Hillwalking (Torridon Corbett) 6:30:00 [3] 16.0 km (24:23 / km) +980m 18:40 / km
ahr:90
Beinn Dearg. Finally. The mountain that fascinated me on one of my first visits to the Highlands when I climbed Beinn Alligin in winter 1993. I couldn't see how anyone was supposed to get up or down, although the summit ridge looked exciting. As it was I prevaricated, only deciding at the last moment to turn right along the Coire Mhic Nobuil rather than head up to the Bealach a'Chomhla and the usual route of ascent. I thought this way I'd have it easier for the 'bad step' along the top. But I had to find a route up the cliffs. The book suggested following 'a stream' but the only one I could see looked way too steep. I found a gully and it seemed to go. Just! The cloud stayed off too, which meant I had good views, even if all the Torridon giants weren't clear. Having charged the camera battery, I took loads of pics, especially as I approached the band of steep rocks that couldn't be by-passed and would have to be climbed. Up was easier than down and the difficulties were fairly minor. A few inches short of Munro-status, surely the climb from sea level makes this a 'munro day'? As feared, the usual route 'up' made a bad route down and I just resigned myself to very very slow progress. The walk out besides the river and beneath the Horns of Alligin wasn't much quicker, until the made path finally appeared.