Lochnagar, 5 Munros 32 km circle - Effort rewarded !
Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2015 12:31 am
Watching weather forecast in advance I started preparation for my trip on sunday, despite the fact that I prefer 1st day off for Mountains and 2nd day at home with my family, because the forecast for sunday was better...Saturday rain or heavy rain almost everywhere and sunday rain in West, but East looked much better...Last day before my trip I checked again all areas in details, hourly...and decided that it will be Lochnagar - 5 Munros together or Glenshee 4-6 Munros, depends on condition ( weather, surface and mine )
I woke up at 02:00 am, prepared all things and food, checked weather again and started at 3:45 from home. I was going via Glenshee on A93 and continued to Spittal of Glenmuick - the Lochnagar chosen. I got there at 6:40 am, car park was almost empty in the time, paid the parking fee of £3 per day and started my trip before 6:50 am.
After meeting with the Deer, started light rain shower and the path got me into Forest. Shortly there only, got at end of the Forest and I saw that weather is getting worse and worse...misty, windy, bad visibility, not even seen shades of hills around and because of nonstop sleet I stopped shortly for some necessary arrangements: Put camera into my rucksack, remove gloves, cover the rucksack by rain cover, wear hood over my head and continue my walk in open area...After a few miles I felt how wet I am despite all the waterproof protection and also dissapointing that I can't see nothing around as I was really looking forward to enjoy all the views from the great area and especially from Lochnagar...wanted make some photos for my mountains collection. I started think that because of all of it, I will try to get atleast onto Lochnagar summit and then back to car as quick as possible and probably get back for the other 4 Munros some day later in better weather conditions...Decision done - continue walk despite the bad weather condition, get atleast Lochnagar and then see how it will looks, still hoping in change of weather as it mostly happens. From this part of way - walk in sleet, wind and mist I have not any photos ( camera safely in rucksack, mobile phone camera ready in pocket for some quick usage only )...In this part of my way I also did not turn left from the Cairn point, following still the main bigger path, looking down during walk in sleet...after almost 2 km I removed GPS to check if I am using the rigt way...by the way I expanded my walk for some extra miles ( @ 4 km )...why not enjoy the area more as I wanted a Big Day
Weather looks good and promising now, time to remove camera from rucksack
Also happy and decided to try complete my plan - 5 Munros in the circle
Then between the Munro no.3 and Munro no.5 the weather changed again...more windy, sometime rain drops, sleet and snow, cloudy...misty = camera in the rucksack again. For rest of the way I used my phone camera only, made pics of all summits and some placeds around, no much photos then as the weather and visibility did not allowed more.
I got to the car park safelly and finally at 15:22...full of good memories and great feelings from the mountains. Drove home over 2.5 hours. I slept well after the day but very shortly...woke up at 00:30 am for very early start time at work ( driving to Aberdeen and back on monday ).
Spring time is coming, good time for all walkers who loves long days in mountains or early starts / late finish as the longer day light will allowe us enjoy it...but I guess I will miss the winter adventures, especially when the midges will be everywhere around.......