Walkhighlands

After the disappointment of the no-go show on Beinn a Ghlo, Shaz and I decided to tick this solitary Munro off and test out the ice axes etc, purchased at Christmas. Meall Ghaordaidh, wasn't far from Killin and we presumed it would be quite a 'gentle' hill in Winter - while there was no snow at road level, we were soon to meet quite a bit halfway up the hill. For the last 1/3 of the hill, we were trudging through thigh-deep snow and it was quite arduous though very enjoyable. Before we reached the summit, a returning walker warned us that it was quite windy at the top. He wisnae wrang. We walked into a Northerly arctic blast and stood getting photos for all of 10 seconds before about turning and getting back below the summit. Thank god for 'windproof' garments. A very unusual ice formation had formed on the OS trigpoint and it was quite beautiful -is this a rime ice formation? We made our way back down, me testing my ice axe and generally faffing aboot. Back to the car, a wee pint on the way back to Dunblane and then hame. Another grand day in the Scottish hills.

We re off to do the same this Saturday hope the snows still there cant wait to see that trig point ,buy the way what are the views like

Very cool pictures of the trig point.

Did you need crampons - presumably not if it was deep powder?

LOL - there's some guy stood on the triggy for too long in that windchill! That's what the thing on top of it is!

I'm planning to do that, the two to the left of it (I'm at work and can't remember what they're called), and also a couple opposite (Beinn Cheataich is one of the tops but I can only remember that 'cos I call it Ben Cheetah! ) in a couple of weeks. What was the Glen Lochay road like for snow and ice? (I know it's rough as hell and I remember my car hated it for that reason!).

Hi guys,

the views across to the Lawers Range and Tarmachan were good but my camera wasn't powerful enough to get really good 'Doogz' like photos.

The road down to that point is fine but if you go further along to do Creag Mhor and Beinn Heasgarnich, Mountain Cowards, beware of the huge divots, just before the parking area. They were almost a foot deep, when I was there in November.

Gothangel, didn't need crampons as the snow was very deep. But that wind.....oocha.

Thanks kevsbald looking forward to Saturday even more now hope its clear ,if i get some good photos I might try a report myself for the first time its great when you can come on to this site and draw on other peoples experiences of the same hills so much better than just having the guide book

Hmmm - thanks for that but, I have to ask - what's a divot? I probably should know...

A divot is a lump of ground/grass howked out.
Usually applied in golf terms but thought it was apt.

Ugh! the car will love it... NOT! Poor ol' thing... oh well - thanks for the info anyway

Hi Kev this is the summit picture from last Saturday i was going to have a go at a report but all my pictures had this sort of visibility no mad ice configuration anymore what a difference a few weeks can make

Hi cj,

damn bad luck with the visibility.
I'm also surprised the rime ice formation isn't on the trigpoint anymore.
Looks like it was an 'interesting' day. Did you have a lot deep snow just before the final 100m?

It wasn't that deep it was mostly cloud all the way up but at the top it was white out