Around Stuabhal - 15/04/05

Had this idea to walk from Bowglass to either Morsgail or up Stuabhal. Went on the 10 a.m. bus, and jumped off at the usual spot. Noticed yesterday that the first few yards of the Bhoisimid track had been dug up for the road widening scheme that's in progress there. So, I had to divert through the Bardon Aggregates site office. Progressed well up the path, and crossed the Langadale River at 11.45. The fording was less problematic than earlier in the week, as the water levels had gone down. After a wee break, proceeded uphill at a reasonable rate, and diverted off the main track after the summit. Struck a course northwest along the southern flank of Rapaire, but found myself making a pitiful amount of progress. After 20 minutes I hadn't come anywhere near Loch a'Chleistir, so cut across country to the main path. Had a bit of lunch, then at 1.40 I decided to chance my luck up the hill to Stuabhal. The slopes turned steeper, steeper and ever steeper. Found myself aiming for a certain buttress, but grew increasingly uneasy about the rate of incline. The weather began to threaten showers with low cloudlevels, and my bus back goes at 4.20. Stopped to admire the view to Loch Resort and Loch Langabhat. Mulla fo Thuath was visible. The return to the path was a bit difficult at first due to the steepness of the terrain. Once back on the track down, I encountered soft hail, as opposed to the hard, painful hail of earlier in the week. Temp +5, but +9 outside showers. Wind northeast, force 4-5. Returned across the Langadale River, timing my break to allow a timely return to the main road to catch the bus. At the top of the pass, the man with the hammer struck, so had to rest for a bit - oh dear. Bus was 10 minutes late at any rate, and delivered me in town at 5.10. Spoke to the Swedish couple after their return from dinner, about their and our hurricane in January, as well as the impact of the Boxing Day tsunami on Swedes on holiday in Kao Lak, Thailand.