Fighting the wind for views: From the Mountains with Love

[Petr Dakota]

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Very good or Excellent visibility was the forecast for tuesday morning promising some great views, but the very strong wind was the price for it...the strong wind, the "Feels like" temperature of minus 14 on the tops and then change around 14:00 - heavy clouds, poor visibility, snowing on the tops and rain on the bottom...
Sgor na h-Ulaidh was my target...some unfinished business to do before the end of the Year

The wind was strong on the bottom already, I felt the power since I left my car so I guessed that it will be even worse on the tops. Happy to be in the mountains again...determined...looking forward to conquer this mountain finally...My will power was my engine against the wind !

First sight of the hidden Munro, Sgor na h-Ulaidh ahead after passing the Glencoe Mountain Cottages at Gleann Leac na Muidhe.

There was not snow on the bottom, no snow on the slopes and no snow on the tops not any snow in the mountains in December !!! How different from my last trip in the same area one month ago !

I enjoyed the walk along Allt na Muidhe...

There was two categories of the terrain between the forest and the stream: boggy...and very boggy !

The wind was really strong on the open steepish slopes...no sweating by the way - it was the plus

The view towards West: Corbett Meall Lighiche in the front and Beinn a'Bheithir - two Munros behind

Bidean nam Bian and Stob Coire Sgreamhach towards East

Clouds still quickly moving over the mountains...

Towards North: looking back from the slope of Stob an Fhuarain. Ben Nevis visible in the background...and the Glen I came from is on the bottom

Stob an Fhuarain ahead and the view towards South over Glen Etive

Like a two different Worlds on the top of Stob an Fhuarain: this darker southern view towards Etive mountains.......

.......and the brighter Northern view towards Bideannam Bian and Ben Nevis in the distance

It was dry, icy, frosty and very very very windy ...but where is the snow ?!?!! The wind was really strong and cold...difficult to move sometimes ( mostly ), but at least the views was more appreciated...the effort was rewarded and the climb was more adventurous and interesting

You can see the wind power in the video below:

I love challenges, challenging conditions and overcoming obstacles so at least if not snow, there was the wind instead !

Sgorr na h-Ulaidh ahead !

The final ascent was not so bad how it looked from the bottom, but some extra care needed because of the strong wind and rocky / icy ground in places...

On the frosty summit...

The summit of Sgor na h-Ulaidh

Sometimes misty, sometimes clear views...the wind was playing games and changing the scene very quickly

Brocken Spectre like a bonus !

Glen Etive

On the way back: descending Sgor na h-Ulaidh, then over Stob an Fhuarain again...Ben Nevis dominated in the distance

Towards Glen Etive again...

Towards East

Looking back to Sgor na h-Ulaidh...Loch Etive and Ben Starav on the left

Bidean nam Bian again...Ben Nevis in the background

Once again looking back towards Sgor na h-Ulaidh

Glencoe, Mamores and Ben Nevis in the views behind me

On the walk back to the car park...The Pap of Glencoe and Aonach Eagach

I did not meet and even did not see anyone in the mountains that day...not surprised, because of the windy weather forecast...but despite the wind I enjoyed another great day in the beautiful mountains
Feelings: Respect and humility for the mountains...Happiness, refreshment and satisfaction !
You can climb one mountain - the same mountain more times, still again and again and it will be always different. You will always feel and get something new, another experience, another lesson another view...conditions...feelings !
That's the way of appreciating and enjoying the mountains...the legacy of mountains...the tribute...the respect...
From the mountains with love !!!
And then...the forecast was right about the visibility change: I drove to the village to buy a coffee and some refreshment on the way and when I was going via Glencoe the rain just started, all the hills around was in heavy clouds and I saw how the tops are becoming whiter by some fresh falling snow... Happy and lucky with the timing !

[Coop]

Great report- thanks. I'm hoping for one decent ish day before the new year. Sgor na h-ulaidh or the two east of drumochter pass are waiting.
Great pics- glad the snow and rain stayed away for you.

[PerthAlly]

Aye. Well done once more Petr

I did this one on a hot day early June. The burns were dry so hydration was an issue. First running water was near the farm steading near the start of the walk

Merry Christmas

[yellowbelly]

10/10 for the music alone Petr. Beautiful video & pics. Thanks for this great report as I read it on a stormy day.
Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year to you. I look forward to your next outing.

[Graeme D]

Breathtaking!

[Cairngorm creeper]

Great report and photos. That wind made it look hard work and cold but as you say very rewarding.

[Petr Dakota]

Great report- thanks. I'm hoping for one decent ish day before the new year. Sgor na h-ulaidh or the two east of drumochter pass are waiting.
Great pics- glad the snow and rain stayed away for you.

Aye. Well done once more Petr

I did this one on a hot day early June. The burns were dry so hydration was an issue. First running water was near the farm steading near the start of the walk

Merry Christmas

10/10 for the music alone Petr. Beautiful video & pics. Thanks for this great report as I read it on a stormy day.
Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year to you. I look forward to your next outing.

Breathtaking!

Great report and photos. That wind made it look hard work and cold but as you say very rewarding.

Thank you very much for all the nice comments
Have a wonderfull Christmas and Happy New Year ! All the Best and stay safe

[dav2930]

Well worth the fight to get views like those Petr. - Looking at the vid, that did look some fight though!

What a marvellous, dramatic light you've captured in many of those photos - and that Brocken Spectre is a beauty! Great stuff.

Happy Christmas

[ancancha]

Nice one Petr
Happy Christmas and may 2017 bring you everything that's good for you

[Alteknacker]

Some cracking pics there, Petr. Been showing the broken spectre pic to anyone who'll spare me 30 secs!!

And these are some of the best hills. Great stuff.

All the best for 2017.

[jamesb63]

Very nice pics Petr this is on my to do list soon I hope ,
as soon as work allows

[Andrea Rosslyn]

Excellent! Beautiful views despite the wind!

[Petr Dakota]

Thank you all for the comments, really appreciate

All the Best in 2017 !
Many adventures and happy returns.
Stay safe always in the Mountains...

[spiderwebb]

Great report of a great day. Like you, I enjoy the challenge of the varying conditions, and as you said, it adds to the learning experience

[Petr Dakota]

Great report of a great day. Like you, I enjoy the challenge of the varying conditions, and as you said, it adds to the learning experience

Thank you Dave
All the Best in 2017 hope it will be a better year than 2016 !