free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
My first day out in the winter snow, straight out of a winter skills course.
I’m writing this for myself, but if other people like it then great.
Plan for the dayWeather forecast for a fine day - bright sun, excellent visibility, high clouds, southeasterly wind strengthening from 15mph to 30mph by late afternoon for a wind chill of -10C.
No avalanche concerns from the forecast and the slope angles of this route. Windslab formation is forecast. There’s a steep V shaped dip between the hump and Geal-charn, avoidable by circling left.
The plan is to do the circuit with the option of taking in the summits of Meall Buidhe and Geal-charn, and the backup option of returning the same way.
Glen Feshie to Allt Coire na CloicheI’m surprised to be the 2nd in the car park at 9am on such a fine Saturday morning on this popular route. It’s a nice walk up through the woods, with the trees sheltering me from the cold wind and hot sun. The views soon open up.
Traverse to Allt a’ Chrom-alltainOut from the shelter and into a long flat traverse. Waterproof jacket, warmer gloves, and sunglasses on. The area crossing the burn is a muddy mess. I make use of the shelter here to pop my waterproof trousers on. By now a couple of groups have passed me.
Ascent onto the plateauOnto the snow and it’s barely covering the heather underneath, the path is clear a long way ahead and there’s a trail of footprints. I’m doing compass navigation for practice despite the perfect visibility and obvious route - there might have been some funny looks behind some people’s goggles!
The ground steepens beyond a cairn at around 850m, and the wind is pretty rough here by my standards so I figure this tiny bit of shelter is a good point to put crampons on. They’re a bit of a hindrance for a little while with the stones under the snow. I also swap my sunglasses for goggles (lighter tinted), and am struck by the brightness of the snow in the sun.
The uneven slope is a patchwork of hard scoured snow and accumulated windblown deposits, with a lot of snow still blowing downslope at ground level, quickly covering footprints. I pick lines up the slope mostly on the hard scoured snow to ease movement. As the gradient eases onto the plateau, I cut left a bit early to have a little bit of shelter from the wind.
Across the plateau to Sgor Gaoith summitA flat plod for a while, my feet sinking with every step. Crampons no longer required but I don’t fancy taking them off in this wind, and they’re no hindrance, so I keep them on. The vast plateau and peaky summit come into view, and then the top of Braeriach just over the cliff edge.
Sgor Gaoith summitThe summit is a fantastic viewpoint and offers some shelter for lunch. There are quite a few people here already, some with dogs, and I can see groups ahead and behind along the route. I’m wearing and carrying more kit with me than anyone, but nothing I’d really want to be without up here.
To Meall BuidheThe remaining slopes are pretty gentle and soft snow, so it’s crampons off and skirt around the odd hard patch. A few boulder fields to cross, caution is needed as there’s no knowing how much your feet will sink. The footprints of others and my lack of crampons help, but even better would have been to get my poles out. It’s a bit tempting with an axe still in hand to put it down like a pole for support, but on anything other than hard snow it just sinks through. It’s all soft and new here all the way down to the ground.
The vast majority seem to be bypassing Meall Buidhe, but it’s an easy detour so up I go to the pointy cairn.
To Geal-charnDown a gentle slope with accumulated snow, past the V dip, and to the wind shelter of Geal-charn. There are good views to be had from these two extra tops, so well worth not bypassing.
Descent to Allt Coire na CloicheDown steep and pathless ground to the main path, the snow thinning out as I descend. Poles are a great help. Then return to the car park.
Conclusion10/10, perfect starter route and conditions.
I must have seen about 40 people up there - I’ve only seen more on Ben Lomond, and on a typical summer Munro I’d normally see five max. This and the heavily footprinted route most of the way did reduce the sense of adventure a bit.
Thanks to
James Orpwood for the skills course in “authentic” winter conditions the two days prior.
Small things I was glad for:
- glove leashes, lanyards and mini carabiners for everything
What I’d do differently:
- use walking poles more
- take half as much cold water
- smaller map case to fit in jacket pocket easier
N.B. time includes taking about 100 (!) photos.
