Another day in Paradise
Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 10:09 pm
Weighing up the odds for the first MWSP club, with the two original & primary members, was a real chore. Glorious forecast everywhere. Scotland that is, sorry south of the boarder folk. Decided on this rather than with Derry Cairngorm from the Linn Of Dee as I felt 30k might be too much if there was a lot snow. Wise choice given the time it took us to do the 18k route.
Left a slightly cloudy Glasgow at 5am picked up my partner in crime at junction 11 & then full steam ahead. Nice easy run stopped at Drumochter as the sun started to appear over the hills & posted on FB just to annoy the good peeps that had to go to work. Ski Center car park was buzzing at 8am with a mixture of climbers walkers & skiers. The track up to the half way stop was rubbish to walk on with ankle deep lose raked snow. Headed of the track just after a big left turn in the track to gain a wee ridge leading to a cairn at 1141 point. Wow the views opened up & it was just stunning. Headed of towards the what is currently a steep snow gully down to a frozen Loch Avon. Crampons on & down we go. Walking on top of the frozen over stream with the sound of running water below us.
Once down we hobbled on and off snow around the edge of the loch before crossing the stream and stopping for a bite to eat while taking it all in. An amazing place with these big crags and no obvious way out.
Following the on off path and trying to decide on the best way up, easy when no snow I’m sure. Choose the left hand side of the big snow bank, which was probably the wrong choice Andy managed it while I descended a bit and then went up the right hand side. At this point I was really struggling and having wee arguments with myself, but Andy knows well how to drag my fat arse on. Head sorted summit in sight Hay-ho lets go (words we later saw on the back of a lorry). The summit is a gem and the glorious weather could not spoil it. Climbed up the biggest bairn for photos and general oh wowness. Getting of the icy thing was a bit tricky but ok.
So back we go only taking a hour back to the loch by taking a steeper but more direct route. On our way around the loch we were talking about the prose & cons of a winter skills course and as we started to head into the exit gully I performed (badly) an impromptu ice axe arrest
Once out of the gully it seemed a long snow plod until back at the 1141 cairn. Stopped at a nice looking rock half way down to take of the crampons followed immediately by falling over on the ice. Much laughter as we slid, fell and generally minced gingerly back to the car, all the while watching the most beautiful sunset over Loch Morlich which is possible my most favorite place in the world.
Stunning and great day that I hope you all experience at some point if you have not already. Keep the faith it will come one day.
Cheers to Andy for the pics
Left a slightly cloudy Glasgow at 5am picked up my partner in crime at junction 11 & then full steam ahead. Nice easy run stopped at Drumochter as the sun started to appear over the hills & posted on FB just to annoy the good peeps that had to go to work. Ski Center car park was buzzing at 8am with a mixture of climbers walkers & skiers. The track up to the half way stop was rubbish to walk on with ankle deep lose raked snow. Headed of the track just after a big left turn in the track to gain a wee ridge leading to a cairn at 1141 point. Wow the views opened up & it was just stunning. Headed of towards the what is currently a steep snow gully down to a frozen Loch Avon. Crampons on & down we go. Walking on top of the frozen over stream with the sound of running water below us.
Once down we hobbled on and off snow around the edge of the loch before crossing the stream and stopping for a bite to eat while taking it all in. An amazing place with these big crags and no obvious way out.
Following the on off path and trying to decide on the best way up, easy when no snow I’m sure. Choose the left hand side of the big snow bank, which was probably the wrong choice Andy managed it while I descended a bit and then went up the right hand side. At this point I was really struggling and having wee arguments with myself, but Andy knows well how to drag my fat arse on. Head sorted summit in sight Hay-ho lets go (words we later saw on the back of a lorry). The summit is a gem and the glorious weather could not spoil it. Climbed up the biggest bairn for photos and general oh wowness. Getting of the icy thing was a bit tricky but ok.
So back we go only taking a hour back to the loch by taking a steeper but more direct route. On our way around the loch we were talking about the prose & cons of a winter skills course and as we started to head into the exit gully I performed (badly) an impromptu ice axe arrest
Once out of the gully it seemed a long snow plod until back at the 1141 cairn. Stopped at a nice looking rock half way down to take of the crampons followed immediately by falling over on the ice. Much laughter as we slid, fell and generally minced gingerly back to the car, all the while watching the most beautiful sunset over Loch Morlich which is possible my most favorite place in the world.
Stunning and great day that I hope you all experience at some point if you have not already. Keep the faith it will come one day.
Cheers to Andy for the pics