Return to Stuchd an Lochain
Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 12:10 pmTimes
SaL 3 hours 20 minutes
MB 2 hours 15 minutes
Some of you may have read my walk report of our ill-fated attempt to bag these two back in December last year (http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=17306) when bad luck with the car and strong winds left us heading home, tails between our legs.
With the weather for Saturday looking good we thought we’d return and conquer these two before the snow left and we’d be faced with many a bog monster.
The plan was much like our last attempt – get the more arduous SaL out of the way first. We set out late in the day arriving at the parking place near the damn at around 10.50. As we kitted-up we could see the outline of two fellow walkers on the side of SaL and another pair of walkers just began their ascent of MB about 5mins before we were about to head up SaL. We began our ascent of at 11.10.
The ascent, with the absence of deep snow was much quicker than our previous attempt. We made it to the 800mtrs point in just shy of an hour and took a short photo and food break. The views to the Ben Lawers traverse were great – made all the better knowing we had the whole set in the bag. We then had to consider the ascent of the steep section to the 888mtrs point. We had caught up with the walkers we had seen beginning their ascent as we kitted up and noticed they were putting on their crampons. We considered the conditions and promptly did the same – well Roy put on his crampons and I donned my microspikes. As we did so the fellow walkers went over the top and continued towards the summit. This short ascent was quite a challenge for my spikes and I had to revert to a bit of an ice climbing approach whacking my ice axe into the snow and pulling myself up with it. Once up I had a little wonder as to how the hell the spikes would manage to descend that stretch but then thought ‘I’ll deal with that later’.
The summit of SaL soon came into view and looked stunning with a large cornice around the Coire an Lochain. We continued to march along noticing some cloud appearing and feeling the wind picking up. We were soon on the heels of the other walkers and up on the summit. Thankfully the cloud kept away and we were able to take in the views. But being aware of out late start we didn’t hang about and were soon hot-footing it back down the hill – well actually I indulged in a bit of bum sliding … Roy wasn’t too impressed with my disregard for safety…
The march back was uneventful except for my descent down the steep section from earlier. Two other walkers and their dog were having a seat not far from where we had taken our photo and food break earlier – ‘Oh great, an audience’ I thought! I considered my route, Roy disagreed with my choice and headed his own way. I was carefully descending when suddenly my spikes lost grip and I was flying down on my back – instinct made my attempt to plunge the spike of the axe into the ground and then my rational mind kicked in – I spun myself around and whacked the pick into the icy snow as hard as I could and thus came to a halt. The walkers below were looking on in horror! Weirdly I felt fine and just thought ‘well that was a bit of a jolly!’ and pulled myself back up and carried on with the couple below shouting for me to keep to the right. A little later it came to me that my little jolly could easily have ended very badly if I hadn’t been able to stop. I headed over to the couple and their dog to thank them for their concern and received a very loving welcome from their gorgeous black lab.
The rest of the descent was a straight forward trudge. Once back at the car we realised that the number of light hours had depleted and the bagging of MB would have to be brisk. As we ascended we passed the couple who had been heading up MB as we were kitting up. As I looked around I began to regret our late start as it was clear the views were just going to get better and better but we didn’t have the time to take it all in.
We bumped into two very friendly walkers at the cairn at 917 mtrs so stopped for a chin wag before continuing over the plateau to the summit cairn. The cloud had really come in over the plateau but thankfully cleared enough for some summit shots. Obligatory summit photos taken and it was a knee breakingly swift descent back to the car to ensure we made it back with some daylight.
Two great hills these and pleased to have returned and triumphed – and stopped myself from flying down the side of a mountain! Photos (not full quality) and videos (can be watched in HD) below!
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JdbKV9FG98&feature=youtu.be&hd=1[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZV8PJqpfw_Y&feature=youtu.be&hd=1[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrjLrNyygiw&feature=youtu.be&hd=1[/youtube]
SaL 3 hours 20 minutes
MB 2 hours 15 minutes
Some of you may have read my walk report of our ill-fated attempt to bag these two back in December last year (http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=17306) when bad luck with the car and strong winds left us heading home, tails between our legs.
