Walkhighlands

Another outing with the Scottish Hillwalkers this weekend - Newtonmore our destination.
The plan was to take in 6 or more tops in a circular route, 3 would be Munros




Many people pulled out of this walk 48hrs before the start. Another outing with the group was cancelled so 2 members down for that walk hotfooted it to Newtonmore - 7 of us would take on this challenge.

We all woke at 6am in Craigower Lodge - we would start the walk at 7.30am.

MWIS had predicted low cloud (10% cloud free munros), snow, rain, high winds...and for once it was spot on


We headed North....



1.5k later we headed West to our 1st top of Creag nan Abhag - this would be the last views for some time!!





Snow underfoot was varying in depth from 1ft to 4ft - conditions not ideal for a winter stroll.
The ascent NW to our next top Creag na h-lolare was pysically the most demanding of the day. It was steep, the snow soft and deep. It was easier for the rest of the group as i was leading the way
We didn't hang around as the wind was strong and the snow blizzard like.

Heads down we continued to NNW to Gael Charn and the NE to our 1st Munro of A Challeach






Ascent was never an issue once above 800m but the deep soft snow made for hard work at times, however the group dynamics provided plenty of banter and hilarity





Heading North and we had quickly taken in our 2nd Munro of Carn Sgulain.
Now on the plateau we had 7k in front of us - we kept on the move.
Soon we stopped and Stuart whipped out his big bothy bag
We all got inside and had a rest for 15mins - it was a strange/weird feeling all sitting inside the bag, but good fun.





John Merrick fanclub



After our short break things got monotonous - it all looked the same!!.
We distracted ourselves with some playground antics in the deep thick snow






Hours later we reached our 3rd Munro of Carn Dearg.
Due to GPS issues,time, and poor visibility we altered our route and headed south down steep slopes to Loch Dubh - we would miss 2 intended tops, no big deal....thank goodness it wasn't Munros




I was first across the Loch, not realizing it was a Loch and frozen
Thankfully no harm done.

We came across a small hut




Now below cloud level, an utter relief, we had 7k to reach the finish.
This would be across boggy moorland before picking up a landrover track.
We required the use of headtorches for the last hour or so.




We completed at 7.30pm - a tough but hugely enjoyable day. A different experience on the hills.
Stuart navigated the whole day with assistance from Derek - thank f@@k I wouldn't like to be alone on an expansive plateau in them conditions.

We all headed back to Craigower for food and drink. Some stayed afterwards but i hitched a ride back to Glasgow with Leonide - i required my own bed as not much sleep in 3 days due to toothache, ouch!!

Here are 4 vids of our day.....
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9P307Aobqjg&hd=1[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icquIVgT9Dg&hd=1[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfvXBurKaPU&hd=1[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpTS_WYwbIk&hd=1[/youtube]

Great report and pics, love the 'palyground antics' shots and the short vids really bring it to life - too much snow for my liking though, don't think I could walk more than a couple of miles in that depth ..... I'd be dead on my legs

ChrisW wrote:too much snow for my liking though, don't think I could walk more than a couple of miles in that depth ..... I'd be dead on my legs

Its tough going but the more you get out walking the greater the walking fitness is. Nae bother Chris

Title says it all...EPIC!!!

Love the snow-playing photos, dooterbang .

Superb Dooterbang, one of the best reports yet and great photos, had a good laugh at them, looks like you all had good fun.

walk aboot wrote:Title says it all...EPIC!!!

Love the snow-playing photos, dooterbang .

Thanks walkaboot - was a very very long day

Was wondering why you took in that early top - seems like it provided the only views of the day! Looks hard going being in white-out conditions for so long. At least you had some colour for the photos

I've never really concerned myself with a bothy bag before, but it would have provided some stopping opportunities for me on my friday walk - as it was I barely stopped at all.

Johnny Corbett wrote:Superb Dooterbang, one of the best reports yet and great photos, had a good laugh at them, looks like you all had good fun.

Cheers Johnny. Was a good group out yesterday who made a long hard walk good fun. Can't imagine doing this with stony faced walkers, eeeek!!

malky_c wrote:Was wondering why you took in that early top - seems like it provided the only views of the day! Looks hard going being in white-out conditions for so long. At least you had some colour for the photos

I've never really concerned myself with a bothy bag before, but it would have provided some stopping opportunities for me on my friday walk - as it was I barely stopped at all.

Stuart was the organizer/leader of this outing and just likes walking rather than bagging Munros, hence the route.
I used to carry a bothy bag but ditched it as never used it. In the group setting it did come in handy as folk wanted a rest and it was uber cold up on the plateau. I probably wouldn't have stopped and prefer to keep moving. It was a novelty though and good fun.

You should get leg warmers to match your shorts

Your reports just get better and better That whiteout looks horrendous tho!! Looked like fun in that bothy bag :L

lomondwalkers wrote:Your reports just get better and better That whiteout looks horrendous tho!! Looked like fun in that bothy bag :L

It was fun but still a tad cold

Got used to the whiteout as walked in it for about 9hrs.

Wouldn't want to be in a whiteout without a map, especially near Ime

Hi DB,

What a day you must have had.....superb report, stunning and fun photo's...........Excellant!! excellant.....absolutely top notch stuff. I don't know about ChrisW only being able to walk a couple of miles in those conditions.....I don't think I could walk that distance on the flat.....sadly for me I didn't manage out this weekend.

Regards............B

Bruadair wrote:Hi DB,

What a day you must have had.....

Yeah it certainly was - blinded by whiteness for most of it

Enjoyed the challenge though

Wel done Dooters