Invergarry Lodge

Archive for May, 2011

Strathpeffer Mountain Biking

I headed up to Contin woods near Strathpeffer for a spot of mountain biking with Rick (for his birthday!). Things got off to a bad start when I found half my front wheel quick release  was missing, after briefly considering wheelieing (is that a word?) the 11km route we headed to Square Wheels bike shop in Strathpeffer who gave me the part for free – top guys!

Anyway, back on the bikes in the forest and I was struggling to work why pedalling uphill was so hard – was it the 11 mile hill run the day before or that my pedalling muscles have packed up and left due to lack of use? I finally realised that it’s more likely because my bike is getting on a bit and doesn’t work in anything below 11th gear!

The route was great, some technical sections near the top but then some nice faster sections further down…and not too boggy considering all the rain we’ve had.  Unfortunately I forgot to get the camera out until the end and I’m not ready to gaffer tape my new camera to the front of my bike for videos like I used to so we only have this one picture taken just near the car park.

Thanks again to the guys at Square Wheels for sorting me out with my missing part. Don’t forget to visit them for your trail maps.

-Matt

Sun, shorts and hail on Sgurr Ghiubhsachan

High winds? Hail stone? There’s nothing else for it except to don your shorts and go running in the hills. Ian and I where planning a lowish route (nothing over 600m) starting from near Glenfinnan but we ended up taking in Sgurr Ghiubhsachan at 849m. Although the name of the hill will mean little to most people, it is probably one of the most photographed hills in Scotland, it peeps up along the shores of Loch Shiel behind the popular Glenfinnan monument…

Anyway, apart from some hail as we set off, a dusting of fresh snow and some ferocious winds at the top the weather was pretty kind to us considering the forecast. The hill itself was great – rocky and rugged with great views of the surrounding area and not another person in sight!

The path on the way in was pretty wet and boggy but it proved to be nothing compared to what I found on the way down – I very nearly lost my shoes, thanks for help Ian!

–Matt

As seen in Trail magazine!

I was in the hostel lounge this evening waiting for a guest – she’d run outside to tell her husband how awesome it is here and that she wants to stay the night – whilst waiting I picked up a copy of  Trail magazine that was laying on one of the coffee tables, I lazily flicked through the pages and saw this…..

From now on all our advertising is going to say “As featured in Trail magazine”…I may of course forget to mention that the magazine was from 2003! The full article can be found here (unless the nice people at Trail magazine tell us to remove it).

Matt

Invergarry Lodge

(As featured in Trail magazine)

Sgurr Elide Mor and the two Binneins

Me and new official Team Invergarry running partner Ian headed up to the eastern Mamores to bag Sgurr Elide Mor, Binnein Beag and Binnein Mor.

In brief the route is about 20km and has two steep bouldery ascents up Sgurr Elide Mor and Binnein Beag with a very steep scree descent from Sgurr Elide Mor inbetween, then a suprisingly good, slightly scrambley route directly up Binnein Mor and a great run steadily back down to Kinlochleven. Oh, and some nice views…..

Na Gruagaichean

Sgurr Elide Mor

Ian approaching the summit on Binnein Mor

The view back to Loch Leven

Great day out, rain held off and three new Munro ticks for me.  Lovely stuff, cheers Ian.

–Matt

Ben Nevis and the CMD Arete

Making the most of the fantastic weather we’ve been having up here I escaped the hostel chores for a quick run up Ben Nevis via the CMD Arete. A fantastic day for it, the normal Ben Nevis crowds where elsewhere after the busy bank holiday weekend – I saw 6 people on the arete and no more then a couple of dozen on the summit.

From the car park, up to the halfway lochan, split off the path and head round to the North Face, I ended up not far from the CIC hut where I headed straight up the very steep slopes to Carn Mor Dearg, scramble round the arete, up to the Ben summit and down the tourist track to the car park, 3 hours 20 minutes. This is a fantastic route around the UK’s highest mountain which enables you to see it’s best side and get away from the masses, highly recommended.

–Matt

Please note, if you are unsure about your skills on the mountains, let us know and we will put you in contact with a guide.