Could have done with Snow Shoes
Posted: Mon Feb 29, 2016 10:39 pmFirst walk of the year, noticing a post on Talk Highlands on Thursday evening of superb weather over the weekend i just had to get out and get back on the score sheet. I did not want to travel too far and was a little worried about avalanche with the dogs so i went for the two Drumochter based hills i had not already done.
The hills in this area are etched in my memories, i spent many a school holiday up at my Granda's brothers (my Uncle Jonnie's) at Etteridge Farm just a few miles north along the A9. Here i learnt how to handle sheep and farm dogs as my Granda and his brother were both shepherds. One of my dogs Roy is actually named after my Granda's best sheep dog Roy, whom still used to herd sheep even into old age and blindness. I used to go out and collect the eggs from the chickens and Isobel used to be the best home cook. I feel the days are now gone when we used to go up and before you were even in the door a dram was offered, these traditions do not happen the same with the new generations.
I was looking forward to getting views of the majestic Ben Alder (or Granda's hill as we always called it) as he used to drive the toffs up Loch Ericht in the boat to hunt deer at the far end. The conditions would have been great for his brother, a Lovat Scout during WWII, he perfected the art of Skiing in Canada for operations but ended up spending most of the war in Italy, Granda ended up in Africa with the RAF as his engineering skills were needed during the two battles of El Alamein. neither spoke much of the war, their hearts were in Scotland where they luckily both returned to carve out long lives off the wild land of the area.
I parked in layby 87 and set off over the road and up the track. The snow was really deep in sections and took it out of me.
Once up at the T Junction i went right first towards A'Bhuidheanach Beag. I tried to follow some tracks in the snow from some sort of snow mobile but was breaking through the thin crust which caused me problems.
Eventually got to the summit trig and was quickly met by some ski tourers, what a way to experience these hills.
Off next to Carn na Caim, found this tough going in the sections of soft snow but it felt great on the frozen sections, this would be a relatively easy walk in good dry conditions with the only problems being the navigation if in mist.
Had awesome views from Carn na Caim summit, especially into Ben Alder, i cannot wait to do this mountain although my thinking is a bike will be needed, potentially this summer or next i hope.
A wonderful day, full of great memories.
Legs are still killing me today but managed nonetheless, although could have done with snow shoes
The hills in this area are etched in my memories, i spent many a school holiday up at my Granda's brothers (my Uncle Jonnie's) at Etteridge Farm just a few miles north along the A9. Here i learnt how to handle sheep and farm dogs as my Granda and his brother were both shepherds. One of my dogs Roy is actually named after my Granda's best sheep dog Roy, whom still used to herd sheep even into old age and blindness. I used to go out and collect the eggs from the chickens and Isobel used to be the best home cook. I feel the days are now gone when we used to go up and before you were even in the door a dram was offered, these traditions do not happen the same with the new generations.
I was looking forward to getting views of the majestic Ben Alder (or Granda's hill as we always called it) as he used to drive the toffs up Loch Ericht in the boat to hunt deer at the far end. The conditions would have been great for his brother, a Lovat Scout during WWII, he perfected the art of Skiing in Canada for operations but ended up spending most of the war in Italy, Granda ended up in Africa with the RAF as his engineering skills were needed during the two battles of El Alamein. neither spoke much of the war, their hearts were in Scotland where they luckily both returned to carve out long lives off the wild land of the area.
I parked in layby 87 and set off over the road and up the track. The snow was really deep in sections and took it out of me.
- Track up past the quarry
- Looking into the Gorms, Cairn Toul's recognizable flat top in middle
- Wonderful light, Iphone is a great camera in good light
- Dogs in their element
Once up at the T Junction i went right first towards A'Bhuidheanach Beag. I tried to follow some tracks in the snow from some sort of snow mobile but was breaking through the thin crust which caused me problems.
- Drumochter 4 and Alder behind
- Trying to follow the snow mobile tracks
- Over to Carn na Caim
Eventually got to the summit trig and was quickly met by some ski tourers, what a way to experience these hills.
- Beag summit trig, snow coming half way up
- Heading uphill to Carn na Caim
- Tracks everywhere looking back to Beag
Off next to Carn na Caim, found this tough going in the sections of soft snow but it felt great on the frozen sections, this would be a relatively easy walk in good dry conditions with the only problems being the navigation if in mist.
- Alder from Carn na Caim summit
Had awesome views from Carn na Caim summit, especially into Ben Alder, i cannot wait to do this mountain although my thinking is a bike will be needed, potentially this summer or next i hope.
- Dogs eye view from Carn na Caim summit
- Back over to Beag
- Alder and co
- and again
- and again
- The majestic Ben Alder
A wonderful day, full of great memories.
Legs are still killing me today but managed nonetheless, although could have done with snow shoes
