Munros + Corbetts - 2012
Mam na Gualainn - 29 Octoberber 2012
Another optimistic weather forecast that was a bit too optimistic. Cloud would be clearing through the day, before a spell of much worse weather arrived in the early evening.
So I looked for something close and not too large, as the clocks have now gone back, and it gets dark far too early.
I chose Mam na Gualainn, a corbett on the north side of Loch Leven, and headed off. There is a well defined path in places that goes right up and over the western ridge of Mam na Gualainn, then drops down to join the West Highland Way. So I followed this track almost to its highest point, then headed up the ridge.
About half way up the ridge I became increasingly aware that the weather was going downhill quite fast, so I grabbed a couple of pictures looking south and south west.
To the south west there was a good view across to the two munros Sgorr Dhonuill and Sgorr Dhearg.
To the south, over on the left is the Pap of Glencoe, then Stob Coire nam Beith, then looking down the ridge to the corbett Beinn Maol Chaluim. Across the other side of Bealach Fhionnghaill, there is Stob an Fhuarain, then Sgorr na h-Ulaidh, then over on the right, the corbett Meall Lighiche.
I got to the top to be met by cloud, and a snow shower - quite wet snow, so I got rather wet. There is nothing like wet snow for getting you cold and wet.
As I was sitting there eating my snow flake flavoured tea and sandwiches, the cloud did break up a bit, and I began to see things around me, but it didn`t last, and I didn`t see anything to the north. The next snow shower arrived so I left, and set off down again.
I headed down the ridge, and a bit before meeting the track, the cloud started to clear, and I could begin to see things. I still couldn`t see much to the north, but I did notice that on either side of the adjacent mountain, I could see some far away hills. I eventually worked out that they were on Knoydart - they were in sunshine.
To the southwest, Sgorr Dhonuill and Sgorr Dhearg began to clear -
The cloud didn`t really clear much more than that for an hour or so, but by the time I had driven to Kinlochleven, it was completely clear. here is the view of Mam na Gualainn from Kinlochleven - actually to be strictly correct, this is I think Beinn na Caillich - Mam na Gualainn will be just behind it, but it is all the same ridge.
Disappointing weather meant I never saw the Mamores, Ben Nevis, the Grey Corries, or anything to the north at all. But it would be a good mountain to do again during a cold clear spell in the middle of winter, when the days are really short and the visibility excellent.
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