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Wyvis, Little and Big a WH meet appetizer!

PostPosted: Tue Apr 01, 2014 6:05 pm
by The Rodmiester
This was to be the start of the Walkhighlands Spring Meet and Fife Flyer (Martin) had arranged with myself to meet up and with me staying near Inverness the night before, had the time and inclination to head on up Little Wyvis a Corbett in the morning and then to hopefully join Martin, Chris (jepsonscotland)and Jelena on the path up Ben Wyvis.

After driving through a heavy rain storm to get to the car park before Garbat near the Allt a' Bhealaich Mhoir I arrived and kitted up and left at 1015hrs

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There is a well constructed path at the entrance of the car park which takes you to both Little Wyvis and Ben Wyvis and does not take you long until you come out of tree plantation. On the right is Little Wyvis the left Ben Wyvis
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View of the Tom na Caillich and Little Wyvis from further up the path
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In about haf an hour you reach the outskirts of the wooded area where you find an easy river crossing just adjacent to the East perimeter of the forest plantation on the South of the riverAllt a Bhealaich Mhoir
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Walk along the outside of the woods and after reaching the end of the woods at about 450m continue on the same line to meet a line of fence posts, follow fence posts until you come across a track traversing the West shoulder of Little Wyvis. At this point I walked along the track for about 300m as up until now the underfoot conditions were very wet and muddy
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The track mentioned earlier, after that another shower came and on with the waterproofs and the visibility worsened, so no photographs taken were worth posting. With no visibility it was map and compas and GPS used until the summit cairn found. Not hanging about at the summit and now seeing the wooded area I had climbed beside decided to check if Martin had arrived. Putting on the mobile which had been turned off a message was already there saying they had arrived and had started off, so off I headed back to bottom of the Bealach Mor when I saw two figures dressed in red and one in white. After confirming it was them well ahead of time, I just headed on down to meet up
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Chris Martin and Myself taken by Jelena
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Looking back at Little Wyvis from the now well constructed path up Ben Wyvis, although some of the steps were pretty deep and might take the tolll of tired legs when coming down, although the path was quite soft in places which helped the legs and old joints
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The newish path looking back (well it wasn't built the last time I'd climbed it!
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Jelena further on towards An Cabar
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Along the long summit ridge, being buffetted by cold strong cross winds
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After meeting another couple and two single walkers we finally reached the summit, hard going in the snow and very strong winds
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Another summit pose
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Some adjustments and additions required to Jelena's gloves, or should I just say, putting on Chris's second pair, for warmth
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Now out of the extreme wind and feeling very pleased with ourselves
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Walking out
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Those steps to be tackled!
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Heading on back thinking of the Fish Supper that awaited us at Ullapool
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One last look at Little Wyvis
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Nearly of the steep section and easier walking
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Anyone who reads this who not already has been to a WH meet should really consider coming along, great company and just a fabulous weekend
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Last final look at Ben Wyvis before heading off to Ullapool and then Basecamp at Inchnadamph where John and Anne had arranged to Meet up. What a start to the weekend!

Re: Wyvis, Little and Big a WH meet appetizer!

PostPosted: Tue Apr 01, 2014 6:42 pm
by Happyfeet
Looked really windy and cold at the top. Jelena posing as a stormtrooper i see :wink:
How was the fish?

Re: Wyvis, Little and Big a WH meet appetizer!

PostPosted: Tue Apr 01, 2014 6:49 pm
by The Rodmiester
Happyfeet wrote:Looked really windy and cold at the top. Jelena posing as a stormtrooper i see :wink:
How was the fish?


The thought of the fish supper kept us going, and yes it did not disappoint, better than trying to cook in a wee tent porch :lol: :lol: Yes very windy and cold but it's a lot easier with a wee group rather than on your own :)

Re: Wyvis, Little and Big a WH meet appetizer!

PostPosted: Tue Apr 01, 2014 7:22 pm
by old danensian
As you say - what a start to the weekend - and the contrasting visibility we experienced over the next few days.

Kept on thinking I was seeing stills from an Alistair McLean movie with Jelena's kit.

OD

Re: Wyvis, Little and Big a WH meet appetizer!

PostPosted: Tue Apr 01, 2014 7:56 pm
by Fife Flyer
Another good report Rod, you certainly get plenty of practice :wink: You certainly took more photo's than me, however your camera was alot more accessible than mine :wink:

I was trying to pursuade Chris to do a spot of composing, but he was still feeling guilty after the "hake incident" :lol:

Love the stormtrooper comment 8)

Re: Wyvis, Little and Big a WH meet appetizer!

PostPosted: Tue Apr 01, 2014 8:27 pm
by Graeme D
Fife Flyer wrote:Another good report Rod, you certainly get plenty of practice :wink: You certainly took more photo's than me, however your camera was alot more accessible than mine :wink:

I was trying to pursuade Chris to do a spot of composing, but he was still feeling guilty after the "hake incident" :lol:

Love the stormtrooper comment 8)


Nice wee hors d'oeuvre Rod. And that hake incident should henceforth be known as "Hakegate". :lol:

Re: Wyvis, Little and Big a WH meet appetizer!

