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Its been a interesting start to 2013 . We had attemped Ben Vrackie in a blizzard and failed to summit due to time and our experience & fitness, I'd done Meall nan Tarmachan with Grenfell but Sam (my wife) had been away so hadn't made it, we'd been up to the Northern Corries for training at Glenmore but again no summits due to the really bad conditions on the Sunday (we trained navigation lower down). All in all we needed a summit to feel we were back in the saddle so I had a scout about WH, checked foreacasts and decided on An Caisteal (with an option to try Beinn a Chroin if time/energy/conditions/sandwiches and coffee permitted).
Up fairly early for us (6.30 on a Saturday is not something that comes naturally
) and grabbed the kit , sandwiches and flask and headed from Glasgow up to Crainlarich. Pretty cloudy with tiny wee flurries of snow but light if any wind so we felt optimistic.
Found the (by now) busy layby on the A82 just after Inveranan and set out over the boggiest, wettest, cow-dungiest (
) field I have ever seen. Hit the underpass and started up the track proper.
Great views to start, the looming mass of brown and white mountains reminding us how big and amazing our country is!
An Caisteal Feb 23 2013 by
coachmacca, on Flickr
Missed the cut off to the right at first but quickly realised and forged up the hill to meet a group of ladies up from the Lakes on their way up o we knew we were back on track . There were patches of snow and ice everywhere so we broke out the new Microspikes - I cannot recommend these enough! For anything but high ice or where there is danger these are awesome for getting across lowlying frozen terrain or up snow banks lower down! (Tiso Half price btw @ £25
)
Heading up we passed this weirdly weather-shapen tree and I would love anyone to explain how it got this way (a current working theory is that one of the many sheep used it for a wee seat going up the hill often and slowly bent it out of shape - we don't know what happened to said sheep but it clearly stopped and the tree recovered
)
An Caisteal Feb 23 2013 by
coachmacca, on Flickr
Heading up the fairly steep flank we met larger steeper patches of hard snow so of course got the axes out and had some fun going . We had run a little to the west and parallel to the WH route but tracked back to find the route more direct. we again spotted the group of ladies who were continuing to put out fitness to shame as the strode ahead. It reminded me YET again that gym fit is NOT hill fit! we have some way to go!
Its fairly long going up to Sron Gharbh but we were now well on our way and had noticed that there was something strange happening to the sky. It was turning blue!
After some panicking, praying to various gods and offering a sheep to the god of the skies thinking the world was ending we decided the place looked better with this blue sky and what appeared to be some large fiery ball in the sky and forged on , our spirits raised and the summit success seeming more likely!
Heading up further we got about half way between Sron Ghargh and Twistin hill and decided to get some coffee and seat with a wee sandwich to recharge the batteries, found a great we natural overhang on the east side of the hill and sat down to admire the view of Stob Glas (This snap is further on but paints the same picture)
An Caisteal Feb 23 2013 by
coachmacca, on Flickr
By now the day was stunning, lots of blue sky, lots of sun , very little wind! In fact it was the type of day I though people only got by taking a day off mid week - I hadn't risk dream I'd get one on a Saturday! Hearts warmed as well as face we got ourselves up and moving again heading now for Twistin hill and the prize of the Castle itself!
An Caisteal Feb 23 2013 by
coachmacca, on Flickr
Looking up to the prize and with Beinn a Chroin to the left
Moving more quickly now the sun was brighter and snow whiter , reminding us we really need to have sunglasses for days like this..
An Caisteal Feb 23 2013 by
coachmacca, on Flickr
We made our way up to the rocky "castle" ahead of the summit and met 3 lads having a smoke and seat . They were without crampons but felt the spikes we had on (crampons in the bag) would be fine to get us round the step. They said the group of ladies ahead of us had done the same and made their way around the left side , over the exposed edge and round.. so we did the same. I have to admit any exposure and I get a bit excited - cautious but it makes me think - "this is what's its all about"
Sam was fine too (finding her head for heights still) and we made our way up and towards the summit into the sun and snow ! It was truly glorious!
An Caisteal Feb 23 2013 by
coachmacca, on Flickr
Sam at the summit
Untitled by
coachmacca, on Flickr
Me posing like a haddie (Had to filter to overcome the back lighting)
An Caisteal Feb 23 2013 by
coachmacca, on Flickr
Getting a bit romantic due to how beautiful the views are
Decided after doing the math (as the US says) that as we are slower than a week in the Jail (as we Glaswegians say) that doing Beinn a Chroin was not an option we headed back snapping as we went so I'll leave you with these to finishing the tale - however we were superbly exhilarated at summiting and truly did feel like King and Queen of the Castle
One point to note though - coming back down Crampons in these conditions were a must! Lots of ice, having to kick in going down and around the step... was VERY glad we had them! And just as glad we had benefited from great training at Glenmore on how to move around terrain in them!
Cannot wait for next week and another one!
An Caisteal Feb 23 2013 by
coachmacca, on Flickr
Angel wings in the ice rime
An Caisteal Feb 23 2013 by
coachmacca, on Flickr
An Caisteal Feb 23 2013 by
coachmacca, on Flickr
An Caisteal Feb 23 2013 by
coachmacca, on Flickr
