Glen Clova winter walking

[Pedro2703]

Mountain forecast promised sun all day on the tops and good visibility so we set off full of optimism for great walking, great views and two munros ( Mayar and Dreish) climbed.
We arrived in the car park and whilst not brilliant sunshine, still pretty good and dry. We followed the forest road up to Corrie Fee and the first view of the Corrie as we emerged from the trees was breath taking. The weather was not a bit dull and up ahead in the Corrie deep snow awaited and in spite of the forecast, could not see the top for the low cloud and mist.
We followed the path to the bottom of the Corrie and packed away the poles and got out the axes and crampons. A careful climb up the Corrie as the weather worsened was actually ok and due care of the snow over hangs at the edges of the waterfall. As we reached the platuea the visibility was about thirty metres and a guy we had seen up ahead had now vanished. Later we met him back at the car park and discovered he had watched us disappear into the whiteness and he decided to back down the Corrie due to the weather.
We walked on a bearing with crampons required all the way to the small cairn at the top of Mayar. The visibility was very limited and we headed off following the fence posts where we could see them but still on a bearing. On reaching the beleach before the climb up to Dreish which was invisible in the conditions, we decided to leave Dreish for another day and headed on down off the hill. We passed a small group practicing winter skills down in the snow just above the tree line. Following the forest track back to the car it was crampons off at the tree line and could now see where we where heading.
Although we never got the two hills we wanted to climb it was an excellent day out and safe in the knowledge that Dreish will still be there when we go back. All our winter skills put into practice and respect for nature given. A good day out!

[Decal Joe]

Good decision, as you say, the hill will wait for another day.

As for the Met Office, they couldn't have got it any more wrong. Brilliant sunshine, my bahooky!

[Benjaminnevis]

I think you were unlucky i was a few miles away on hill of wirren which was cold but fine and clear for much of the wander. i could see looking over it was claggy and poor visibility. when i was walking back to the car the sunset was great.

[Benjaminnevis]

Pedro if you listen to BBC Scotland radio at 7pm every night you get a climbers and hill walkers forecast for the mountain ranges and it is normally fairly good.

[Decal Joe]

Pedro if you listen to BBC Scotland radio at 7pm every night you get a climbers and hill walkers forecast for the mountain ranges and it is normally fairly good.

TBF we're pretty used to trying to triangulate the forecast information on BBC Radio Scotland, BBC website and Met Office Mountain Forecast.

Unfortunately that's the 2nd time in 3 weeks the forecasts have been badly wrong!!! I think it's us

[scottishkennyg]

Good choice with the retreat, Dreish will still be there..as for the forecasts not materialising..you are not alone, I get them wrong all the time. It can be such a hit and miss but at the end of the day at least we can always make the final call as you did..

[spiderwebb]

A good call, a couple of memorable hills these two, so good to save them