walkhighlands

Share your personal walking route experiences in Scotland, and comment on other peoples' reports.
Warning Please note that hillwalking when there is snow lying requires an ice-axe, crampons and the knowledge, experience and skill to use them correctly. Summer routes may not be viable or appropriate in winter. See winter information on our skills and safety pages for more information.

Snow changes Weasel plans

Snow changes Weasel plans


Postby weaselmaster » Sat Jan 19, 2019 12:13 am

Munros included on this walk: Beinn a' Chlachair, Creag Pitridh, Geal chàrn (Laggan)

Fionas included on this walk: Beinn Eich, Cruach an t-Sidhein, Doune Hill

Date walked: 18/01/2019

Distance: 41 km

Ascent: 2373m

4 people think this report is great.
Register or Login
free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).

With Allison otherwise engaged this weekend I had some time to myself. Munros, thought I, get a few more under the belt on a break from Corbetts. A three day trip to the Cairngorms was dusted off, having been put on hold a couple of weeks ago due to weather reasons. And what do you know - same thing happens again - Braeriach forecasted to have an upper temp of -7, a minimum of -14 and a "feels like" of -21 along with cloud cover and 40-50mph winds - probably not the best conditions to set off myself for some high level camps. So a plan B was put into action - I'd head up on Wednesday afternoon after I'd finished my first Philosophy class and head for the hills around Loch Laggan. There was a spot on Lochan na h-Earba that I'd previously scoped as a suitable campspot, I was keen to try it out. Weather was quite pleasant on leaving Glasgow, however by the time I reached Drumochter it was sleeting and the mix of rain and snow didn't stop when I parked up the car. I've written before about enjoying a walk-in in the evening, but it's less of a pleasure when the rain/snow is falling. It also makes walking by headtorch a little interesting as the streaks of snow shine like white bars across your vision. And I took a wrong turn and walked into the quarry dump - I realised I was not going the right way when my path was blocked by an enormous mound of gravel. You live and learn.

When I go to the shore of Lochan na h-Earba there was no sign of the sweet space I'd previously seen. The wind was also blowing fiercely right towards me along the lochan. All I could find was a slightly sheltered spot below a bank, but that meant pitching on sand. Not the most robust anchoring for a windy night. I have sand pegs, but they were in the car, of course. I did the best I could to pitch effectively but didn't much like the way the wind was blasting against the tent, nor the way the snow was accumulating on the exposed side. Creeping into my sleeping bag I told myself that the wind wasn't going to be strong enough to lift me and the tent - Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz style. And so I managed to sleep fairly well under the conditions.

The wind had dropped by the morning and my first look outside revealed that snow had been falling. I had - rather ambitiously - thought that I might take in four or five Simms along to the east of Lochan na h-Earba that would lead me up behind Geal Charn - but that would add around 10k to the day. With the amount of snow lying that did seem a big ask. So, with a small curse, I decided I'd just do the three Munros and take on the Simms another time. Yeah right... After breakfast and packing away the tent - which had dried out in the wind overnight - I set off for Creag Pitridh. My recollections of the ascent to this hill are of wading about in snow and deep tussocks - here I was having the experience all over again. Although the path was only dusted with snow, when I turned uphill I was quickly up to my knees in powdery white stuff. At least I had good visibility today. I made slow sweaty progress up to the ridge, the final ascent seeming to come quickly and the cairn was greeted. Munro number 200 on this round.

ImageP1170021 by Al, on Flickr

Lochan na h-Earba - the Simms visible at the far right
ImageP1170022 by Al, on Flickr

Pinkish morning sky
ImageP1170023 by Al, on Flickr

Summit Pitridh
ImageP1170024 by Al, on Flickr


I elected to bypass the usual craggy descent to the south west and began the long pull up to Geal Charn. Not a soul about, nor any animals, although there were prints of hare and fox. The sun gleamed on the snow at the summit under a dark, rather woolly cloud, perhaps more snow on the way...I thought (briefly) about descending to the north east for two of the Simms but since that would involve a descent of around 250m to reach them (which would have to be re-ascended) the though died. Instead I turned around and prepared to head over to Beinn a'Chlachair.

Looking down on Binnien Shios
ImageP1170025 by Al, on Flickr

Geal Charn
ImageP1170028 by Al, on Flickr

ImageP1170030 by Al, on Flickr

ImageP1170031 by Al, on Flickr

Cold
ImageP1170033 by Al, on Flickr



Stopping for lunch on the western slopes of Geal Charn I considered my options. Last time going up the northern ridge had been a little severe, with steps having to be kicked in very steep snow. I thought I might follow the track round to the gentler southern slopes of the mountain, passing by Loch a'Bhealaich Leamhain and was all set to do this when I noticed fresh footprints. In fact I did a double take - these footprints had the same sole-pattern as my own boots (Salewa Ravens, not that commonly encountered). I had a quick check to see if I had gone out of my mind and was following my own steps, but no, they were another's and there was also a small canine companion by the look of things. Unless he was being tracked by a fox. The bootprints were heading up the northern ridge, so I decided I'd head that way too. After a short time I spotted the person responsible, along with his small terrier who didn't look overly impressed with the deeper patches of snow. Catching up we walked together for a bit to the summit.

