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A blast of winter above Achnashellach

PostPosted: Thu Apr 05, 2012 5:06 pm
by joenorris
It was during last week's heatwave that we were studying potential walks for our week in Kishorn, and at no point did we consider the possibility of any kind of winter conditions. Indeed, in the first two days of our trip we didn't even get a glimpse of the white stuff. With the big dump of snow on Monday night we decided to take in the two Munros north of Achnashellach - an area we hadn't really walked in previously.


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We set off under worryingly grey skies - the bright conditions that were forecasted hadn't appeared. Yet.

The stalker's path was fairly easy going and it wasn't long until we had reached the junction below the ascent of Beinn Liath Mhor. Coire Lair was certainly living up to expectations - Sgorr Ruadh by far the dominating feature from below.

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Sgorr Ruadh and Fuar Tholl from the beginning of the ascent

It was a pretty grueling climb - a relentless 500m, although with a really clear path. It follows the southern edge of the ridge, overlooking the corrie and Fuar Tholl. The Mainreachan Buttress which I had read so much about was gradually emerging as we gained height, and the clouds were beginning to thin, we could sense the sun wasn't far off.

The arrival at the southern end of the ridge came as a great relief and the sun finally burst through bang on time. The views towards Torridon were stunning, despite the remaining cloud.

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Beinn Eighe

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Sgorr Ruadh and Beinn Damh

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Fuar Tholl and Sgorr Ruadh

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Up Coire Lair, Beinn Liath Mhor summit on the right

The ridge walking was absolutely fantastic - deep snow weighing the ridge down with thick cornices and interesting scrambly bits. It was certainly a long ridge, but in this instance that was great - just a stunning place to be. All the time the clouds around us were lifting, Torridon was emerging from the grey mists and mythical spires were appearing from the gloom. My eyes couldn't avoid being drawn towards Liathach, it's fortress-like structure standing out among the many visible mountains.

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Towards Liathach

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Maol Chean-Dearg, Beinn Bhan and Beinn Damh

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Towards Beinn Alligin and Loch Torridon

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Looking along the ridge to the summit

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Towards Fuar Tholl

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Sgorr nan Lochan Uaine

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Liathach

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One of the interesting descents on the long ridge

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Sgorr Ruadh

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Looking back along the ridge

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Beinn Eighe and Sgorr nan Lochan Uaine

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Liathach and Torridon

Eventually we reached the high point of the ridge, marked by a huge cairn. The sun was now in full show and the views continued to open up. The ridge had taken significantly longer than we anticipated - a result of both the deep snow and our awe at the views around us. We still had plenty of time in which to take in Sgorr Ruadh, however, so after another wee while of gaping at the surroundings, we plodded off down the ridge towards the bealach.

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The next target

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Back along the ridge from the summit

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East towards Sgurr a'Chaorachain

We had read that there are a few steep bits between the two Munros. Both are fairly simple to descend - obvious paths and a lack of exposure countering the gradient.

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Ptarmigan

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One of the steep sections from below

The sun had dropped a bit by now which allowed our eyes to recover from the blinding brightness of the snow. Although the bealach is only at 700m, it felt and looked like we had descended a lot more than a measly 200m! Sgorr Ruadh loomed up above us and we began our ascent to the constant sound of ice falling down the enormous cliffs on its northern side.

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Back to the first summit

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Raeburn's Buttress and Sgorr Ruadh's northern cliffs

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E from the bealach

We gained height quickly up a grassy gully, the unforgiving ascent reminiscent of earlier in the day. Soon the views opened up again as the wide rocky ridge gave way to a short scramble up to the summit. I couldn't believe that, a week after sunbathing on a Fife beach, I was now clambering up a snowy arete above a sea of snowy peaks and buttresses. The contrast was quite surreal!

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Our hills that we climbed two days earlier - An Ruadh Stac and Maol Chean-Dearg

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Beinn Damh and Maol Chean-Dearg

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Liathach

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Loch Torridon, with the silhouette of the Harris hills on the horizon

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The long ridge of Beinn Liath Mhor

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Towards Loch Carron

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An Ruadh Stac, with the Rum and Skye hills now visible

The atmosphere was simply astonishing. The air was still and around us we could see as far afield as Ardnamurchan, Harris, An Teallach and Ben Wyvis, as well as the entire mass of hills between Glen Shiel and Glen Carron. The wonderful scramble up to the summit just added to the sense that this was a day of Scottish mountaineering, not hillwalking. With time ticking away, we reluctantly headed away down towards Fuar Tholl form the summit, with the Mainreachan Buttress looming ever larger. We never managed to find a path down to the bealach, instead opting for a descent over pretty rough frozen terrain. We eventually caught up with the stalkers path below the Buttress.

