Blairdenon Hill - the last of the Northern Donalds

[Graeme D]

So, what do you do when the end of the world is nigh? Christmas shopping holds little appeal at the best of times, let alone in the face of impending doom. So with school finishing for the Christmas holidays and annihilation imminent, there really was only one logical course of action - head for the hills.

Weather wise, today was decidedly skanky, the only positive thing to say for it being that it was somewhat less skanky than yesterday. I clung to the notion doing the rounds in the various forecasts I had seen and heard that the monsoon was going to abate as the afternoon wore on, and when school clocked off, I headed south down the A9. I had to pick up my daughter from my parents,in Auchterarder but planned on heading down to the Sheriffmuir road and tackling Blairdenon Hill from Carim Lodge, thus finishing off the northern Donalds in the process.

I did wonder about the wisdom of hill walking when I crossed the River Earn which was more resembling of Lake Superior than the River Earn, but I forged on, encountering a few unmarked fords on the Sheriffmuir road before pulling onto the verge below the slopes of Little Corum.

Carim Lodge from Little Corum

The lower slopes were surprisingly bog free up to the little knobbly top of Little Corum but in the bealach between here and Mickle Corum, things went downhill somewhat, literally, as I descended into a swamp.

Greenloaning and Braco from just beyond Little Corum

Mickle Corum and Glentye Hill

Blairdenon Hill across the shoulder of Mickle Corum

Fortunately it was reasonably short lived and as I ascended Mickle Corum alongside the fence line, the snow cover became more widespread, however as I got above the snowline itself, the going became very hard. The snow was deep, thick, and heavy - kind of like walking through syrup in places.

Frozen fence

Ahead to Blairdenon from the 616m spot height

Cairn on the 616m spot

Distant Dumyat

I hugged the fence line where the going was a little easier, passing the memorial cross a short distance before the unassuming summit at the three way junction of fences.

Memorial cross

Blairdenon summit

I didn't hang about unduly, more or less retracing my steps back to the car before heading to pick up Ailsa from her Gran and Papa, passing a couple of interesting water features on the way down.

Bubbling spring

Peat hag water feature

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[rockhopper]

Even if the weather wasn't up to much, at least you avoided the shopping Graeme - well done on managing to get out...the peat hag does make a nice water feature. Here's hoping we get some good weather over the holidays - cheers

[Dave Hewitt]

The snow improved quite a bit with a little more height – I did the Law-Cleuch-Ever loop at lunchtime and it went from no snow other than dregs below 550m, a not-very-pleasant band of ankle-deep slush above that, then some better snow – on the firm side of soft – above 650m. Suspect I might have been the only person up Ben Cleuch all day – there were no footprints either side of the cairn at that stage, and although there was still plenty of time for someone else to plod up (I got to the top about 11.40am) the weather seemed to be worsening slightly as the day wore on.

Well done re getting up Blairdenon – wasn’t the most conducive day for it. Is nice from that side – the ridge round from Mickle Corum over Greenforet is a pleasant wander.

[ChrisW]

Well done on getting the Northern Donalds completed Graeme and on getting out there irrespective of the conditions Sarah and I were on a plane heading to Florida overnight, I looked at her half way and said "if the world ends while we're up here.....where are we going to land" ....she's was not impressed .
I got the last hike of the year in just before we left so I sneaked a healthy 42 trips this year have you any plans for any more this year?
Either way, have a great Christmas and a healthy, happy and prosperous new year

[Graeme D]

Brave man to tackle the Ochils today. You couldn't see them from Stirling. Nice photos. The ones taken around the top make things look very bleak. I've done Blairdenon several times but never from the Sheriffmuir side. Approaching it from the South or adding it on to a Ben Cleuch walk can be very boggy unless done in frosty conditions.

It wasn't too bad actually. Quite invigorating and good for the soul in fact!

Even if the weather wasn't up to much, at least you avoided the shopping Graeme - well done on managing to get out...the peat hag does make a nice water feature. Here's hoping we get some good weather over the holidays - cheers

Always worth avoiding the High Street at this time of year!

The snow improved quite a bit with a little more height – I did the Law-Cleuch-Ever loop at lunchtime and it went from no snow other than dregs below 550m, a not-very-pleasant band of ankle-deep slush above that, then some better snow – on the firm side of soft – above 650m. Suspect I might have been the only person up Ben Cleuch all day – there were no footprints either side of the cairn at that stage, and although there was still plenty of time for someone else to plod up (I got to the top about 11.40am) the weather seemed to be worsening slightly as the day wore on.

Well done re getting up Blairdenon – wasn’t the most conducive day for it. Is nice from that side – the ridge round from Mickle Corum over Greenforet is a pleasant wander.

Yeah, you could tell it's a nice wee curving ridge. The snow was just beginning to firm up below the summit, but around the cross, there were some really unpleasant, deep, wet drifts!

Well done on getting the Northern Donalds completed Graeme and on getting out there irrespective of the conditions Sarah and I were on a plane heading to Florida overnight, I looked at her half way and said "if the world ends while we're up here.....where are we going to land" ....she's was not impressed .
I got the last hike of the year in just before we left so I sneaked a healthy 42 trips this year have you any plans for any more this year?
Either way, have a great Christmas and a healthy, happy and prosperous new year

Cheers Chris. And to you and Sarah too, and all the family wherever they may be! It's OK for some eh - Florida for Christmas! I am hoping to get out one more time before 2013, probably on the 27th. I have a few notions but it will all be weather dependent. I'd like to get one more Munro in to hit halfway before the year is out.

[Bod]

Nice one Graeme, well done getting out there yesterday

I was down below you there in Alloa looking up at the misty Ochils enjoying a wee Christmas lunch in a local Golf Club.......All the best and goodluck to getting out there on the 27th. Will be watching for an oppotunity myself

[Johnny Corbett]

Will keep this report in mind as will be a handy walk one summers evening with Kim. Cheers