With the weather for Saturday looking good we thought we’d return and conquer these two before the snow left and we’d be faced with many a bog monster.
The plan was much like our last attempt – get the more arduous SaL out of the way first. We set out late in the day arriving at the parking place near the damn at around 10.50. As we kitted-up we could see the outline of two fellow walkers on the side of SaL and another pair of walkers just began their ascent of MB about 5mins before we were about to head up SaL. We began our ascent of at 11.10.
The ascent, with the absence of deep snow was much quicker than our previous attempt. We made it to the 800mtrs point in just shy of an hour and took a short photo and food break. The views to the Ben Lawers traverse were great – made all the better knowing we had the whole set in the bag. We then had to consider the ascent of the steep section to the 888mtrs point. We had caught up with the walkers we had seen beginning their ascent as we kitted up and noticed they were putting on their crampons. We considered the conditions and promptly did the same – well Roy put on his crampons and I donned my microspikes. As we did so the fellow walkers went over the top and continued towards the summit. This short ascent was quite a challenge for my spikes and I had to revert to a bit of an ice climbing approach whacking my ice axe into the snow and pulling myself up with it. Once up I had a little wonder as to how the hell the spikes would manage to descend that stretch but then thought ‘I’ll deal with that later’.
The summit of SaL soon came into view and looked stunning with a large cornice around the Coire an Lochain. We continued to march along noticing some cloud appearing and feeling the wind picking up. We were soon on the heels of the other walkers and up on the summit. Thankfully the cloud kept away and we were able to take in the views. But being aware of out late start we didn’t hang about and were soon hot-footing it back down the hill – well actually I indulged in a bit of bum sliding … Roy wasn’t too impressed with my disregard for safety…
The march back was uneventful except for my descent down the steep section from earlier. Two other walkers and their dog were having a seat not far from where we had taken our photo and food break earlier – ‘Oh great, an audience’ I thought! I considered my route, Roy disagreed with my choice and headed his own way. I was carefully descending when suddenly my spikes lost grip and I was flying down on my back – instinct made my attempt to plunge the spike of the axe into the ground and then my rational mind kicked in – I spun myself around and whacked the pick into the icy snow as hard as I could and thus came to a halt. The walkers below were looking on in horror! Weirdly I felt fine and just thought ‘well that was a bit of a jolly!’ and pulled myself back up and carried on with the couple below shouting for me to keep to the right. A little later it came to me that my little jolly could easily have ended very badly if I hadn’t been able to stop. I headed over to the couple and their dog to thank them for their concern and received a very loving welcome from their gorgeous black lab.
The rest of the descent was a straight forward trudge. Once back at the car we realised that the number of light hours had depleted and the bagging of MB would have to be brisk. As we ascended we passed the couple who had been heading up MB as we were kitting up. As I looked around I began to regret our late start as it was clear the views were just going to get better and better but we didn’t have the time to take it all in.
We bumped into two very friendly walkers at the cairn at 917 mtrs so stopped for a chin wag before continuing over the plateau to the summit cairn. The cloud had really come in over the plateau but thankfully cleared enough for some summit shots. Obligatory summit photos taken and it was a knee breakingly swift descent back to the car to ensure we made it back with some daylight.
Two great hills these and pleased to have returned and triumphed – and stopped myself from flying down the side of a mountain! Photos (not full quality) and videos (can be watched in HD) below!
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JdbKV9FG98&feature=youtu.be&hd=1[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZV8PJqpfw_Y&feature=youtu.be&hd=1[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrjLrNyygiw&feature=youtu.be&hd=1[/youtube]
good to hear you maintained your head and did it right, great report 
Darned expensive hobby this hiking malarkey! 
