Walkhighlands

Day off today to use up leave before the end of the month, so it was some unashamed bagging. had originally planned to do the 4 Glas Maol hills, along with the Cairnwell 3 which would give 7 blue balloons, but late last night I was reading McNeish's book and reckoned it would make more sense to do the 4 plus Tolmount and Tom Buidhe which seemed to require a long walk in from Glen Callater to do them on their own. I reckoned I'd leave the decision on whether I added the other 3 until I was passing them by at the end

Away at 4.30 and arrived at the car parking area just past Glenshee Ski Centre about 7am. Clag was down over the top of carn an Tuirc when I left the car, but at least it was dry.

Track to Carn na Tuirc by 23weasels, on Flickr
More than could be said for the ground underfoot which was boggy squelch until about 700m After that it was - snow The west facing flank of the hill was coated in several inches with a soft icy crust. Hares were in profusion, gamboling about, half white half brown.

Snow hares CaT by 23weasels, on Flickr

I contoured up the side of the hill, slightly anxious about avalanche risk, although I could see no sign of anything dangerous in the snow. Round to the top after an hour's walking, zero views I'm afraid.


Summit CaT by 23weasels, on Flickr

Set off for Cairn of Claise needing the satmap to navigate me through dense whiteness. Seemed to get there really quickly and paused for a quick summit shot and to decide what to do.

Cairn Cairn of Claise by 23weasels, on Flickr

Because I'd changed my plans late the night before I hadn't put much thought into it, other than there didn't seem any particluarly risky bits as regards navigation on either of the "T" hills. Decided to follow the boundary line on the map which led straight to the summit of Tolmount then use the WH route from there to Tom Buidhe and head back over towards Maol Glas.

Heading towards Tolmount by 23weasels, on Flickr


The mega-exciting Tolmount by 23weasels, on Flickr

Finding Tolmount was easy even in the clag - have to say from this approach it seemed like a pimple rather than a Munro - after the glamourous Glencoe hills last week it did seem something of a disappointment. No views to speak of didn't help much either.


Looking N from Tolmount slope by 23weasels, on Flickr


Top, Tolmount by 23weasels, on Flickr

From there to Tom Buidhe was also straightforward - TB was another hill coated with frozen snow on its dome, but no problems in the ascent. 4 hills done in 3 hours.

Towards Tom Buidhe by 23weasels, on Flickr


Top, Tom Buidhe by 23weasels, on Flickr

The next part was a real slog however. I went over Ca Whims and followed something of the line of the Clais burn, I suppose - everthing was hidden under a white blanket. But it was the kind of snow that has enough crust to give way with every footstep, plunging your foot down to mid calf - or sometimes hip depth and made the few kilometers til I rejoined the path from Cairn of Claise take an eternity and exhaust my energies. It didn't help that by this time the snow had started and was being blown into my face from the south. Stopped for lunch at the early time of 11am and the coffee and flapjack did help revive me a bit. I could see the steep sides of Caenlochan Glen and didn't want to miss my way over there

Finally I picked up the path again and followed what I could see of it along to the top of Glas Maol which had a nice built up sheltered area - full of snow...


Top, Glas Maol by 23weasels, on Flickr


Snowing on Glas Maol by 23weasels, on Flickr

Didn't linger for long before heading for the next hill Creag Leacach. The path was easier to make out to this one and the sky started to clear, afording me some views.

First sight top of CL by 23weasels, on Flickr


CL by 23weasels, on Flickr


To the S of CL by 23weasels, on Flickr


Path to the top of CL by 23weasels, on Flickr

I could see the boulderfield leading up to the stony top and clambered over the rocks up to the cairn. Quite enjoyed having something to look at from the top - over to the northwest I could see the antennae on the Cairnwell and also the A93 snaking between the hills - my destination.

Number 6 of the day by 23weasels, on Flickr


The Cairnwell and the road by 23weasels, on Flickr

I decided to cut a corner off the path and head straight down from the summit towards the road. Fortunately there was enough snow covering the scree to be able to achieve this in several longish bumslides and before long I was on the steepish grassy slopes leading to Allt Coire Bhathaich and onto the road.

descent route! by 23weasels, on Flickr

Was a long pull up the side of the road towards the Ski Centre. My foot is killing me by this time, I can feel my hips a little sore and my energy has been drained by ploughing through the soft snow. i can see the Cairnwell and Carn Aosda to my left - the road is at an elevation of 665m and they're only just over the 914 mark - will I go up them and leave Carn an Gheoidh for another day and go back with a clutch of 8?

Carn Aosda by 23weasels, on Flickr
I'm tempted, but there's a big weekend coming up and really it isn't worth the pain in my foot to struggle up these hills decorated with metallic paraphenalia - I'm going to leave them for another day. Get back to the car - eventually - and speak to a couple parked beside me who'd started off on the Glas Maol circuit but baled out after 2 because of the conditions. A cup of coffee and I'm ready for the drive home.

Back at the start - Carn an Tuirc in view now by 23weasels, on Flickr

Unashamed bagging indeed.............what's that 91 since August?

89 since september - i have 2 old ones from the 90s in there!
become a little bit of an obsession, maybe

Well done, getting these six in the snow, WM. Those hares are changing colour a bit too soon this year. I'll be interested to see what the ptarmigans look like when I come to Scotland on Saturday.