Home / Activities / Hill Walking / Maol Chean-Dearg 21

Just as cheery Geoff had forecast, the rain was on early doors, I waited until it passed (as forecast) setting off at 10AM. Went in via MTB, massive drainage ditches alert! I came to the conclusion that some of them (max 12") were made by mountain bikers while the ones 12-24" were made by folks that hated mountain bikers! I pussied the massive ditches to avoid a pinch flat! Met a group in the (well appointed) Coulags bothy that I had met pre Christmas at our club's hut in Crianlarich - small world. Carried on on the bike and ended up carting (shoving) it all the way up to the bealach (Maol Chean-Dearg/An Ruadh-Stac) Before ditching it to carry onwards on foot. Bloody windy on the initial slopes of Chean-dearg (lady heading down assured me it was less windy up top). Pleasant views opened out in all directions and the lady was right re the wind! Headed back down and then onwards to An Ruadh-Stac, done this beforehand in winter, but its by far the most impressive hill of this pair. Started up the initial slopes, but the wind was taking me off my hoofs. It was blowing across the ascent slope, gusting 60MPH+ decided it was not worth it so headed back down - potential big roll off An Ruadh-Stac if you were to tumble! Found the bike again (must remember to mark its location!). Descent VV technical, can't claim to have ridden it all cleanly! reached glen in good time. Cycled back to bothy (sole remaining occupant asleep), continued onwards to awaiting van. Temp was 27deg, van was roasting. Shower and food then back homewards. Advice re bike: only cycle in if you enjoy the drainage-ditch challenge! I do, but after roughly 1000 of the blighters I was sick of em!