The Crainlarich Munros Day 3 & 4 Xmid2 and Trailstar shelters

We caught a touch of frost overnight and had heavy condensation,but what a start to the day it was ! Inversions galore 

These are the mornings we soak up the view and quietness of a waking day 

Jamie’s Trailstar with the first hill of the day Cruach Adrian 1046m looming up behind 

Xmid 2 Shadowed by Ben More & Stob Binnein

       Bit of drying time in the warm breeze before L.N.T and moving on 

Looking North 

Once on the summit of Cruach Ardrain we took the small and very steep path NE of it to collect a new Top for me,Stob Garbh.We continued East then lost most of our height,down to 430m to then start the slow pull up to the coll

After many slugs of cold mountain water we left the sacks and went up Stob Bennein,fine views in all directions 

The ridge Southwards 

Back to the packs for more fluids and an energy boost,it was with slower limbs we slowly but steadily made our way up to Ben Mores lofty view point,my visit before had the ground and the sky all white 

Crainlarich far below Ben Mores summit cairn 

Ben More done all that was left was to descend then pitch up and brew followed by food and drink 

              View down to Loch Tay as I devoured my tea 

Day 4 

Our last day started as forcast,with rain and a steady 20 gusting 34 mph SW wind..Xmid 2 handled it well and after a quick brew we put our waterproofs on for the first time and a decent back to the car 

Another excellently planned and guided trip,I really should start up a business  😉🙄 Safe Travels Peter

The Crainlarich Munros Day 1 & 2 Xmid2 & Trailstar shelter

With my operation  date looming,i coupled together a last quick trip “ Up North ” too Scotland.I first did these hills back in the early 90s on some of my first winter backpacking trips,things were much warmer and greener on this visit 

 

We drove up Thursday morning and left our car near Ben More farm and a very nice man,came in his taxi and dropped us of at the layby on the Loch Lomond road,pre-booked it made the walk much better trip,I highly recommend them Ian and his son

Packs hoisted up we were soon heading off,as the day started to get much warmer (Temp above was in the sun,real temp was around 17-18c)

Ben More and Stob Binnein were soon showing of there great height,being the biggest Munros in this area

We drank and walked and sweated and walked some more,the skies at times looking like it might help us cool down

We gained the “Twistin hill “ ridge with some fantastic views coming in from all directions of the compass,my plan had been to try and camp,some where South of An Caisteal summit

As luck would have it we found two nice pitches close to the small tarn that’s close to the path,just as we just felt a few spots of rain,but it came to nothing thankfully

Id bought one of Dan Durstons xmid1 tents earlier in the yr but changed it out for the 2,which I think will work really well when I’m taking Maggie with me,it’s a huge shelter at a very good weight 

The best thing about a three night trip is getting a choice of one of three meals on the first night 😀

 

As the day cooled down the cloud helped give some depth to the mountain views we had all around us 

Jamie enjoying the view from camp

A good view off the South side of An Caisteal

Xmid 2 Solid 

 

                     Ben Lui looked grand with the late setting light behind

Yes someone had forgotten to pack hot chocolate for his late evening drink,so Cuppa soup it was !

                                    

Day  2

We had a nice quiet night with dawn coming a bit early this time of year,but this one was well worth getting up for as we had a grand inversion

After enjoying the inversion,we packed up and leaving our packs dropped down into it, to the 619m Coll,then climbed out it,too collect the Munro summit of Beinn Chabhair

Packs reshouldered we made our way up onto Beinn á Chroin,one small section involved us passing the sacks up first,but that was the only difficulty 

Not many pics on the next section ! Mr Fallon had mentioned a route where you bypassed below Stob Ghlas,then headed back N then NE to gain the ridge ENE of Beinn Tulaichean ….safe to say it was a tough reclimb back up,with no breeze to make it a bit tougher 

Ben More and Stob Binnien 

Tonight’s tea was a new one to me “Adventure Beef Shepherds pie” and it definitely filled the belly very well 👌 

With the days effort finally over we pitched up at 870m about 1/2 k back from the summit of Beinn Tulaichean 

After a wash and a change into camp clothes it was just a matter of taking in the views while eating and drinking,was an excellent place to do so too 

Day 2 had been a tough day and warm too,with some tough ground to cover in places,time to sleep ready for the next day