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An early start from home meant the Moon was still bright as I drove up Glen Lyon. My walk started at the forest track which meets the road just west of Camusvrachan. Parking seemed fairly non-existent here but I found a spot a couple of hundred yards west of the start where I figured the car wouldn't be in anyones way.
The track climbed quite steeply at times and, just as it swung right to head across the Cul Lairig another track (not on the map) headed uphill. I used this on the way down as it leads to the hillside below Creag Ard.
Keeping on the main track I soon emerged from the forest and got my first good look at the way ahead. I kept to the slopes on the right of this photograph.
The view opened up with the sun striking the tops of the surrounding peaks and soon I saw my first herd of deer of the day.
Higher up the ridge steepened and, in the soft snow, the ascent was slow. Near the top I found one patch where I was in up to my thighs. I'm really too old for the contortions required to get my leg out of one hole and plant it a few inches higher
Finally I was out of this and into an 'easier' area of wind sculpted snow.
Avalanche debris on another part of the slope was a timely reminder of the need for care even on this 'undistinguished outlier of the Carn Mairg range' - as Walkhighlands describes it. I wouldn't have wanted to end up underneath that lot
The angle eased and I reached the big flat summit plateau. The cairn itself looked like something from 'Scott of the Antarctic'.
Today I was trying out my new winter boots
Although it was completely unnecessary I put the crampons on for the first part of the descent to make sure I had them properly adjusted. Better to find out if they fall off in these conditions than when they are really needed
They worked
The plan was to swing round over Creag Ard. Hard work but there's something nice about making the first set of tracks in the snowy wonderland.
Mind you, I should say first 'man tracks'. The deer had got there first and a group crossed the ridge just ahead of me. One stag dawdled behind and took a good look at me before heading off after the others.
Creag Ard proved to be a good viewpoint - a place where much of Glen Lyon is visible at once.
From the ridge of Craig Ard I saw a large herd of deer crossing the upper slopes of Beinn Dearg.The ridge lead swiftly to the edge of the forest where I met some of the local keepers out after foxes. I heeded their advice and descended back through the forest - well out of the way of any line of fire!
The track provided some fine views over Ben Lawers and I was soon back on the road. Now I know you're probably thinking - 5 hours for 8 kms
- but, hey, the snow WAS soft and, anyway, on a day like this, why hurry
