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Another day in Paradise

PostPosted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 10:09 pm
by jonny616
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. :D :D :D 8) 8) 8)

Cheers to Andy for the pics :clap:
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Frozen Loch Morlich
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heading for the 1141 point
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Looking across to the summit
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Lunch stop Loch Avon
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Getting out of the Loch Avon basin
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Nearing the summit
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Summit boys
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getting down the icy top
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As the sun goes down

Re: Another day in Paradise

PostPosted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 10:15 pm
by Alan S
Excellent stuff Jonny,nice pics Jonny/andy :D
No sure about your summit pic though,were yous doing your gammy leg summit impersonation :lol:
Looking forward to this one 8)

Re: Another day in Paradise

PostPosted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 10:18 pm
by pigeon
Nice one jonny,that tor looks well icy,great pic of Loch Avon.What a great spell of weather,wish i could have got out mid week :( Still always the weekend :wink:

Re: Another day in Paradise

PostPosted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 10:23 pm
by SusieThePensioner
jonny616 wrote:Glorious forecast everywhere. Scotland that is, sorry south of the boarder folk.

Don't worry Jonny, we've had glorious weather in County Durham both yesterday and today and lots last week in the Lake District :lol:

Glad to see you out and about and enjoyed your report (as usual) :D
Were you doubled over in pain at the summit or just peering at the camera :wink: :lol:
Great photos, Andy :thumbup:

Re: Another day in Paradise

PostPosted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 10:26 pm
by rockhopper
That does it....I'm not reading any more mid week walk reports - not good for my health :sick: :sick: :mrgreen: :wink: But seriously :roll: cracking day you had there - really enjoyed up here in the summer but looks even better in the snow - cheers :)

Re: Another day in Paradise

PostPosted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 10:47 pm
by pollyh33
Brrrrrrrrrilliant Jonny, a fantastic account of an amazing day out!!!

Did you say you had to walk on a iced path on top of a flowing river? I bet you wish Ron had been with you. He could have jumped up and down on it to make it was safe! :-)

Long live the MWSPC !

Re: Another day in Paradise

PostPosted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 10:52 pm
by jonny616
Alan S wrote:Excellent stuff Jonny,nice pics Jonny/andy :D
No sure about your summit pic though,were yous doing your gammy leg summit impersonation :lol:


And not a buff in (or out of) sight :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Re: Another day in Paradise

PostPosted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 10:55 pm
by jonny616
pollyh33 wrote:Brrrrrrrrrilliant Jonny, a fantastic account of an amazing day out!!!

Did you say you had to walk on a iced path on top of a flowing river? I bet you wish Ron had been with you. He could have jumped up and down on it to make it was safe! :-)

Long live the MWSPC !


We did mention Ron as we went down it. :lol:

Re: Another day in Paradise

PostPosted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 10:56 pm
by jonny616
pigeon wrote:Nice one jonny,that tor looks well icy,great pic of Loch Avon.What a great spell of weather,wish i could have got out mid week :( Still always the weekend :wink:


Cheers Pigeon. Hope the weather holds for you. 8)

Re: Another day in Paradise

PostPosted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 11:00 pm
by tomyboy73
looks like an awesome day 8)

Re: Another day in Paradise

PostPosted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 11:01 pm
by jonny616
SusieThePensioner wrote:
jonny616 wrote:Glorious forecast everywhere. Scotland that is, sorry south of the boarder folk.

Don't worry Jonny, we've had glorious weather in County Durham both yesterday and today and lots last week in the Lake District :lol:

Glad to see you out and about and enjoyed your report (as usual) :D
Were you doubled over in pain at the summit or just peering at the camera :wink: :lol:
Great photos, Andy :thumbup:


Look forward to seeing your Lakes pics. Peering or according to Alan s trying to impersonate Gammy 8)

Re: Another day in Paradise

PostPosted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 11:04 pm
by jonny616
rockhopper wrote:That does it....I'm not reading any more mid week walk reports - not good for my health :sick: :sick: :mrgreen: :wink: But seriously :roll: cracking day you had there - really enjoyed up here in the summer but looks even better in the snow - cheers :)


just getting you back for your last report :lol: :lol: :lol: :clap:

Re: Another day in Paradise

PostPosted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 7:33 am
by gammy leg walker
The Guv"nr back with a bang,jealous does not even come close.

Re: Another day in Paradise

PostPosted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 3:10 pm
by SMRussell
Beinn Mheadhoin is a great hill! We 'bagged' her in the winter too but ascended from the East having taken in Beinn Bhreac and Beinn a'Chaorainn. Lovely snaps, makes me want to experience her Westerly charms :)

Re: Another day in Paradise

PostPosted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 3:32 pm
by SAVAGEALICE
looks a great day guys :D lovely photies Andy :D :clap: :clap: