Beinn Bhan, Kishorn TR

"compo" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

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An early start from home was required if we were to manage to climb
Beinn a'Chaisteil (from Black Bridge) in the daylight yesterday -

alas,

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the estate stalker met us at the lodge gate and informed us that a

party

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of Hooray Henrys were shooting stags in that particular part of the
estate and therefore no walking could be done with any degree of

safety

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(Own fault for not phoning first - should take my own advice). A

mad

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dash of around 50 miles ensued as we raced to our secondary target

of

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Bheinn Bhan.

Initially intending to ascend via A'Choich we started off along the
decent stalkers track around the base of the mountain. Upon setting
eyes upon A'Choich we studied it for about one micro second, saw the
water running down its flanks, jibbed, went on to the northwest end

of

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Coire na Fhamhair and ascended via the terraced NW spur. A stiff

climb

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took us onto the lower end of the summit plateau and the

breathtaking

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views to the summit and beyond.

Having bright sunshine enabled us to see for miles in every

direction,

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picking out the Outer Hebrides in the far West, Skye and the Inner
Hebrides closer by and the splendour of Torridon to the East.

(Managed

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some nice photos with the cheapo digi camera which I downloaded to

the

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computer this AM, most of which I promptly lost with a careless

click of

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the mouse).

On the route down via the Southeast ridge we encountered a rutting

stag

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and his hinds. He turned to face us and lowered his head to show

off

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his huge antlers, roaring at us as he did so. After a couple of

minutes

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facing us down his hinds began to wander off, leaving him with a

choice

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of shouting at us or following the nooky - fortunately the nooky won

and

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off he trotted with an occasional look back and a roar to show us

who's

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boss. We reached the car just as twilight was descending and a good

day

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was had by all.

I would question the timing of the NW route in the SMC guide book.
3h10m seems rather tight to me. Admittedly I am still suffering

from

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the aftermath of a chest infection but I would put the time at

nearer

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3h30m for an average walker. Time taken for round trip, including
buttie break at summit, 6h30m (3h45m to summit).

Nice one Paul, good info on the timings as it is also a long drive for
us from here. I always carry my full set of Os maps in a case in the
car just as a precaution for the situation you found. Nothing worse
than having a reserve mountain but no map.

Great day yesterday in the west.

Cheers
Graham

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Nice one Paul, good info on the timings as it is also a long drive for
us from here. I always carry my full set of Os maps in a case in the
car just as a precaution for the situation you found. Nothing worse
than having a reserve mountain but no map.

Dont tell the O$ but I have heard of someone who has a file in the car
with all the unbagged marilyns in it. Saves a lot of no map grief.
(actually its legal ,courtesy of an Anquet licence...)

I had a good day up there in August including a great swim in a lochan
on the way up Sgurr Chaorachain. Like an infinity pool perched above
Coire Arr.... It was late coming down after this day, I spent ages in
that pool.

I too have been turned away at Vaich.... Only they were happy for me
to go up Am Faochagach.. So no worries another great day on one of my
favourite hills. Later going back for Casteil, I caught a still day of
deep snow and deeper frost.

Richard Webb

The message <[email hidden]>
from [email hidden] (RJ Webb) contains these words:

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I too have been turned away at Vaich.... Only they were happy for me
to go up Am Faochagach..

He would have been happy for us to take the track to Carn Ban providing
that we kept to the track. He said that Saturday was the last day of
their stalking so anyone wishing to venture up that way should be ok for
the rest of the season.

--
Cheers,
Compo