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Ring of Steall, Winter whiteout and wind.

Ring of Steall, Winter whiteout and wind.


Postby sneaks » Fri Jan 23, 2015 3:12 pm

Route description: The Ring of Steall, Mamores

Munros included on this walk: Am Bodach, An Gearanach, Sgùrr a' Mhàim, Stob Coire a' Chàirn

Date walked: 22/01/2015

Time taken: 10 hours

Distance: 14.5 km

Ascent: 1869m

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Just a quick report, enjoy :)

Forecasts were looking favourable for us and the snow was more stabalised in the Lochaber region so the plan was made to head to Glen Nevis yesterday from Edinburgh for a day out on The Ring of Steall.

Upone reaching the carpark we were met with this lovely view:
wh1.jpg


So boots on and off we went.
Sadly at around 900m the cloud engulfed us and it remained like this for the majority of the day only occasionally giving us a glimpse of what was around.
My friend Fraser enjoying the viz:
wh2.jpg


Heading round:
wh5.jpg

The view from Am Bodach:
wh3.jpg

Looking at An Garbhanach:
wh4.jpg


Some more visibility, just in time for the decent to Steall meadows.
wh6.jpg


Overall this was a very full on day, with the wind blowing 30-50mph and sometimes gusting higher. Visibility was limited and navigation from the summits & along the wider ridges required skill and patience.

Crampons and axe were required all day long.

Disclaimer: Please do not attempt this route unless you are 100% happy that once you're up there you could be in the whiteroom all day and at risk of being blown off the ridge. There is also serious exposure at points.
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sneaks
Stravaiging
 
Posts: 19
Munros:120   Corbetts:8
Fionas:3   Donalds:8
Sub 2000:14   Hewitts:5
Wainwrights:1   
Joined: Jul 15, 2012
Location: Edinburgh

Re: Ring of Steall, Winter whiteout and wind.

Postby onsen » Sat Jan 24, 2015 8:47 pm

Challenging conditions ! Well done.
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onsen
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Posts: 290
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Location: The Great Southern Land, Australia

Re: Ring of Steall, Winter whiteout and wind.

Postby Alteknacker » Mon Jan 26, 2015 1:14 am

Looks like it was pretty challenging! DId you use hand or GPS nav methods??? I've walked in circles more than once in whiteouts, even with a compass :(
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Alteknacker
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Location: Effete South (of WIgan, anyway)

Re: Ring of Steall, Winter whiteout and wind.

Postby sneaks » Wed Jan 28, 2015 7:28 pm

onsen wrote:Challenging conditions ! Well done.


Thanks Onsen :)

Alteknacker wrote:Looks like it was pretty challenging! DId you use hand or GPS nav methods??? I've walked in circles more than once in whiteouts, even with a compass :(


Hi Alteknacker, it was indeed challenging at times but great fun! All map and compass methods for the duration of this walk.

It's a shame I didn't get more good pictures, but with the weather and viz being so poor they just didn't turn out right!

Cheers,
sneaks
Stravaiging
 
Posts: 19
Munros:120   Corbetts:8
Fionas:3   Donalds:8
Sub 2000:14   Hewitts:5
Wainwrights:1   
Joined: Jul 15, 2012
Location: Edinburgh

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