The “Glen Etive Hut” is situated about 8km up from Loch Etive- handy for the excellent climbing on the Trilleachan slabs and good hill-walking around Ben Starav. Its claim to fame is its toilet- imported from the US & built into a garden shed at the top of a flight of steps. It uses no water, just electricity for warmth and its midge proof. If it had a newspaper delivery it’d be 5-star! (The hut itself is a bit more basic!)
Saturday morning was war, clear & dry; all of us (Barry H, Pete B, Sharon & Ian) set off for Ben Starav. Barry made an impressive river crossing- jumped down onto a wet slimy slab followed by about 20seconds of skating/acrobatics/head-bashing/swimming before getting out he other side wet and with a bruised forehead. The rest of us went up stream to cross on dry boulders before checking on Barry’s mental state (We later found the bridge!)
We shared the summit with 2 other parties but the views made-up for the crowds- Paps of Jura, Ben More of Mull, Colonsay, and the Rum Cuillins.
From Ben Starav we crossed over Stob Coire Dheirg to Beinn nan Aighenan. Ian & Sharon continued ver to Glas Bheinn Mhor & finished with Stob Coire an Albannaich. No albannaichs to be seen, just a pair of ptarmigans, then on the descent several million biting midges (The albannaichs probably had more sense than to be out on such a still dry evening!)
Back at the hut Barry Winston had arrived and cups of tea arrived from either Barry or Pete (thanks!). The rest of the evening was spent eating too much, drinking to much;- putting the problems of the world to rights, discussing public transport, videoing of weather forecasts and the ethics of eating haddock!
Sunday was very wet and put an end to our plans of daring deeds on “the slabs” so we all headed back! Sorry Barry W- maybe you did get up to something.
A great (but short) weekend.
Ian M
|