Drill Sergeant Scuz and her long-suffering Goat mascot set
out to undertake an assault of four hills on the Black Mount, comprising one
Logical Munro Unit (LMU). Following consumption of beer and burgers at the
Bridge of Orchy Hotel, the squad manoeuvred past the mighty Clashgour Hut under
the cover of darkness and made an inconspicuous camp beneath a stand of trees.
An early wake-up and a kit inspection preceded a route march along the track in
a Westerly direction to the foot of Stob Coir an Albannaich.
Ascending the lower SE ridge of Sron na h-lolaire, the
three-speed Goat reduced pace from a trot to a trundle, and there was no
improvement in the pace of the advance despite the Drill Sergeant’s bellows of
“Slackers will not be tolerated!”
On gaining the steep SE summit ridge, a rival party was
observed attacking the hill from the West, and the trundle broke back into a
trot to claim the summit first. Target accomplished (1044m); a fine vantage
point from which to survey the next objectives.
A
continuation of the route NW revealed unmarked territory: the perilous un-tramped
descent to the col at 633m, followed by a similarly abrupt re-ascent to the
ridge above. The LMU became marginally less logical at this point, and was
achieved at trundle speed.
This
grassy but lengthy ridge was followed Eastwards, still trundling. The panorama
of the Etive and Glencoe hills was witnessed on route, and culminated in the combat
of Stob Ghabhar (1090m).
Time was pressing on, so the narrow ridge section and steep
descent to the col at 668m was embarked upon with due haste.
The
squad gallantly tackled the re-ascent to claim Scuzza’s Last Munro of her
second round on the peak of Stob a Choire Odhair (945m) at 4:30pm. Mission
accomplished and photographically recorded with an empty can of cider and the
remains of a chocolate bar.
Thanks go to the long-suffering three-speed Goat who has now
lifted the decade-long ban on Corbett bagging, on the proviso that ruminants
are not invited.
