Over the last 3 days i have been out leading a Steve Fallon group over the 7 munros on the east and west of Glen Etive.
On Saturday with the knowledge that the weather was going to turn around midday, we made good progress towards Glas Bheinn mhor via the col to the west. We reached this first munro by midday after a few hours of heavy going through the rough grass and bog.
Our next aim was the to get the tricky outlier of Beinn na Aighenan. This required a lot of descent and then reascent which takes a few hours. It was around this point that the rain started and we could see the weather coming in from the east. Still with clear tops we made our way up the narrowing ridge to summit our final munro of Ben Starav. A long day but a good 3 tricky peaks to get over very tough ground.
On Sunday with a mixed forecast we aimed for the 2 munros of Meal an Eun and Stob coir an Albannaich. Once on the ridge after another rough walk up to the col, the weather started with strong wind and heavy rain. After getting the first munro lunch was a silent afair with the backs to the rain. With a steep ascent up Stob coir an Albannaich we then made the tricky navigational descent back to the col of the previous day.
Yesterday was a great sunny and dry day, hot in the sun and cold in the shade. We were on the west side of Glen Etive aiming for the 2 munros of Sgurr nan h-Ulaidh and Beinn Fhionnlaidh. These 2 munros are very tough from Glen Etive but we made good progress with a fit team and made the first peak before lunch. From there it is a tricky traverse on steep grass round to gain the ascent up Beinn Fhionnlaidh, which had amazing autumn views from the summit.
A good 3 days over rough ground gaining 7 munros in the process.
