There's no business like snow business (ta dah!)

[railton22]

Often seen the Corbett, Corryhabbie Hill from the B9009. It looks like a benign little mouse of a hill. We even tried to climb it once but got blown back down off the shoulder by the gale force winds.

At the start of our walk with Ben Rinnes in the background.

Pride cometh before a fall

Today was very still and bitterly cold. So off to Corryhabbie Hill we trollied. The snow line was about a quarter of the way up the hill and from the start of the walk it looked like an icing sugar dusting.

"Cakewalk", we scoffed. "We'll be back home in 3 hours. Nothing to it."

We were later to discovered that pride indeed does cometh before (many, many) a fall.

Did this walk clockwise rather than anti-clockwise as suggested in WH. Our reasons being that at the last attempt we found the ascent "path" unclear with very little features that would aid navigation.

The clockwise route involved following a clear path all the way to the top. The only downside as we reached north-eastern shoulder was the SW wind which cut like a knife as we walked into the teeth of it. Other than that, easy peasy....

........apart from the snow.

It was NOT an icing sugar dusting.

At all.

It was in some places up to the tops of my thighs (I'm 5' 4") and the Hubs at 5' 10" even managed to go up to his backside in the relentless snowdrifts.

Still we trudged on. Me looking like a dwarfish version of John Cleese doing his Ministry walks and the Hubs not looking much better.

It went on and on.........and on.

Waiting patiently

Eventually we got up on the top of the hill and ascending gently towards the summit cairn, the snow got significantly shallower and it was replaced by ice (of the slipperiest kind) which coupled with the steady freezing wind meant that staying upright was quite a challenge.

Even with a leg at each corner, the dog lost his balance several times. Bob Hope for us two.

Any hopes of a sheltered lunch stop at the summit trig and wind shelter was cruelly dashed as snow had filled the wind shelter. Right to the very top.

The snow shelter was full of.....snow

Head filled with cups of steaming coffee and warm fudge cake

This is what a grim Collie looks like

The dog stalked off up to the very top of this snowy mound and miserably plonked himself down looking incredibly cheesed off.

Lunch was a no-no as it was too exposed and cold to eat up there and so munching on biscuits we began our descent on Moray's best kept secret........ a ski-ing black run.

The descent was treacherous as the snow had frozen in solid sheets of ice in parts on the steep slopes and in other parts the snow gave way with every step being a challenge to hoist ourselves out of knee deep crusty snow.

The dog didn't fare much better.

Tantalising, we could see our car waaaaay below us in the Glen Rinnes valley. Even from far, far away our car looked nice and warm, and comfy, and safe.....and snow free.

Made it back down with just one bloodied paw between the three of us.

Still at least we earned this one.......and now sat at home in front of the log burner having eaten a lovely warming Cottage Pie washed down with ginger beer (we're totally hardcare in our household ).

Walked by Sarah, David and Nudge.

[Alteknacker]

Yes, it's a struggle when the snow conditions aren't benign... but at least you had reasonable (= high vis) weather