Walkhighlands

Fancied getting to 100 before New Year, weather looked not bad in Kintail so I kept the Boxing Day booze to a minumum and set the alarm for 4:30. Snow started around Crianlarich but didn't seem too heavy, got to the layby at 9ish.

After checking Google Maps for the parking spot I was looking for a block of forestry on the hill, but the trees are now gone. Looking towards layby from start of land rover track:


I think the path uphill branches off pretty early, but I missed it and just slogged up on steep grass, over to Am Bathach:


Hard going, but a lot of height gained quickly. Made it to the ridge:


Snow was firm up here so I got the crampons on for the steep bits. View back down to Loch Cluanie:


Sgurr nan Conbhairean:


South Glen Shiel ridge:


Became cloudier now, mainly above the tops but occasional clag too. Nice big cairn on A'Chralaig:


A few flecks turned into light snow, and this stayed on for the rest of the day so the camera was only out briefly. The wind was behind me though, so I didn't get a snow blown face till the way back Rest of the ridge to Mullach Fraoch-choire, looks good:


Snow was deep but firm, the descent from Achralaig was pretty steep in places so care needed. Of course, things got much more interesting later on

Got to the ridge leading to Mullach Fraoch-choire. Plan was: head up to the top then back to the bit of ridge on the far right to descend. I'd read there was a bit of scrambling over towers but there were bypass paths to avoid the dodgy bits. Of course, there weren't any paths in the snow so I went over the top of everything. Climbing the towers was OK, but going down required a lot more attention so I slowed to a crawl here. Bypassed the last one to the left, no path so axe & crampons stuck into the steep snow:


View back to A'Chralaig:


On the ridge to Mullach Fraoch-choire, care needed at cornices etc:


Made it to the cairn after several interesting/dodgy moments. Thought about going back over the towers to get to the descent point, but then had a 'better' idea - back to the ridge then straight down, avoiding the dodgy bits. It was fairly steep, but the snow was grippy. Also there were crags further down, but I reckoned I could traverse a bit and avoid them.



Went down backwards, facing the snow and got round the crags. Eventually got past the rocks so I could bumslide the rest of the way


Then onwards to the path/landrover tracks, which were easy to follow. Snow getting heavier now and the path was ice covered with snow in places so had a few slip ups as usual Got to the road and I could see cars moving slowly in the snow, so I took it easy on the return.

Snow was off and on during the journey, when I got to Glen Coe the police and mountain rescue were at the Bidean car park and the helicopter was just taking off as I passed, hope they were OK.

congratulations on hitting the century! well done

Well done on the ton

Well done on reaching 100 A couple of cracking hills to mark the achievement and pretty testing too I would imagine in winter conditions. Wel done. Looks like you had a great day there

Now that was an enjoyable report
Thanks gman

Thanks, tried to pick a good 'un for the 100th & this definitely fit the bill

gman wrote:Thanks, tried to pick a good 'un for the 100th & this definitely fit the bill

Yeah good choice for you're hundreth and sounds like you had to work for it, well done.

Well done on your 100th gman nice report as well

A great report, gman, it sounds like you had an exciting time getting on and off Mullach Fraoch-choire. Congratulations on the century.

I enjoyed that report!
Cracking day for you and brought back one of my highlights of 2012.

Great report and really liked your photos - the ridges lookded fantastic !! Well done on the 100

Very useful photos of the Mullachs 'gendarmes' under snow. Of course, bypass paths are of no use in these conditions, integrated into the steep snow slopes as they are.

Thanks!