TR - Corbett - Beinn Resipol

Beinn Resipol

24 March 2008

The start of this walk was Upper Scotstown north of the village of
Strontian. An unclassified road ran north from the A861 at Strontian
and after 3 kilometres the hamlet of Upper Scotstown was reached.
Another road headed south-west and I drove along it as far as the gate
before the Allt nan Cailleach where there was limited parking.

We left my vehicle and continued on foot along this vehicle track
which was now rough and muddy and obviously used by cattle. After 250
metres we took the 'miner's path' that headed north-west up the side
of the Allt nan Cailleach. Initially it was still a vehicle track as
far as the local water source. Beyond that the path was in poor
condition although as height was gained it did improve slightly,
although covered in snow.

There had been some overnight snow even down to sea level and the
frequent showers continued as we headed up the 'miner's path'. There
were some deer in the area but they soon disappeared.

On reaching the highest point on this path and a kilometre short of
the old lead mine, hence the name of the path just used, we headed
over towards Meall an t-Slugain through some soft and drifting snow.
The area had quite a few peat hags and boggy sections to avoid and the
wind was rather strong. We had already put on our goggles as the snow
stinging our eyes was rather unpleasant. We put up a couple of grouse,
the only bird life we saw on the hills all weekend.

Once beyond Meall an t-Slugain we climbed the east ridge of Beinn
Resipol. The direct route, which was less windy looked rather
avalanche prone so unfortunately we had to climb onto the main section
of the ridge where the wind was stronger with lots of spindrift.
Progress was slow trying to find the best route through the rocks and
drifts, some of which were now thigh deep which was tiring.

The ridge eventually narrowed and became fairly rocky. Occasionally we
had views of the Corbetts Garbh Bheinn, Beinn na h-Uamha, Sgurr
Dhomhnuill, Carn an Nathrach and Loch Shiel as we worked our way along
the ridge between the rocks where the gaps were full of soft snow.
Occasionally we came across nieve snow with a thin covering of fresh
snow on top which required some extra care to cross.

Eventually we reached the summit cairn with its broken trig point
nearby. To the west we could see a couple of walkers climbing towards
Beinn Resipol's west ridge but they still had a bit to go to reach the
summit where it was cold and windy.

We returned by the ascent route where possible following our
bootprints but some of the marks had been filled in with the blowing
snow. Later we did try and make a more direct descent to Meall an t-
Slugain searching for shelter for lunch but the spindrift put paid to
that idea so out came the 'Storm Shelter' to protect us from the
elements. It worked well as it was rather cold when we rolled it up
again and packed it away.

The descent over Meall an t-Slugain was uneventful as was the return
down the 'miner's path' until near the end when we met some cows and
calves which caused my client some concern. However they never
bothered us as we continued down the track and back to the car.


Time taken - 6 hours.
Distance - 13 kilometres.
Height climbed - 810 metres.

Photos taken on walk can be seen at:
http://www.caledoniahilltreks.com/ga...ar08/index.htm

Lindsay
www.caledoniahilltreks.com

On Thu, 27 Mar 2008 10:57:42 -0700 (PDT), Lindsay
wrote:

Beinn Resipol

Lindsay

I was interested to read your TR as I'll be passing Beinn Resipol on
my TGO Challenge route in May (if I get off the standby list!)

I had been intending to camp somewhere south of Beinn Resipol - maybe
by Lochan Bac an Lochain - after walking in from Acharacle. Do you
think I am likely to find a suitable place to pitch my tent? It's
hard to tell what's under the snow in your photos .... but it sounds
like rock and bog!

Judith

On Mar 27, 8:12*pm, Judith wrote:
On Thu, 27 Mar 2008 10:57:42 -0700 (PDT), Lindsay

wrote:
Beinn Resipol

Lindsay

I was interested to read your TR as I'll be passing Beinn Resipol on
my TGO Challenge route in May (if I get off the standby list!)

I had been intending to camp somewhere south of Beinn Resipol - maybe
by Lochan Bac an Lochain - after walking in from Acharacle. *Do you
think I am likely to find a suitable place to pitch my tent? *It's
hard to tell what's under the snow in your photos .... but it sounds
like rock and bog!

Judith

Judith there was too much snow cover to asceratin if there was any
suitable camping spots. Coming up the miner's path it looked very
heathery on either side of the path although capped with some snow.

I came up the west ridge around 2000 but can't recall the terrain. I
only recall that the weather wasn't great which isn't unusual for the
area.

It would be nice to think that there was a suitable camping spot
beside Lochan Bac an Lochain as it looks an ideal location for an
overnight stop.

You have picked a fairly wild area to start the TGO challenge from but
at least you should be away from the crowds.

Hope you are accepted for the Challenge as you appear to have done
some preparation for it so all the best.

Lindsay
www.caledoniahilltreks.com

On Thu, 27 Mar 2008 15:31:06 -0700 (PDT), Lindsay
wrote:

*Do you
think I am likely to find a suitable place to pitch my tent? *It's
hard to tell what's under the snow in your photos .... but it sounds
like rock and bog!


