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A walk was called for to blow away the Xmas excesses, but I got more than I bargained for
All the recent snow called for somewhere with easy access so it was back to the Cairnwell Pass to tackle my only outstanding Munro in that area: Creag Leacach. Forecast looked reasonable if cold. So was up & on the road before 8:00 and the car was reading -6°C. By Aboyne it was -9°, by Ballater -14°. I was getting concerned. It reached -18° in Braemar [my car thermo wasn’t misleading me, the Met Office had Braemar as -18° too – the coldest (recorded) place in Britain for the day]. It crept up to -14° climbing up to the ski centre. I was hoping to start from the car park below the Devil’s Elbow if it was clear and thankfully a plough had been through so I was to park up without a problem.
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I as steeped out to clear dawn a gentle breeze was blowing so it didn’t feel too cold – just like steeping into a freezer. So on with boots & gaiters, a snap of my intended route and off for a session of post-holing. The first problem was crossing the stream, sorry, burn. The 25,000 OS map shows a footbridge across, but all that is left are 2 rotting planks. With the snow covering the ice much poking about with walking pole ensured, till I was able to find somewhere safe 15 min later.
As expected going was very slow, with the snow being between calf and knee deep. There were occasionally signs of someone having been this was that day before, but they were of no benefit for me. The route involved heading for the col between Meal Gorm and the south summit of Creag Leacach – which meant another 15min searching for a crossing point of the burn that joins the first I crossed. I wasn’t cold and was soon perspiring climbing up the north face of Meal Gorm. Snow depth gradually lessened as I climbed (avalanche level was considerable on south aspects) and wind speed increased. The col reached I swapped the walking pole for ice axe. The snow was now sometimes firm enough to walk on – or just enough for you to relax a bit and then fall through again. At least you didn’t fall so far when you did. Although there was the odd icy patch crampons weren’t called for. The southern slopes were now in view and scouring was evident.
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- Looking south from southern summit
By the time the southern summit was reached (943m) the gentle breeze was now a fresh to strong breeze (20-30 mph) and the wind chill was fierce – probably around -20°. Time for another layer now most of the steep climbing was behind me. I had a fair amount of new kit on and I have to say the Marino wool base layer (mine was from Helly Hansen) was working a treat as I was still following the classic 3-layer approach. The eVent jacket (Montane) was nicely lined with ice as I took it off to add another fleece.
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- Looking north form southern summit at Cairnwell Pass & A93
Snaps taken it was off to Creag Leacach itself – into the teeth of the northerly. It didn’t take long but by the time I got there my face was going numb as the wind picked up icy snow to blast into my flesh. I didn’t have ski goggles at the time (a trip to Braemar Mountain Sports on the way home has rectified that) and my eyes stung for 2 days afterwards.
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- Looking towards Glas Maol (obscured) form Creag Leacach summit
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- View south from Creag Leacach summit
It was now nearing 1pm (having set off just before 9am) and with what looked like a blizzard descending on Glas Maol, my next intended port of call – I had originally even thought of going over to Monega Hill to look down Caenlochan Glen where the River Isla rises – I decided that was enough for me. Meet a couple of other parties back on the southern summit and had time to take in Meall Gorm on the way back.
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- A93 from Meall Gorm
