The Little & The Ben: Wyvis early morning

[Petr Dakota]

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It was more than one year when we did some Munros together with Richard - The Ring of Steall in September 2014....... Report from the trip here: http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=50517
and long time since I walked with someone as I'm mostly walking alone. Richard had a holiday for the week commencing 23.11.2015 so it was easier to fit with my two days off in the week ( tuesday and wednesday ). Mostly I preffer the first day off for some mountain trip, but in this case rain and some areas heavy rain forecast for tuesday, without a rain in some areas in wednesday and also the fact that Richard had something else to do on tuesday we decided for the wednesday 25.11.2015. I prepared 5 options where to go and wanted Richard to chose any of them as it was long time since he was in the mountains
Decision made for Ben Wyvis, which I wanted to do together with the Corbett Little Wyvis.
For this option I estimated and planned the day by following timing: Start the drive before 03:30 am, start the walk around 07:00 am, start the drive back around 13:00 and get back home around 16:30-16:45...it means that we need walk in the darkness in the beginning, at least in the first one - one and half hour...Happy winter - short days !
We met at 03:15 at the Tesco car park and then continued by one car only, it was very rare case for me to be a passenger
We arrived to the Ben Wyvis car park around 06:45 am - total darkness ( missed the entry for the first time as we were busy talking )

Torch in hand, we started the walk in darkness just before 7:00 am. The car park was empty, nobody else there yet...well signed start point and one path only, can't do any mistake here to find the right way

Finally some opened view after leaving the forest area. The silhouette of the mountains ahead, but still in darkness...

Daylight !!! The snow started around 650 m above sea level...looking back down to the Glen with the forest when climbing An Cabar, Richard on the zig-zag path.

Not just snow, but stronger wind started in the higher level. The path with the big stones - stony stairs was icy and slippy, better to walk along in the snow...

On the horizon, Little Wyvis opposite over the Glen

...the Corbett Little Wyvis in all its beauty

Looking back again, stronger wind and getting misty...

The first cairn of An Cabar...

...and the second cairn towards North / North-East, there is our way ahead to the summit, poor visibility

Towards East - sunrise !

Better visibility for a while

The sun was trying hard to get through the clouds

Looking back to An Cabar

The frost, the snow and the wind...

The summit of Ben Wyvis

Richard on the summit

Me on the summit

Richard trying to find the right place without wind.......no chance !

Walking back...

Descending, grassy wet ground in the lower level...

The boggy way up, to the next target Little Wyvis

Looking back from the higher level

The report continues in the post below.......

[Petr Dakota]

The summit of Little Wyvis

Towards West

a wee ZOOM

...and ZOOMed more

Descending...

Lower...and closer to the forest

Towards Ben Wyvis - hidden in the clouds...

The Glen between the Little and the Ben... It was boggy and some parts really very boggy near the forest. Here I did one wrong step and I almost disappeared in the swamp - one place was very deep and I was delved in the swamp ut to halh of my ( both ) thighs !!! Regret I did not make a photo, it would be special and funny selfie, but in the time my thoughts was only concerning to get out and I was really busy to get myself from there. It was first time I had such a big boggy experience - delved up to half of my thighs...no rare in snow many times before in my winter adventures, but this was really something else ! Happy I got out successfully ( and then thought I missed the interesting pic ).

Almost back on the Ben Wyvis path - near the stream. I was very looking forward to jump in to the stream and clean my trousers, gaiters and boots in the water

Looking back to Ben Wyvis...

...and once again

Looking ahead

Start point - the initial path from the car park in the daylight now

...and the empty car park

It was a great day in the mountains again, despite the "little" accident in the swamp which is counting like a new experience, the fresh winter air refreshed my body and my mind
We started the way back home before 13:00 and then finally got there safely just in time

[brocoli]

Nice report and really cold photos! . I wanted to climb Ben Wyvis but I didn't get the chance, so I took photos from the distance .


22/11/15 from Westhill

22/11/15 from Inverness

[Silverhill]

The early bird catches the worm again! A very dramatic sunrise with the sun trying to get through . I really like the blue-ish pictures of the summit. Makes it look even colder! I look forward to part 2!

[ancancha]

Was kinda hoping for the great view down the Moray Firth that I missed when I did it
Oh well guess I will have to go back during the summer

Didn't get to see much when I went, but very enjoyable none the less.

Nice report and photos again Petr, you should be getting a vouchure for your early starts if nothing else

[Petr Dakota]

Nice report and really cold photos! . I wanted to climb Ben Wyvis but I didn't get the chance, so I took photos from the distance .


22/11/15 from Westhill

22/11/15 from Inverness

Thanks brocoli Hope you will get it next time, I wish you a better views than mine

The early bird catches the worm again! A very dramatic sunrise with the sun trying to get through . I really like the blue-ish pictures of the summit. Makes it look even colder! I look forward to part 2!

Thanks Silverhill Glad you like the summit photos - the wind made it colder. Part two included here ( 1st post ) Dramatic sunrise, I agree...but for me was more dramatic the moment in the swamp

Was kinda hoping for the great view down the Moray Firth that I missed when I did it
Oh well guess I will have to go back during the summer

Ben Wyvis <span class="skimlinks-unlinked">outcrop.jpg</span>

Ben Wyvis <span class="skimlinks-unlinked">Summit.jpg</span>

Didn't get to see much when I went, but very enjoyable none the less.

Nice report and photos again Petr, you should be getting a vouchure for your early starts if nothing else

Sorry Craig I did not bring a better views from the summit, so you really need come back again in the summer
Thanks for your words

[dogplodder]

Some nice sky shots there. You did well to climb them both in the shorter daylight - achieved by starting in the dark!

[ancancha]

Some nice sky shots there. You did well to climb them both in the shorter daylight - achieved by starting in the dark!

No probs Petr
Tend to agree with Dogplodder, you got some cool pics of the sky up top
Must have been very atmospheric and similarly even without the views I had a good time

[Silverhill]

Glad you like the summit photos - the wind made it colder. Part two included here ( 1st post ) Dramatic sunrise, I agree...but for me was more dramatic the moment in the swamp

Oh dear, swallowed by the bog! Well done for extricating yourself from that and great you saw the funny side of it!

[Happyfeet]

Lovely snow pics from the top! looks cooooold though. Glad you had company

[Petr Dakota]

Some nice sky shots there. You did well to climb them both in the shorter daylight - achieved by starting in the dark!

Some nice sky shots there. You did well to climb them both in the shorter daylight - achieved by starting in the dark!

No probs Petr
Tend to agree with Dogplodder, you got some cool pics of the sky up top
Must have been very atmospheric and similarly even without the views I had a good time

Glad you like the summit photos - the wind made it colder. Part two included here ( 1st post ) Dramatic sunrise, I agree...but for me was more dramatic the moment in the swamp

Oh dear, swallowed by the bog! Well done for extricating yourself from that and great you saw the funny side of it!

Lovely snow pics from the top! looks cooooold though. Glad you had company

Thank you all for the comments Let's the Winter begin ! ...I mean the real Winter...freezy...a lot of snow...but clear blue sky and clear views...not rain !!!

[PerthAlly]

Nice one Petr

Did Ben Wyvis in March in similar conditions ie lovely and sunny in the car park. But windy as hell on An Caber

[Petr Dakota]

Nice one Petr

Did Ben Wyvis in March in similar conditions ie lovely and sunny in the car park. But windy as hell on An Caber

Thanks Ally