Judith there was too much snow cover to asceratin if there was any
suitable camping spots. Coming up the miner's path it looked very
heathery on either side of the path although capped with some snow.

Thanks. The 1:25k map seems to show a lot of bog and craggy bits but
I'm sure there'll be a small patch of flat ground somewhere.

Judith

In message , Judith
writes
On Thu, 27 Mar 2008 10:57:42 -0700 (PDT), Lindsay
wrote:

Beinn Resipol

Lindsay

I was interested to read your TR as I'll be passing Beinn Resipol on
my TGO Challenge route in May (if I get off the standby list!)

I had been intending to camp somewhere south of Beinn Resipol - maybe
by Lochan Bac an Lochain - after walking in from Acharacle. Do you
think I am likely to find a suitable place to pitch my tent? It's
hard to tell what's under the snow in your photos .... but it sounds
like rock and bog!

Judith


Hi Judith

I did Beinn Resipol recently in February - and as far as I can make out
none of the obvious ways up the hill go near the loch. It is rough and
boggy country with few paths. Certainly in east-west direction.

Is the Resourie bothy off your route?

Martin
--
Martin Richardson
677/1554 Marilyns - 100 from halfway up 71/118 New Donalds - only 40% to go
100/211 Irish Hewitts - 111 hitts left 47/220 Corbetts - only 79% to go

The message
from Martin Richardson contains these words:

I did Beinn Resipol recently in February - and as far as I can make out
none of the obvious ways up the hill go near the loch. It is rough and
boggy country with few paths. Certainly in east-west direction.

I can't help Judith but I thought I would still get my own oar in. :-)

Beinn Resipol was probably my 2nd Scottish peak (and second Corbett at
that) circa 1961. Climbed with 2 similar aged lads who hailed from
Yorkshire but were putting down roots in the area. I can't remember
anything at all about the experience other than we set off from the main
road somewhere near its closest point to the summit and for some reason
I found it a boring hill although looking at the 1" I can't see why,
unless I was contrasting it with my first Corbett just up the road -
Garbh Bheinn.

--
Roger Chapman
Nearest Marilyn still to be visited - Great Orme.
89 miles as the crow flies,
considerably more as the walker drives.

On Sat, 29 Mar 2008 13:27:23 +0000, Martin Richardson
wrote:


I did Beinn Resipol recently in February - and as far as I can make out
none of the obvious ways up the hill go near the loch. It is rough and
boggy country with few paths. Certainly in east-west direction.

That's how it looks on the map.

Is the Resourie bothy off your route?

I'd not considered it (as I don't know where it is!)
I'll have a look at where it is and see whether I could go there. My
route is flexible. I'm starting in Acharacle and will be in
Kinlochleven a couple of days later via the Corran/Inchree Ferry.

I don't have my maps with me today (I'm in Somerset for the weekend)
so I'll look for that bothy when I get home.

Thanks
Judith

On Sat, 29 Mar 2008 15:26:34 GMT, Roger
wrote:

I did Beinn Resipol recently in February - and as far as I can make out
none of the obvious ways up the hill go near the loch. It is rough and
boggy country with few paths. Certainly in east-west direction.

I can't help Judith but I thought I would still get my own oar in. :-)

Typical!

Judith

In message , Judith
writes
On Sat, 29 Mar 2008 13:27:23 +0000, Martin Richardson
wrote:


I did Beinn Resipol recently in February - and as far as I can make out
none of the obvious ways up the hill go near the loch. It is rough and
boggy country with few paths. Certainly in east-west direction.

That's how it looks on the map.

Is the Resourie bothy off your route?

I'd not considered it (as I don't know where it is!)
I'll have a look at where it is and see whether I could go there. My
route is flexible. I'm starting in Acharacle and will be in
Kinlochleven a couple of days later via the Corran/Inchree Ferry.

I don't have my maps with me today (I'm in Somerset for the weekend)
so I'll look for that bothy when I get home.

Thanks
Judith

Try NM 861709 It is about 11 kilometres from Beinn Resipol

http://www.mountainbothies.org.uk/fo...sIslands/Resou
rie/

--
Martin Richardson
677/1554 Marilyns - 100 from halfway up 71/118 New Donalds - only 40% to go
100/211 Irish Hewitts - 111 hitts left 47/220 Corbetts - only 79% to go

On Sun, 30 Mar 2008 19:21:58 +0100, Martin Richardson
wrote:

I don't have my maps with me today (I'm in Somerset for the weekend)
so I'll look for that bothy when I get home.

Thanks
Judith

Try NM 861709 It is about 11 kilometres from Beinn Resipol

http://www.mountainbothies.org.uk/fo...sIslands/Resou
rie/

Thanks, I've found it now. That extra 11km would turn my first day
into quite a long one, but staying north of Beinn Resipol would not
add on all of that extra distance but would take me through what looks
like the worst of the bog.

Usually on my first day with a full pack I get tired quite soon, so I
shall probably aim to look for somewhere to camp but if the weather is
fine and the going good then I may press on to the bothy.

I've not yet got round to looking at which other bothies I am likely
to pass by. I've still not slept in a bothy and usually only use them
as foul-weather shelters when having my lunch.

Judith