Tyndrum weekend
Tyndrum 13th - 15th September 2019
Scheduled as a Glencoe/Glen Etive weekend this turned out to be more of a Tyndrum weekend, as none of us got very near either glen.
Six of us - Ali, Gillie, Bob, Robert, Iain, Alan - plus Dylan the dog, travelled to Strathfillan Wigwams not feeling very optimistic about what the weather had in store.
Friday:
Iain arrived at Strathfillan early enough to add the nearby Ben Challum to his munro total.
En route to the wigwams, Gillie, Alan, Ali and Dylan climbed Beinn a'Chuallaich, near Kinlochrannoch.
There were a few showers and strong winds, especially near the top. They were fortunate that the onset of a very heavy shower of cold horizontal rain coincided with their arrival at the large cairn which provided a surprisingly good shelter.
They were not so lucky on the descent when they mistakenly walked off north instead of south. Halfway down, recalling a description of the walk being dominated by the view of Schiehallion, Ali looked at the diminutive hills on the horizon and wondered "Where's Schiehallion?" It was a good question. There wasn't a good answer. After several minutes of groaning disbelief they contoured round a'Chuallaich back to the south slope and a view of Schiehallion plus cars.
Saturday:
The weather was not as rainy as forecast, but it was as windy. Bob managed to stay upright despite the buffeting on Beinn a'Cochuill and Beinn Eunaich north-west of Ben Cruachan.
Ali Gillie and Dylan climbed the nearby Beinn Udlaih, but decided against attempting the double with Beinn Bhreac-liath given the weather.
Robert, Iain and Alan settled for a woodland/coastal walk through the Inverawe Estate at the southern end of Loch Etive. (The nearest anyone came to Glen Etive).
Sunday:
Iain and Robert braved Stob a' Choire Odhar and Stob Gabhar north of Bridge of Orchy. They had essentially dry weather, manageable winds and a sunny descent.
Bob sloshed through "a couple of kilometres of bogfest" in boggy Glen Dochart to bag Meal Glas and Sgiath Chul. The wind was still too wild for pics.
Ali and Dylan filled in a gap in the Corbett ticklist by bagging Meal na Leitreach, as did Gillie on nearby The Sow of Atholl. The wind was strong and cold enough not to hang around.
To summarise the weekend - despite the weather there were a considerable number of kilometres walked and peaks bagged, and some of us had a rare opportunity to see Dylan blowing in the wind.
Alan