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Fuar Tholl

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The Mainreachan Buttress

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Mirror-like Lochans at the bealach

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The Buttress from below

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The summit of Fuar Tholl

After an interesting river crossing back down in the main part of Coire Lair, it was just a matter of willing our legs to get us back to the car. The arrival back at Achnashellach was of course a relief to our legs. It was tinged with an element of sadness, however - days like this in the Scottish mountains are so few and far between that it is always a shame to come down off the hills. It had been an absolutely stunning day - beautiful winter mountaineering conditions and a fantastic route of scrambling and ridge walking. The views had been like none I had seen in Scotland before - just breathtaking. All-in-all, a perfect day in the Scottish hills.

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Loch Kishorn later in the evening

Re: A blast of winter above Achnashellach

PostPosted: Thu Apr 05, 2012 6:25 pm
by soulminer
A pair of stunning mountains indeed. Some fine photos along the way. I'm sure the smile is still on your face, it would not have left mine if I had a day like yours :lol:
Cheers.

Re: A blast of winter above Achnashellach

PostPosted: Thu Apr 05, 2012 7:08 pm
by BlackPanther
Winter is definitely back, I wonder - for how long?
Great to see a report from this area, and some fantastic photos from the summits, too. We went there three times last year, each mountain we climbed was in cloud and we never saw any summit views. That's just as bad as luck can be. On the other hand - a good excuse to go back :lol:

Re: A blast of winter above Achnashellach

PostPosted: Thu Apr 05, 2012 7:11 pm
by snodland
You wait ages for an Achnashellach report and then 3 come along at once. I wondered how these 2 would look after the snow on Monday as I was up B.L.M. on Saturday and Sgorr Ruadh Sunday.
That Coire on the Bealach Mor looks imposing I will have to get back there on a clear day

Re: A blast of winter above Achnashellach

PostPosted: Thu Apr 05, 2012 8:12 pm
by soapy27
Great report and trully amazing pictures some of the best i've seen yet. :D

Re: A blast of winter above Achnashellach

PostPosted: Thu Apr 05, 2012 9:08 pm
by jimandandrea
Absolutely stunning photos :D

It is amazing to see the difference a few days make between Snodland's report and yours.

Re: A blast of winter above Achnashellach

PostPosted: Thu Apr 05, 2012 9:22 pm
by katie16
Your photos are amazing, trying to decide where to head for my annual Scotland break and you may have just sold it. K

Re: A blast of winter above Achnashellach

PostPosted: Thu Apr 05, 2012 9:25 pm
by Bod
Wow! Stunning photos and what a well camouflaged ptarmigan :D :D :D

Re: A blast of winter above Achnashellach

PostPosted: Thu Apr 05, 2012 10:39 pm
by Stretch
Beautiful pics Joe, thanks for sharing!

Re: A blast of winter above Achnashellach

PostPosted: Thu Apr 05, 2012 11:01 pm
by GariochTom
Great pictures; the snow really seems to emphasise the form and features of the mountains.

Re: A blast of winter above Achnashellach

PostPosted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 12:14 am
by mrssanta
that's amazing

Re: A blast of winter above Achnashellach

PostPosted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 9:44 am
by Graeme D
Joe, words cannot possibly describe how good this report is and how "high" you must have been all through that adventure in the ultimate playground..... (and most probably still are!) - one of the finest sets of photos I've seen attached to any report. 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

Re: A blast of winter above Achnashellach

PostPosted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 10:11 am
by rockhopper
Absolutely fantastic joe - no wonder you had such a great day - they don't come like this very often ! - cheers :D

Re: A blast of winter above Achnashellach

PostPosted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 7:35 pm
by yokehead
A marvellous read and wonderful photos. 8) As you say, perfect conditions for a mountaineering day, isn't it grand when it all comes together! :D

I have just the one negative comment, and that is :mrgreen:

Re: A blast of winter above Achnashellach

PostPosted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 9:44 pm
by dogplodder
That was some walk in those underfoot conditions. Views are amazing and well captured by you. :D

But boy it does look cold!