After summitting two Munros this weekend we now know we are not fit enough to take on the Artemis Great Kindrochit Quadrathlon in July. We managed just two Munros, while in the event there will be seven.
Our total ascent and descent for these two Munros, Beinn Fhada and A’ Ghlas-bheinn, in stunning Kintail, is also far, far less than the totals we’ll need to take on in the Quadrathlon.
In addition, the Quadrathlon involves a loch swim, kayak and bike ride.
So while we enjoyed our day out in Kintail this weekend we are suddenly aware of how much more we need to do to improve our fitness.
Two mighty Kintail Munros
Our original plan for our first weekend away in Fern the Campervan was the South Sheil ridge. This is a walk over seven Munros although it is described as seven of the easiest Munros that can be walked in one day.
We did approach the start of this route on Saturday morning but the snow cover looked hefty and the cloud was fairly low so we decided to backtrack and go for something less snowy. We’ll save the South Sheil ridge for a better day.
Instead, we headed along the A87 to Morvich for the two Munros, Beinn Fhada and A’ Ghlas-bheinn. To be honest, most people (and this includes me) would be happy with a day of hiking on just one of these Munros. Although fairly close to each other, the double summit requires a long walk in between and a lot of descending to the bealach that joins the two mountains.
The conditions were fairly difficult. While we enjoyed some sunshine, the wind was strong and blustery and this makes walking really hard work, especially if you are as light as I am. On occasions I took my foot off the ground to take a step and was almost blown over.
But if you like magnificent views and great rocky landscapes, the Munro of Beinn Fhada, at 1032m, is a cracker. The first part of our walk took us along a beautiful river valley with dozens of picturesque waterfalls and clear water pools. The views up ahead were breathtaking and it was easy to enjoy the pace and the surroundings.
The steepest part of the ascent is not too bonkers and much of it is along a zip-zagging stalkers’ path so it never becomes too arduous. Mind you, there is a lot of walking uphill so you need to be prepared for sore quads and calves.
Higher up, the mountain flattens on to a wide plateau. On Saturday this was covered in large areas of thick snow. Walking upwards on snow is hard work, but coming down is great fun. I slid, where safe, on the bum of my waterproof trousers!
The summit is a long time arriving, even once you’re on the plateau, but once there the views, especially over Loch a’ Bhealaich, are hugely rewarding.
We took the same route back for the descent before heading further north towards the bealach that separates the masses of Beinn Fhada from A’ Ghlas-bheinn. By this point my legs were feeling jaded and I was generally pretty tired.
Walking the second Munro
The option from here was to continue to descend back to the campervan or head upwards again to tick off A’ Ghlas-bheinn at 918m. While this Munro only just qualifies for its lofty status (the cut off for a Munro is 914m), there are many false summit to walk over before reaching the top proper.
And with tired legs I knew this was going to push me more than I really fancied. However, the G-Force was keen. He knows that we need to get fit for the Quadrathlon and he wanted a “big day out” rather than an “ordinary Munro day out”.
So we pushed on to the bealach and climbed another zig-zagging path. Here we met the only other person of our entire day in the mountains. The Munro bagger was on his way down and warned of fierce winds and many false summits further up. “Groan,” I thought to myself.
Sure enough, the winds were hard going. I found I was being pushed and pummelled on narrow paths, sometimes with a steep drop away. It was exhausting and a bit scary but we kept being drawn on by the second summit.
With false summits you tend to catch a tantalising glimpse of the summit proper and then lose sight of it as you head over or around another smaller summit. At one point I began to think that the peak of A’ Ghlas-bheinn was just a fantasy.
Eventually, however, and in strong winds we made it. Now it was simply a case of descending. But, of course, there were all the false summits to walk over again and a very long walk out via the bealach and the valley path.
We had spent a full day walking two Munros and by the time we returned to the campervan at Morvich we were both very weary.
Relaxing in the Kintail Lodge Hotel over a few beers and a great pub meal, we chatted about how much more we will need to do in the Quadrathlon and how we now need to spend as many days and/or weekends bagging Munros as we possibly can. What on earth have we signed up for?!
Please do sponsor us as Team Outdoors in the Quadrathlon. The event is a major fundraiser for two charities, Mercy Corps and Mary’s Meals. We want to raise a joint total of £1000 and we’ll need as many friends and acquaintances as possible to sponsor us. Please! Click on this link to sponsor Team FionaOutdoors.
For more information on the 2014 charity projects.