig-zags continued ever upwards, with one rocky step easily ascended.
Anne coming up the steep section just below the summit,
with Loch Quoich below:
After a 45 minute rest on top, we headed back down by the same route, then back to Glen Nevis to celebrate our 28th Wedding Anniversary!
(posted 23/05/10)
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