An Caisteal and Beinn a'Chroin.
Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 3:00 pmWeather looked promising for Saturday so thought i would take the opportunity to tackle An Caisteal and Beinn a'Chroin.
Gear checked and checked again on the Friday and Ice axe and Crampons added to the kit as i was expecting my first
use of these for real.Used Paul's route from this site loaded to my Phone along with my map and compass as back up.
Hats,gloves etc X 3 just in case.
Parked up and set off just before 9am on a very frosty and still morning with fog all around.I won't describe the route
up as it has been detailed many time so just some pictures with comments where required.
The route up is straightforward just heading uphill to Sron Gharbh and then follow the path to the
summit of An Caisteal whilst admiring the views and crunching over the frozen patches of snow on the way.
The views started to open up and were terrific.
I got chatting to a father and son and we were debating whether to carry on to Beinn a'Chroin or head back,it was
a sort of collective decision to carry on and off we went into the murk.
The path upwards to a'chroin was relatively straightforward until you reach a steep section which i would describe as exposed,if a 300ft drop is the description of exposed, and adding a small section needing hand/knee/foot
coordination i would call it a "Bowel Loosener" in Saturdays conditions.
Negotiated that without my bowels loosening,i may add, and headed up to the 1st summit into a biting wind and with
our clothes covered in a layer of ice.
I headed for the second summit but my companions had enough at this point and headed down.
The walk out was great,particularly with the ground being frozen,i can imagine it is a mudfest normally.
The cold air was lying in glen beside the river Falloch and looked strange where the white frostline could be seen.
Back to the car and a terrific sunset to complete the day.
I had a great day and was now absolutely knackered,looking forward to a quick stop at Inveruglas for a couple of
rolls with bacon and listen to the footie on the way home.Only fly in the ointment,stopped serving hot food just
before i arrived,bugger.Banana and an apple it is then with my tea.
I am relatively knew to this lark but after my last 2 Munro's i would not think about going up any of these hills at this time of year without an ice axe and crampons.You don't know what conditions you will meet up top.
Cheers
David.
Gear checked and checked again on the Friday and Ice axe and Crampons added to the kit as i was expecting my first
use of these for real.Used Paul's route from this site loaded to my Phone along with my map and compass as back up.
Hats,gloves etc X 3 just in case.
Parked up and set off just before 9am on a very frosty and still morning with fog all around.I won't describe the route
up as it has been detailed many time so just some pictures with comments where required.
- Setting out under the railway bridge.Fog and frost with thankfully mostly frozen ground.
The route up is straightforward just heading uphill to Sron Gharbh and then follow the path to the
summit of An Caisteal whilst admiring the views and crunching over the frozen patches of snow on the way.
- Heading out of the gloom i hope.
- creeping up out of the fog.
The views started to open up and were terrific.
- MMMM Nice
- First views of An Caisteal
- Always take a look behind you,you don't know what you could miss.
- The fog rolling up and over Beinn Chabhair was a warning of what was to come.
- Nearly there,the path was mostly clear and where it wasn't the snow was solid with good footprints to get purchase in.
- The money shot,with i think Ben Lomond sticking it's head up.
- My first Broken Spectre and the weather was just closing in.
- It was now a wee bit chilly on top.
I got chatting to a father and son and we were debating whether to carry on to Beinn a'Chroin or head back,it was
a sort of collective decision to carry on and off we went into the murk.
- Visibility varied between 20 to 100 yds at this point but the path was relatively easy to follow.
The path upwards to a'chroin was relatively straightforward until you reach a steep section which i would describe as exposed,if a 300ft drop is the description of exposed, and adding a small section needing hand/knee/foot
coordination i would call it a "Bowel Loosener" in Saturdays conditions.
Negotiated that without my bowels loosening,i may add, and headed up to the 1st summit into a biting wind and with
our clothes covered in a layer of ice.
I headed for the second summit but my companions had enough at this point and headed down.
- The 940m lower summit of Beinn a Chroin
The walk out was great,particularly with the ground being frozen,i can imagine it is a mudfest normally.
The cold air was lying in glen beside the river Falloch and looked strange where the white frostline could be seen.
- Frostline
Back to the car and a terrific sunset to complete the day.
- sunset
I had a great day and was now absolutely knackered,looking forward to a quick stop at Inveruglas for a couple of
rolls with bacon and listen to the footie on the way home.Only fly in the ointment,stopped serving hot food just
before i arrived,bugger.Banana and an apple it is then with my tea.
I am relatively knew to this lark but after my last 2 Munro's i would not think about going up any of these hills at this time of year without an ice axe and crampons.You don't know what conditions you will meet up top.
Cheers
David.
.