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Windy winter walking - Cairgorms and Glencoe

PostPosted: Sat Feb 28, 2015 2:27 pm
by wilkiemurray
Meall a’Bhuachaille and The Pap of Glencoe.



Two days annual leave had been booked for months and grand plans had been hatched in those 8 weeks…. Plans that included blue skies, high pressure systems, rock hard neve and green ice….. Classic winter routes and climbs had been poured over and researched, hours of fun! … however when the time came we were lucky to reach the mountains at all!

Monday morning and we set off north along the A9. By Dunked the road was white and the snow was drifting in the gales and it was getting progressively worse the further we got.

ImagePlough by mountains MJVW, on Flickr


A plan to head to the Northern Corries was ditched as the access road was closed, plan B was a small Munro , Creag Pitridh, however this was soon scuppered also as we came across a number abandoned cars in deep snow not far from the turn off – the road west was closed. We needed to stick to the A9 which was bad but still passable. Plan C – see if we can get to Glenmore and then head up Meall a’ Bhuachaille. We turned off for Aviemore and the road to Glenmore was actually better than the A9, perhaps due to the Rothiemurchus Forrest providing shelter and reducing the drifting…

We headed almost due North through the forest and were rewarded with some blue skies when we reached the edge of the trees.

ImageCairngorms by mountains MJVW, on Flickr

This lifted our moods a little although the winds were still howling. The spindrift leaving the peaks was impressive and for now we were virtually being blown up the hill!! This changed as we reached the Bealach and had to turn west. The wind was now blowing us side ways and we were fighting to stay up right at times!! Blowy indeed!

Imagesummit Meall by mountains MJVW, on Flickr

The summit was reached before the next blizzard set in and we quickly set our sights on Ryvoan for some shelter. A windy descent and we soon reached Ryvoan.

ImageRyovan Yesterday by mountains MJVW, on Flickr

On entering about 20 pairs of eyes greeted us – it was a busy little bothy today. A number of parties came and went whilst we gathered ourselves and decided what to do tomorrow- should we head home due to bad weather?? We decided to head west and stay a night in the Clachaig Inn. A few roads were closed which meant some diversions to get to Glencoe but we eventually reached the Clachaig and had a quick scouting mission for the next day.

ImageClachaig by mountains MJVW, on Flickr

Heavy snow and high winds were forecast again so we had a few drinks and a good nights sleep before deciding to tackle what is usually a nice easy hike, The Pap of Glencoe. The snow level was about 150m and the weather wasn’t too bad on the lower slopes although there were some real hefty showers rolling about and the blizzards came and went.

ImageGlencoe by mountains MJVW, on Flickr

ImagePap by mountains MJVW, on Flickr


Higher up the wind kicked in again although not as bad as in the Cairngorms the day before it was still gale force. We got our crampons out and ice axes at the ready and chose a steep runnel / mixed route up the final steep dome of the Pap.

Imagestorm arriving by mountains MJVW, on Flickr

Finally a little bit of sport. Didn’t stay long on the summit and we had some fun descending the deep snow. Back to the car and we headed home on roads that were much better than the day before.

ImageThe Road to Nowhere by mountains MJVW, on Flickr

An enjoyable two days and great to get out! 

Re: Windy winter walking - Cairgorms and Glencoe

PostPosted: Sat Feb 28, 2015 3:53 pm
by hopper68
Wow!!! another cracking report, really enjoyed the video.....real testing conditions there...

Re: Windy winter walking - Cairgorms and Glencoe

PostPosted: Sat Feb 28, 2015 8:17 pm
by Petr Dakota
Great two days in mountains...well done :clap: Nice video too :clap:

Re: Windy winter walking - Cairgorms and Glencoe

PostPosted: Sat Feb 28, 2015 10:04 pm
by onsen
Enjoyed the real life wintery conditions seen through your lens... 8)

Re: Windy winter walking - Cairgorms and Glencoe

PostPosted: Sun Mar 01, 2015 7:41 pm
by kev_russ
Braw video as per usual :)

Re: Windy winter walking - Cairgorms and Glencoe

PostPosted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 12:11 pm
by dogplodder
Enjoyed seeing conditions at the top from the comfort of home! 8)

Re: Windy winter walking - Cairgorms and Glencoe

PostPosted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 1:29 pm
by Beaner001
Had same conditions as you going over Drumochter in December, Opted for the same Corbett as a plan B :D Another great video Murray :clap:

Re: Windy winter walking - Cairgorms and Glencoe

PostPosted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 1:33 pm
by spiderwebb
Good stuff, you cant beat a bit of wind :lol:

Re: Windy winter walking - Cairgorms and Glencoe

PostPosted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 12:03 am
by Spade
Fantastic wee film. Really enjoyed this report, film and pictures. :clap: :D

Re: Windy winter walking - Cairgorms and Glencoe

PostPosted: Fri Mar 06, 2015 8:02 am
by wilkiemurray
hopper68 wrote:Wow!!! another cracking report, really enjoyed the video.....real testing conditions there...


Thanks Hopper

The driving condition were certainly testing ;)

ATB

Murray

Re: Windy winter walking - Cairgorms and Glencoe

PostPosted: Fri Mar 06, 2015 8:03 am
by wilkiemurray
Thanks All,

hope I catch the good weather next time I am out :)

ATB

Murray