Mamore hill run

Staying in Glen Nevis campsite for a few days, to get to my run on Saturday morning cycled up the glen to the lower falls car park for a loop round a few hills. Mullach Nan Coirean to start accessed via forest roads and trails winding up to the NE ridge, the ridge steep and boggy to start, the gradient eases for a while and a couple of walkers ahead gave me a target to maintain effort as the views open up all round, passed the first walker before the steep rocky climb to the summit the second just before the cairn. Next the undulating traverse to Stob Ban, a few more walkers coming towards me, keep to the top of the crest avoiding the worst of the boulder fields, the final climb slow up through glistening quartzite which contrasts with the red granite of the Mullach. Changed into a thermal base layer to combat the cool breeze and slow pace along the rocky ridges, with some food as well I soon perked up leaving behind ideas of cutting the run short and continued past the wee lochain on the way to Stob Choire a' Mhail and the Devils Ridge to Sgurr a' Mhaim, another quartzite capped hill, plodding up the zig zag stalkers path from the lochain the ridge looked busy with a few small groups of walkers, by the time I got to the ridge it was clear and I had the narrow path to myself. Soon on top of Sgurr a'Mham, stopped for a brief refuel then down the steep NW ridge, a fun descent to start, a twisting scree covered path, the scree fades too soon leaving more bouldery ground, a good workout for the quads, the cycle back to Glen Nevis Campsite thankfully mostly downhill.

Mellantee, Half Way Lochain and the Ben from Mullach Nan Coirean

Ridge to Stob Ban from the Mullach

The Devils Ridge and Sgurr a'Mhaim from Stob Ban

Mullach Nan Coirean from Stob Ban

Lochain Coire Nam Miseach

Stob Ban from the Devils Ridge

Glen Nevis from Sgurr a'Mhaim

Glen Nevis

Unexpected chance for camp Nevis, Saturday run over Mullach Nan Coirean, Stob Ban and Sgurr a'Mhaim, forecast good, reality low cloud n drizzle, ran from lower falls car park hard going through remnants of tree felling, out the trees and straight up onto the ridge, running again, top Juraesque rocky stuff, visibility ok about 100 yards, Mullachs double cairn soon reached. No hanging about on the tops today. Ran along the ridge to Stob Ban met a Ptarmigan. Same one as last time? Clouds clear for a few minutes, missed a Brocken spectre taking too long to get the camera out.  Rocky run off Stob Ban nice n easy, rocks greasy, running again along to the stalkers path zig zagging to the ridge to Sgurr a'Mhaim. Ridge narrows, too feart to take a photo, stop at bottom of the short climb to SAM top, getting cold as pace had dropped along the ridge, thermal gloves on up the quartzite to the summit cairn, no stopping, off over boulders then rocky path and some fun down nice scree before a twisting turning rocky broken path, hard work, the last few hundred yards easy muddy trail. Finished inside 5 hours, much fun. Photos here.



Sunday, sound of rain on the tent, got up and it had cleared, clouds above Mamores tops, bits of the Ben I could see looked clear as well. Set off from outside the Youth Hostel, managed to run all Heart Attack Hill! Along tourist path kept jogging, round windy corner some walking on the brocken path, plenty of repairs needed here. Staying on the tourist path past halfway lochan and up the zig zags meant I could run all the way, a wee break to catch my breath and take a couple of photos at every zag. Back into the mist and a chilly breeze grew up through the field of cairns, reaching the top in about 2 hours. Short break and photo stop at the top. Took descent nice n easy, followed the tourist path stopping a couple of times, finsihed in about 3 1/2 hours, not many out today. Photos here.