walkhighlands

Share your personal walking route experiences in Scotland, and comment on other peoples' reports.
Warning Please note that hillwalking when there is snow lying requires an ice-axe, crampons and the knowledge, experience and skill to use them correctly. Summer routes may not be viable or appropriate in winter. See winter information on our skills and safety pages for more information.

Schiehallion

Schiehallion


Postby Gavin99 » Sat Dec 03, 2011 6:46 pm

Route description: Schiehallion

Munros included on this walk: Schiehallion

Date walked: 03/12/2011

Time taken: 4 hours

Distance: 10 km

7 people think this report is great.
Register or Login
free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).

With dire weather forecast for the west I decided to head east where the forecast was only slightly less worrying. As I drove through Killin and along Loch Tay I began to have second thoughts as gale driven sleet lashed the already flooded roads . Thankfully as I reached the Braes of Foss things had eased a little but as I got geared up I reckoned I might have to back out of this one , especially after the clouds parted to reveal Schiehallion wreathed in a haze of spindrift .
2011_1203test0003.JPG
The mighty Schiehallion

The path is a credit to the John Muir Trust and meanders nicely over moorland and up the ridge , gaining height easily.As I climbed, the early morning sun and streaming clouds cast a lovely light and I began to relax and enjoy the walk , taking great pleasure from making the first footprints on the fresh snow .
2011_1203test0004.JPG
Sheepfank
2011_1203test0007.JPG
2011_1203test0010.JPG
2011_1203test0017.JPG
NE to Loch Tummel
2011_1203test0018.JPG
Snow covered path
2011_1203test0019.JPG
SW to Glen Lyon
2011_1203test0020.JPG
E to Allt Mor

When I reached the cairn at the top of winding path the snow began to fall more heavily and the wind picked up but I was still happy to carry on , visibility was poor but I was sure of the navigation . I don't know if the path carries on beyond this point but I saw no sign of it . Progress was slow as I picked my way between the quartzite boulders, trying to keep to the soft powder snow and off the icy rocks .
2011_1203test0021.JPG
Cairn at top of path
2011_1203test0022.JPG
2011_1203test0023.JPG

After 20 minutes of struggling through the boulderfield the wind eased and the sky cleared to give a view of the summit ridge . With the slackening wind I made better progress , a final push and the summit cairn appeared .
2011_1203test0025.JPG
Summit ridge
2011_1203test0028.JPG
2011_1203test0031.JPG
Summit cairn
2011_1203test0029.JPG
Looking south -Gleann Mor
2011_1203test0032.JPG
Frosted but happy

It was too cold to spend time waiting for the clouds to part and give me some views so I headed off down the ridge ,
making better time as I could pick a route through the worst of the boulders . On the way down I met two groups on their way up and stopped for a blether , the wind had eased since the morning so hopefully the conditions on top were ok for them.
2011_1203test0035.JPG
Invervar hills
2011_1203test0036.JPG

Back to the van after 4 hours much happier than when I left it , a magical place , though hard work today .
User avatar
Gavin99
Mountaineer
 
Posts: 1280
Munros:280   Corbetts:134
Fionas:77   Donalds:70
Sub 2000:38   Hewitts:13
Wainwrights:16   
Joined: Jul 26, 2011
Walk wish-list

Re: Schiehallion

Postby KeithS » Sat Dec 03, 2011 7:11 pm

It looks like you had worse conditions than I did a couple of weeks ago, although you might have had slightly better visibility. I also found the path above the cairn you have pictured to be very hit and miss. Your summit picture confirms that I had made the top a couple of weeks ago.
Well done on what must have been a very cold walk
User avatar
KeithS
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 893
Munros:282   Corbetts:5
Fionas:2   
Sub 2000:3   Hewitts:14
Wainwrights:9   Islands:47
Joined: Nov 1, 2010
Location: Sheffield/Laide

Re: Schiehallion

Postby Gavin99 » Sat Dec 03, 2011 8:51 pm

Hi Keith , read your report on this last week , shame you got no views , the few I got were well worth the struggle through the boulders, but one to revisit on a summers day I think .
User avatar
Gavin99
Mountaineer
 
Posts: 1280
Munros:280   Corbetts:134
Fionas:77   Donalds:70
Sub 2000:38   Hewitts:13
Wainwrights:16   
Joined: Jul 26, 2011
Walk wish-list

Re: Schiehallion

Postby SusieThePensioner » Sat Dec 03, 2011 9:17 pm

Some great photos despite the weather :thumbup:
User avatar
SusieThePensioner
 
Posts: 1543
Munros:6   Corbetts:3
Fionas:4   Donalds:7
Sub 2000:3   Hewitts:107
Wainwrights:156   
Joined: Sep 7, 2011
Location: County Durham

Re: Schiehallion

Postby KeithS » Sat Dec 03, 2011 9:17 pm

Agreed, I was going to have this as my last Munro (first ascent of), but I've changed my mind to An Teallach. It will be one to do again in the summer, may see you on it sometime.
User avatar
KeithS
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 893
Munros:282   Corbetts:5
Fionas:2   
Sub 2000:3   Hewitts:14
Wainwrights:9   Islands:47
Joined: Nov 1, 2010
Location: Sheffield/Laide

Re: Schiehallion

Postby rambler » Sat Dec 03, 2011 10:07 pm

That does look very cold - lovely pink glow in the early photos though - well done for persevering :D
rambler
Hill Bagger
 
Posts: 176
Joined: Jan 16, 2010

Re: Schiehallion

Postby Klaasloopt » Sat Dec 03, 2011 10:45 pm

Had my sleeves rolled up. Rolled them down while reading your report. Then grabbed hold of hot mug of tea. Put house shoes on and went on to look for snow goggles on eBay... :wink:
User avatar
Klaasloopt
Hill Bagger
 
