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When it used to snow....

PostPosted: Thu Mar 01, 2012 10:01 pm
by clivegrif

our_route.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts



Sitting here in soggy Worcestershire pining for the hills, I have taken the liberty of re-loading all the pictures from this report onto Flickr, so they are now much clearer and are expandable. I hope you like the result.

Four years ago I had the good fortune to be in the Mamores on a memorable March day when it still used to snow. The route was not long and it was quite straight-forward, but what views!
We started from the car park in Kinlochleven, making our way through the woods to the open ground, picking up the stalkers path on the slopes of Meall an Doire Dharaich, steadily climbing above Loch Eilde Mor into the snow. We broke left, and climbed more steeply up to Sgor Eilde Beag on good snow.

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The Grey Corries by cliveg004, on Flickr

The Grey Coires were looking good to the east, and the views across to Bidean Nam Bian and the Buchailles were quite something.
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Bidean by cliveg004, on Flickr

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Buchaille by cliveg004, on Flickr
When we reached the ridge line between Na Gruagaichean and Binnean Mor, Ben Nevis was revealed in all its glory almost completely cloud free – would have been a good day on the North Face thats for sure.

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Ben Nevis looking good by cliveg004, on Flickr

It was clear that the wind had been blowing hard from the north west, stripping the snow from the slopes on that side, and dumping it on the south east faces. One side of Binnean Mor was white, the other quite green.
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Binnean Mor by cliveg004, on Flickr
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Back to Binnean Mor by cliveg004, on Flickr

This part of the Mamores Ridge is really quite beautiful, particularly in these conditions. The snow was hard and took a crampon well, making for easy going. Binnean Mor is a fine peak, sharp and narrow. When I was last here, I dropped straight down a scrambly north east ridge to reach the much smaller Binnean Beag – but not today.
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Na Gruagaichean by cliveg004, on Flickr

Back along the main ridge to Na Gruagaichean I was snapping away like a Japanese Tourist and with good reason, the air was clear and still, and the views in all directions were just breathtaking.

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Na Gruagaichean by cliveg004, on Flickr

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The final climb by cliveg004, on Flickr

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Nr Na Gruagaichean by cliveg004, on Flickr

We descended by the Leachd na h-Aire shoulder, with fine views along Loch Leven, and then dropped south west straight down to Kinlochleven.

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Loch Leven by cliveg004, on Flickr

An absolutely marvellous day!

Re: When it used to snow....

PostPosted: Thu Mar 01, 2012 10:23 pm
by soulminer
clivegrif wrote :
An absolutely marvellous day!


No kidding :lol: About as good as it gets I would venture to say 8)
Magic, cheers for posting.

Re: When it used to snow....

PostPosted: Thu Mar 01, 2012 10:29 pm
by luckyguy68
Epic photos, timeless even after three years. :thumbup:

Re: When it used to snow....

PostPosted: Thu Mar 01, 2012 10:41 pm
by Alastair S
Stunning stuff :clap: :clap: :clap:

Re: When it used to snow....

PostPosted: Thu Mar 01, 2012 10:54 pm
by Morecambe Monkey
Lovely stuff,one of those days out that stay long in the memory. Some great photo's. 8)

Re: When it used to snow....

PostPosted: Thu Mar 01, 2012 11:34 pm
by KeithS
What a great day that looked like and great pictures.

The Mamores are my favour range south of the Great Glen, it gives some of the best ridge walking.

The last time I was on the ridge was in an absolute heatwave and people were suffering from dehydration.

Re: When it used to snow....

PostPosted: Thu Mar 01, 2012 11:44 pm
by ChrisW
wow - beautiful pics....don't give up on the snow yet, you've had so little this winter it has to come sometime...maybe march is it :wink:

Re: When it used to snow....

PostPosted: Fri Mar 02, 2012 1:13 am
by Milesy
Sigh. Thanks for depressing me :(

Re: When it used to snow....

PostPosted: Fri Mar 02, 2012 1:16 am
by brpro26
Maybe next year now.... :(

Re: When it used to snow....

PostPosted: Fri Mar 02, 2012 11:34 am
by Klaasloopt
brpro26 wrote:Maybe next year now.... :(


Last year it snowed heavily early March. Snow thick and down to 300m level on March 15...

IMGP0253.jpg
Loch an Daimh, March 17

Re: When it used to snow....

PostPosted: Fri Mar 02, 2012 6:28 pm
by L-Hiking
Cheers Clive

Some nice pics, the the shot on the aproach Na Gruagaichean is fab :D

Re: When it used to snow....

PostPosted: Fri Mar 02, 2012 7:21 pm
by Border Yellerbelly
That's just stunning. The photo's are fantastic. I live in hope of being able to experience a day like that myself.

Re: When it used to snow....

PostPosted: Sun Mar 04, 2012 11:17 am
by clivegrif
Perservere, it will happen! :D

If you like a bit of spectacular, with snow and ice - you might want to have a look at my post on the other channel.
Trip of a lifetime

Re: When it used to snow....

PostPosted: Thu Jan 03, 2013 10:13 pm
by clivegrif
Sitting here in soggy Worcestershire pining for the hills, I have taken the liberty of re-loading all the pictures from this report onto Flickr, so they are now much clearer and are expandable. I hope you like the result.

Re: When it used to snow....

PostPosted: Fri Jan 04, 2013 11:47 am
by Fudgie
Having done that walk a few months ago, I would love to go back in conditions like that. Fabulous light and you've captured the stunning views very well :thumbup: