My First EVER Winter Munro & A Perfect Round Of 4
Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 11:05 pmWoke in the bothy at 8am to the surprise of a very sunny day and a correct weather forecast (both rare!). Leapt out of my sleeping bag and tried to pack, breakfast and prepare as quickly as possible but it was nearly 10am by the time I left.
However the cairngorms are latticed with great tracks and within 30minutes I was approaching where Bynack Stable once stood and a braw new bridge stands to cross the Garbh Allt that flows out of Strath Nethy.
Next comes the climb and the elevation and in the strong sunshine and windless conditions my winter attire was proving far to much and soon my bag was bulging with unnecessary and removed garments. Maybe I just walk to fast uphill when I should be pacing myself a wee bit better but I am just so anxious to get to the top and sped as much time as possible on the top in the heights. So much so that within an hour I was past the 818m marker and heading towards to pointed top of Bynack More over a dusted snow surface and nice firm snow with rime ice clinging to the rocks.
Reaching the crags the snow was a little more packed and the angle a lot steeper so my speed eased a little bit but I was still scrambling to the top just after midday after being embraced by a brocken spectre as light mist swirled around in the sunshine.
I popped out between a couple of rocks right beside the cairn and gleefully announced to a couple of walkers who had been just ahead of me that this was my first winter munro, and the entered into a brief discussion on to why I couldn’t really count it since it wasn’t really a winters day. No ice axe, no crampons and not really much snow. However the walkers already at the top declared that since it wasn’t summer, it was a valid winter munro. I was going to claim it anyway but in real Cairngorm winter conditions, with the gear I own and can afford, I wouldn’t be here. Although the Corbetts I climbed last week had much more snow than this munro a full 200metres higher.
After soaking in the glorious wide views and the beautiful sunshine I headed along the ridge towards the wonderful rock formations of the Barns of Bynack which peculiarly each had a solitary Ptmarigan sat on the top in it’s snow white winter plumage.
On days like this you wouldn’t wish to be anywhere else and when you’re up and strolling along the tops the living is easy. Down and across and with in no time at all I head reached my second top of the day, that of A’Choinneach which I am told was once classified as a munro. So I make that two for the day. And still the sun shone, and not a trace of wind. How lovely to enjoy lunch and a hot brew on a summit completely at your lesuire. Warm, comfortable, endless views and ample time. Paradise.
With an astonishing lack of commitment I considered my onward route, which I was unwilling to start due to the sun and the fact that it meant heading down into the glen.
From the summit the obvious route was to wind down over some charming landscape, gently brushed with snow (I was beginning to finally fall in love with the Cairngorms) to the saddle with wonderful views of the frozen Loch Avon and then follow the Strath Nethy back to Bynack Stable, Ryvoan and then Glenmore. However I noticed that the path west of Bynack More would stay higher and would only be a couple of km’s extra.
Then I noticed the summit of Cairngorm and for someone who had never taken a winter munro before and with still 4-5hours of walking light left the possibility of climbing a 4000ft Munro in winter was a tempting proposition.
I headed down to the Saddle still undecided but when I arrived and saw some walkers heading down further into the strathnethy I really didn’t fancy following them. It was then I noticed a rising path climbing slowly on the other side that wasn’t to steep and didn’t have a really large areas of snow and lead gradually up to Cnap Coire na Spreidhe. I looked closely and saw that I would be able to climb on rocks and heather for a large part and only small areas of snow needed to be traversed and all the snow today had been very firm. That was enough, pack on back and off we went.
It was a lot less fearful than it might have been and within the hour I was standing on the top of the Cnap looking across Strath Nethy to the hills I add been on this morning as some mist swirled in over the mountains causing large rainbows or broken spectres to shine brilliantly, but alas not brilliantly enough for my camera to satisfactorily capture. I thought this might also have been a munro but it turns out it isn’t but none the less it was still my third top of the day with the Cairngorm to crown possibly my finest day in the hills ever.
In the mist I headed off Cnap Coire na Spreidhe on a compass bearing that happily was directly towards the sun which I was confident would burn the mist away again shortly. This it did and when it lifted I found that my compass bearing was excellent and I was on a direct line for the large cairn and the weather station.
My fourth top and second munro was reached just after 3pm and from here down was the only way ahead so I sauntered around the summit for ages milking in the views from all directions, delirious with joy and happiness at such an unexpectedly delightful day of walking. Didn’t think on Friday I would be able to climb a winter munro without crampons and here I was on my fourth of the day.
Those of you who have been on the Cairngorm will know of the horrid line of cairns and fences that ‘escort’ you from the cairn and back down which I made good efforts to avoid. Ironically, since that path is so tramped by folk it actually sported the most gnarly and treacherous ice I had seen all day so I had good reason to avoid it.
The peace and serenity of the day was quickly evaporating as I suddenly emerged at a throng of end of the day skiers waiting on the funicular rail home and – almost drunk from the sudden activity – I passed the action and snuck down through the gully down to a very busy car park and as soon as possible left the noisy, smelly, dirty road and returned to the peaceful pine clad forests of Glen more and walked 5-6km through the forest walks and eventually back to the car at Glenmore for a well earned cup of tea.