PostPosted: Wed Apr 02, 2014 1:17 pm
by tummelv
Nice pictures. Did this the day after you lot and the wind was incredible. Any ideas what speed it was? the mountain forecast said 30mph on Saturday but it felt so much stronger.

Re: Wyvis, Little and Big a WH meet appetizer!

PostPosted: Wed Apr 02, 2014 1:30 pm
by The Rodmiester
tummelv wrote:Nice pictures. Did this the day after you lot and the wind was incredible. Any ideas what speed it was? the mountain forecast said 30mph on Saturday but it felt so much stronger.


Hi there tummelv, the weather forecast re winds was absolute rubbish, the gusts were I guess 60mph maybe more. I was on Quinag in Assynt the same day and was blown over at one point.

Re: Wyvis, Little and Big a WH meet appetizer!

PostPosted: Wed Apr 02, 2014 1:35 pm
by jepsonscotland
Great report Rod.

You forgot to mention that after Little Wyvis you then RAN down to meet us and then did Ben Wyvis :clap: :clap: :clap:

Jelena did very well considering this was her first winter walk, which we only found on the summit plateau when she was freezing. She was very impressed with the help we all gave her. We explained to her that she would always see this "band of brothers" attitude amongst us walkers and it really sums up the flavour of the whole weekend.
A well deserved fish supper in Ullapool too. :D
Chris

Re: Wyvis, Little and Big a WH meet appetizer!

PostPosted: Wed Apr 02, 2014 3:49 pm
by The Rodmiester
jepsonscotland wrote:Great report Rod.

You forgot to mention that after Little Wyvis you then RAN down to meet us and then did Ben Wyvis :clap: :clap: :clap:

Jelena did very well considering this was her first winter walk, which we only found on the summit plateau when she was freezing. She was very impressed with the help we all gave her. We explained to her that she would always see this "band of brothers" attitude amongst us walkers and it really sums up the flavour of the whole weekend.
A well deserved fish supper in Ullapool too. :D
Chris


Jelena did do very well considering the little amount of hill gear she had on, good on her for going on! :clap: :clap: I did not do a great deal, but I was impressed with all the amount of spare gear you had with you, excellent back up! Yep the fish supper tasted good, but I think anything would have gone down well, I was starving! Did you get the photos Chris?

Re: Wyvis, Little and Big a WH meet appetizer!

PostPosted: Wed Apr 02, 2014 7:07 pm
by jelena
Happyfeet wrote:Looked really windy and cold at the top. Jelena posing as a stormtrooper i see :wink:
How was the fish?

"A stormtrooper" Is it about me????I am flattered by that, getting more famous in the WH circles :roll: :wink: :D :lol:
Rod, very nice report and very nice company. To tell the truth I was impressed by mountain brotherhood and by all you guys.Thank you very much to Martin, Chris, Rod, Peter, Theresa, Johnny, Jackie.
Dont expect report from me, too many professionals and huge competition around. I will write on the Russian forum and where I will be the only such one!!!! :clap:
I am so happy happy happy

Re: Wyvis, Little and Big a WH meet appetizer!

PostPosted: Sat Apr 05, 2014 4:42 pm
by mountain thyme
Well done Rod.Looked a cold day :( It definately wasnt as bad a few miles up the road that day
Did you plan the 3 matching red jackets and black trousers at the summit :D

Was nice to meet you :D

Re: Wyvis, Little and Big a WH meet appetizer!

PostPosted: Sat Apr 05, 2014 4:44 pm
by mountain thyme
jelena wrote:
Happyfeet wrote:Looked really windy and cold at the top. Jelena posing as a stormtrooper i see :wink:
How was the fish?

"A stormtrooper" Is it about me????I am flattered by that, getting more famous in the WH circles :roll: :wink: :D :lol:
Rod, very nice report and very nice company. To tell the truth I was impressed by mountain brotherhood and by all you guys.Thank you very much to Martin, Chris, Rod, Peter, Theresa, Johnny, Jackie.
Dont expect report from me, too many professionals and huge competition around. I will write on the Russian forum and where I will be the only such one!!!! :clap:
I am so happy happy happy


no worries Jelena. It was good to walk with you and thank you for the company to Inverness :D

Re: Wyvis, Little and Big a WH meet appetizer!

PostPosted: Sat Apr 05, 2014 6:37 pm
by The Rodmiester
mountain thyme wrote:Well done Rod.Looked a cold day :( It definately wasnt as bad a few miles up the road that day
Did you plan the 3 matching red jackets and black trousers at the summit :D

Was nice to meet you :D


Nice to finally meet up with you as well Theresa! Maybe meet up on a Corbett one of these days either by chance or at a WH meet :D yes there were a few layers needed on the summit right enough, and the goggles were also required.

Re: Wyvis, Little and Big a WH meet appetizer!

PostPosted: Sat Apr 05, 2014 8:10 pm
by David-Main
Nice report Rod, well done on the 2 hills and catching up with the others. :clap: The old knees are not that bad :wink: