Two wet Munros from Fersit
Statistics
Area: Fort William to Loch Treig and Loch Leven
Munro’s: Stob a’Choire Mheadhoin, Stob Coire Easain
Date walked: 24/09/2011
Time taken: 3.45 hours
Distance: 16 km
Ascent: 1230m
The Route
Introduction
I had been watching the weather forecast during the week and the forecast for Saturday was looking decent over the cairngorms so that is where I was heading. There is a nice big circuit below Feshie bridgeand this was to be my walk of choice for the day. However For reasons best kept to myself I barely slept on Friday night and eventually woke at 1030. Being an early riser and normally hitting the hills by first light I knew I would not have enough time for my big walk and would have to change my plans. So choices were, go and watch Dunfermline get hammered by Rangers and have a few pints during the game or chose another walk. So, another walk was the choice. So finding some motivation from somewhere I decided to go to Fersit and walk the two munros Stob a’Choire Mheadhoin and Stob Coire Easain.
The Walk
So on my way at just before midday and found myself in a huge traffic jam on the A9 South of Ballinluig. Apparently there had been an accident. So a 15 mile detour taking the Creif road, then North to Aberfeldy and then the road to Ballinluig. At this point I was really thinking about just going back home. However I decided if the jam continued past Ballinluig I would turn around and go and walk Stuc anLochan instead. Luckily the road was clear and I arrived at the parking area at Fersit at around 1445. There are two approaches to the start of this walk. You can start the walk at the main parking area 1km from the dam or you can start about 2km from the dam and head directly up Creag Fhiaclach. I chose to start from the main car park. The weather does not look nice. Its been raining on and off since Drumochter. Not the forecast I was expecting. In fact I had stripped my pack down and left my waterproofs in the house. I was also wearing trail boots thinking I would be able to go quicker but in fact this was a good decision because I was soaked from the start and the boots are comfortable wet and would have dried out quickly if the rain had stopped hahaha.
So just after 1450 I was running along the good track to the dam. Just before the dam the track forks and I take the right hand fork heading up the hill. After a further 0.5km I leave the main track and take the small boggy track into the hillside. Because of the huge amount of water on the hillside it’s easy to follow the boggy track although it is quite slippery in places. It’s an easy climb ascending 50m over 0.5km to the Obelisk and then continue on the track for 1km ascending Meall Cian Dearg. Its now 2km to the final climb up to Stob a’Choire Mheadhoin and after 1hr and a half I am at the summit. A quick stop in the clag for some food and water (just jelly babies) and I am off down the other side to the Bealach below Stob Coire Easain. Its now a 150m ascent to the second summit with the last 100m quite steep but easy going and I am soon on the summit of Stob Coire Easain. Its in the clag so no time to stop and I head back the way I came. As I get to the Bealach I get good views and take a couple of photos. It’s now a matter of just retracing my steps and getting back to the car. The rain comes and goes but it’s not too cold so long as I am moving. On the descent I am on my backside at least 5 times because of the bog factor hahaha but in no time at all I am back at the car.
I am glad I persevered today. there were so many reasons why I could have cancelled walking today so I am happy to bag two more Munro’s. Loch Treig is full to the gunwales and the water is spilling over the top of the Dam. I also noted on the drive out that Loch Laggan is also full. Has it been a raining summer or something hahaha.