Quite a Fabulous day
However the cairngorms are latticed with great tracks and within 30minutes I was approaching where Bynack Stable once stood and a braw new bridge stands to cross the Garbh Allt that flows out of Strath Nethy.
Next comes the climb and the elevation and in the strong sunshine and windless conditions my winter attire was proving far to much and soon my bag was bulging with unnecessary and removed garments. Maybe I just walk to fast uphill when I should be pacing myself a wee bit better but I am just so anxious to get to the top and sped as much time as possible on the top in the heights. So much so that within an hour I was past the 818m marker and heading towards to pointed top of Bynack More over a dusted snow surface and nice firm snow with rime ice clinging to the rocks.
Reaching the crags the snow was a little more packed and the angle a lot steeper so my speed eased a little bit but I was still scrambling to the top just after midday after being embraced by a brocken spectre as light mist swirled around in the sunshine.
I popped out between a couple of rocks right beside the cairn and gleefully announced to a couple of walkers who had been just ahead of me that this was my first winter munro, and the entered into a brief discussion on to why I couldn’t really count it since it wasn’t really a winters day. No ice axe, no crampons and not really much snow. However the walkers already at the top declared that since it wasn’t summer, it was a valid winter munro. I was going to claim it anyway but in real Cairngorm winter conditions, with the gear I own and can afford, I wouldn’t be here. Although the Corbetts I climbed last week had much more snow than this munro a full 200metres higher.
After soaking in the glorious wide views and the beautiful sunshine I headed along the ridge towards the wonderful rock formations of the Barns of Bynack which peculiarly each had a solitary Ptmarigan sat on the top in it’s snow white winter plumage.
On days like this you wouldn’t wish to be anywhere else and when you’re up and strolling along the tops the living is easy. Down and across and with in no time at all I head reached my second top of the day, that of A’Choinneach which I am told was once classified as a munro. So I make that two for the day. And still the sun shone, and not a trace of wind. How lovely to enjoy lunch and a hot brew on a summit completely at your lesuire. Warm, comfortable, endless views and ample time. Paradise.
With an astonishing lack of commitment I considered my onward route, which I was unwilling to start due to the sun and the fact that it meant heading down into the glen.
From the summit the obvious route was to wind down over some charming landscape, gently brushed with snow (I was beginning to finally fall in love with the Cairngorms) to the saddle with wonderful views of the frozen Loch Avon and then follow the Strath Nethy back to Bynack Stable, Ryvoan and then Glenmore. However I noticed that the path west of Bynack More would stay higher and would only be a couple of km’s extra.
Then I noticed the summit of Cairngorm and for someone who had never taken a winter munro before and with still 4-5hours of walking light left the possibility of climbing a 4000ft Munro in winter was a tempting proposition.
I headed down to the Saddle still undecided but when I arrived and saw some walkers heading down further into the strathnethy I really didn’t fancy following them. It was then I noticed a rising path climbing slowly on the other side that wasn’t to steep and didn’t have a really large areas of snow and lead gradually up to Cnap Coire na Spreidhe. I looked closely and saw that I would be able to climb on rocks and heather for a large part and only small areas of snow needed to be traversed and all the snow today had been very firm. That was enough, pack on back and off we went.
It was a lot less fearful than it might have been and within the hour I was standing on the top of the Cnap looking across Strath Nethy to the hills I add been on this morning as some mist swirled in over the mountains causing large rainbows or broken spectres to shine brilliantly, but alas not brilliantly enough for my camera to satisfactorily capture. I thought this might also have been a munro but it turns out it isn’t but none the less it was still my third top of the day with the Cairngorm to crown possibly my finest day in the hills ever.
In the mist I headed off Cnap Coire na Spreidhe on a compass bearing that happily was directly towards the sun which I was confident would burn the mist away again shortly. This it did and when it lifted I found that my compass bearing was excellent and I was on a direct line for the large cairn and the weather station.
My fourth top and second munro was reached just after 3pm and from here down was the only way ahead so I sauntered around the summit for ages milking in the views from all directions, delirious with joy and happiness at such an unexpectedly delightful day of walking. Didn’t think on Friday I would be able to climb a winter munro without crampons and here I was on my fourth of the day.
Those of you who have been on the Cairngorm will know of the horrid line of cairns and fences that ‘escort’ you from the cairn and back down which I made good efforts to avoid. Ironically, since that path is so tramped by folk it actually sported the most gnarly and treacherous ice I had seen all day so I had good reason to avoid it.
The peace and serenity of the day was quickly evaporating as I suddenly emerged at a throng of end of the day skiers waiting on the funicular rail home and – almost drunk from the sudden activity – I passed the action and snuck down through the gully down to a very busy car park and as soon as possible left the noisy, smelly, dirty road and returned to the peaceful pine clad forests of Glen more and walked 5-6km through the forest walks and eventually back to the car at Glenmore for a well earned cup of tea.
Quite a Fabulous day
Ignore those damp squibs!!
