The Saddle: fighting against wind on Forcan Ridge in winter
Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2016 7:32 pm
Kintail was the destination chosen for my monday's trip. The weather forecast was not so good for most of Scotland: rain, poor visibility and very strong wind...Kintail area promising for visibility and no rain, but strong wind there as well I was looking forward to climb some rocky mountains and despite the wind I wanted get the views, especially in such a beautiful place as Kintail is. This idea was supported by the fact that I have been there in Summer, but misty tops everywhere - I missed the views from the South Glen Shiel Ridge. Then I was more lucky when doing the Kintail Brothers & Ciste Dhubh & Am Bathach later in the Summer, but somehow I love the Winter's views more than the Summer's greens
Decision made, prepared all my mountain stuff incl. Ice-axe, crampons, goggles and spare insulated jacket I set alarm for 3:00 am. I expected difficult scrambling and the strong wind so I left my camera at home and decided to make photos by my mobile phone as it will be easier to remove and handle in the worse conditions - spare battery and my outdoor charger packet like usual
Checked the recent forecast in the morning again I left home at 4:15 am, then heading to Kintail via Stirling, Perth, Dalwhinnie, Spean Bridge... It was rain almost all the way, which made me worries about the trip, but hope dies as last, I believed it will be ok there. The rain was really heavy in some areas and the road full of water...holding the steering wheel strongly because of the flooding, it kept me awake all the way
My goal was to enjoy the day in mountains despite the wind or any weather difficulties and my priority was the views. So, if there is an dillema about the time, I was decided to enjoy the Forcan Ridge, even if it means a delay and one Munro only in the worse conditions, rather than to do both Munros by the easier way there.
Here is a video - views from the summit:
sorry for the unsteadey video as my hand was shaking in the strong wind...
The report incl. the summit, the trig point and the views around, continues in the comment ( post ) below
Decision made, prepared all my mountain stuff incl. Ice-axe, crampons, goggles and spare insulated jacket I set alarm for 3:00 am. I expected difficult scrambling and the strong wind so I left my camera at home and decided to make photos by my mobile phone as it will be easier to remove and handle in the worse conditions - spare battery and my outdoor charger packet like usual
Checked the recent forecast in the morning again I left home at 4:15 am, then heading to Kintail via Stirling, Perth, Dalwhinnie, Spean Bridge... It was rain almost all the way, which made me worries about the trip, but hope dies as last, I believed it will be ok there. The rain was really heavy in some areas and the road full of water...holding the steering wheel strongly because of the flooding, it kept me awake all the way
My goal was to enjoy the day in mountains despite the wind or any weather difficulties and my priority was the views. So, if there is an dillema about the time, I was decided to enjoy the Forcan Ridge, even if it means a delay and one Munro only in the worse conditions, rather than to do both Munros by the easier way there.
Here is a video - views from the summit:
sorry for the unsteadey video as my hand was shaking in the strong wind...
The report incl. the summit, the trig point and the views around, continues in the comment ( post ) below