Posts: 326
Munros:168   Corbetts:71
Fionas:13   
Sub 2000:22   Hewitts:49
Islands:11
Joined: Jan 13, 2011
Location: Santpoort-Zuid, The Netherlands

Re: Schiehallion

Postby Gavin99 » Sat Dec 03, 2011 11:01 pm

SusieThePensioner wrote:Some great photos despite the weather :thumbup:

Thanks Susie ,though I was worried about freezing the camera !
rambler wrote:That does look very cold - lovely pink glow in the early photos though - well done for persevering :D

Aye ,the light was lovely after dawn
Klaasloopt wrote:Had my sleeves rolled up. Rolled them down while reading your report. Then grabbed hold of hot mug of tea. Put house shoes on and went on to look for snow goggles on eBay... :wink:
Without them I would probably have turned back , frozen eyeballs are not a good look :)
User avatar
Gavin99
Mountaineer
 
Posts: 1280
Munros:280   Corbetts:134
Fionas:77   Donalds:70
Sub 2000:38   Hewitts:13
Wainwrights:16   
Joined: Jul 26, 2011
Walk wish-list

Re: Schiehallion

Postby Collaciotach » Sat Dec 03, 2011 11:18 pm

Enjoyed that good post and nice pics weather has been harsh recently right enough :)
User avatar
Collaciotach
Mountain Walker
 
Posts: 1896
Munros:282   Corbetts:219
Fionas:47   Donalds:10
Sub 2000:25   
Islands:28
Joined: Aug 8, 2011
Location: Gàidhealtachd an Iar

Re: Schiehallion

Postby craighall » Mon Dec 05, 2011 5:25 pm

Tough walk !

I found the boulder field challenging enough on a nice day in April.


Michael.
craighall
Mountaineer
 
Posts: 47
Munros:10   
Fionas:1   Donalds:1
Sub 2000:7   Hewitts:4
Joined: Jun 9, 2011

Re: Schiehallion

Postby Gavin99 » Mon Dec 05, 2011 8:56 pm

Collaciotach wrote:Enjoyed that good post and nice pics weather has been harsh recently right enough :)

Harsh indeed , but fun , looks like you had a breezy time in Glencoe yourself!
craighall wrote:Tough walk !

I found the boulder field challenging enough on a nice day in April.


Michael.
Maybe the more snow the better, 4 feet of it would make a pleasant stroll :)
User avatar
Gavin99
Mountaineer
 
Posts: 1280
Munros:280   Corbetts:134
Fionas:77   Donalds:70
Sub 2000:38   Hewitts:13
Wainwrights:16   
Joined: Jul 26, 2011
Walk wish-list

Re: Schiehallion

Postby quoman » Mon Dec 05, 2011 9:14 pm

Nice report and photos
the weather has been bad everywhere the noo still good to get oot and aboot
User avatar
quoman
Mountaineer
 
Posts: 960
Munros:282   Corbetts:10
Fionas:1   Donalds:5
Sub 2000:2   
Joined: Nov 14, 2011
Location: larbert

Re: Schiehallion

Postby PeteR » Mon Dec 05, 2011 10:14 pm

Great report and pictures Gavin :D I particularly like the frosty sheepfank photo 8) I must admist that Schiehallion isn't one of my favourite hills for some reason. I looks awesome from a distance but the walk up it didn't float my boat at the time I did it. Your pictures have certainly shown it to me in a different light :D Maybe I should return sometime in 2012 to re-evaluate my view of this one... 8)
User avatar
PeteR
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 2107
Munros:282   Corbetts:173
Fionas:120   Donalds:89+52
Sub 2000:200   Hewitts:3
Islands:9
Joined: Jan 27, 2010
Location: North Ayrshire

Re: Schiehallion

Postby Gavin99 » Tue Dec 06, 2011 10:43 am

quoman wrote:Nice report and photos
the weather has been bad everywhere the noo still good to get oot and aboot

More snow less wind would be good -I hope your dog has defrosted !
PeteR wrote:Great report and pictures Gavin :D I particularly like the frosty sheepfank photo 8) I must admist that Schiehallion isn't one of my favourite hills for some reason. I looks awesome from a distance but the walk up it didn't float my boat at the time I did it. Your pictures have certainly shown it to me in a different light :D Maybe I should return sometime in 2012 to re-evaluate my view of this one... 8)

Cheers Pete , hope you have a clear day if you revisit , Schiehallion is now top of my ever growing ' Come back on a fine day ' list :)
User avatar
Gavin99
Mountaineer
 
Posts: 1280
Munros:280   Corbetts:134
Fionas:77   Donalds:70
Sub 2000:38   Hewitts:13
Wainwrights:16   
Joined: Jul 26, 2011
Walk wish-list

Re: Schiehallion

Postby MusicalHiker » Fri Apr 20, 2012 3:00 pm

Nice photos. I'm doing this next Sunday and hope it won't be quite as snowy.......
User avatar
MusicalHiker
Mountain Walker
 
Posts: 130
Munros:17   Corbetts:21
Fionas:7   
Sub 2000:10   Hewitts:16
Wainwrights:22   Islands:22
Joined: Dec 26, 2011
Location: Beauly

7 people think this report is great.
Register or Login
free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).

Next



Can you help support Walkhighlands?


Our forum is free from adverts - your generosity keeps it running.
Can you help support Walkhighlands and this community by donating by direct debit?



Return to Walk reports - Scotland

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: BoyVertiginous, Charlie Gallacher and 37 guests