Loch a'Bhealalich Leamhain
ImageP1170034 by Al, on Flickr

ImageP1170035 by Al, on Flickr

Beinn a'Chlachair
ImageP1170036 by Al, on Flickr

ImageP1170037 by Al, on Flickr

We took different routes down - he carried on along the northwest ridge whilst I descended by the WH route which I reckoned would be quicker to the car. I was starting to feel the pains of being out in winter boots again - how lucky to have been able to get away without them in the last couple of months. Back on the path and glad I hadn't tried to include the Simms - I was feeling mighty tired after plowing through the snow today. My plans had been to drive along the wee road towards Fersit, and use a camp spot we'd had before then do the Chno Dearg pair on Friday and the Easains on Saturday. However, as I walked along the bit of road from the locked gate to the bridge I was troubled by the glassy nature of the frozen snow and ice. My companion had mentioned he'd had a few skids coming down from Aviemore this morning and I became twitchy about the wee road to Fersit. So bang went my plans for this evening's accommodation and for tomorrow's hills.

Snowy descent
ImageP1170039 by Al, on Flickr

Lochan na h-Earba again
ImageP1170041 by Al, on Flickr

ImageP1170042 by Al, on Flickr

ImageP1170043 by Al, on Flickr

Watercolour sun
ImageP1170044 by Al, on Flickr

I considered just heading home, but it was starting to get dark and I felt quite tired. So I headed for Loch Linnhe caravan site - reliably open all year and paid my money for a pitch. And a wonderfully hot shower. Phone reception allowed me to check the forecast - I thought maybe Bidean nam Bian on the way home? Managed a fair night's sleep despite the best efforts of the industrial estate machinery to keep me awake - as usual they seem to work all night with a short break around 3am.
When morning came I checked the forecast again - Bidean nam Bian now had cloud cover and 40mph winds up top. Maybe not ideal then. I drove down through Glencoe, not much evidence of wind at ground level, but the clouds were fair scudding along high up and yes, the mighty Bidean had its head in the clouds. OK, what now...

As there were no Munros left on my to-do list on the way home I thought about smaller things, namely Grahams. There's that little cluster by Luss - surely some of them would be up for grabs. Initially I thought I might just do Mid Hill, but, deciding to drive up Glen Luss's narrow road I had my sights set on the trio of Doune Hill, Creagan t-Sidhein and Beinn Eich. Not much sign of snow down here, thankfully, although the road was very icy beyond the turning place.

The soggy track that leads up Glen Mollochan was partially frozen, which was something. I was sheltered from the wind and found the effort had warmed me up. I paused for lunch at the top of the glen before starting the slog up Doune Hill. Watched by various sheep I wound my slow way uphill, counting steps to distract me from the pain of it all. Nearing the summit, the chill wind caught me, ground all frozen. Good views over the Arrochar hills. After the trig point on Doune Hill I knew what was coming - big drop to Creagan t-Sidhein. Actually it's not as bad as it looks - I was surprised to find it was only 170m ascent from the bealach to the summit. I contoured along the southern flank of beinn Lochain to reach Beinn Eich, which provided a path and a nice gentle slope up to its summit. Good views over Loch Lomond and a curious flat layer of snow bearing cloud sitting right over the northern sky, just above the top of Ben Lomond. Descent was quick and the marshy patches I remembered from last time were mostly under ice. Back at the car in 4 hours - one and a half hours quicker than at the last attempt two years ago.

Glen Mollochan - no snow!
ImageP1180047 by Al, on Flickr

Beinn Eich
ImageP1180048 by Al, on Flickr

Arrochar hills
ImageP1180049 by Al, on Flickr

Doune Hill
ImageP1180051 by Al, on Flickr

Creagan t-Sidhein
ImageP1180053 by Al, on Flickr

View to Beinn Eich from Sidhein
ImageP1180054 by Al, on Flickr

Loch Lomond
ImageP1180055 by Al, on Flickr

ImageP1180056 by Al, on Flickr

ImageP1180057 by Al, on Flickr
weaselmaster
Hill Bagger
 
Posts: 2429
Munros:277   Corbetts:216
Fionas:183   Donalds:73+30
Sub 2000:391   Hewitts:33
Wainwrights:15   Islands:28
Joined: Aug 22, 2012
Location: Greenock

Re: Snow changes Weasel plans

Postby onsen » Sat Jan 19, 2019 9:58 pm

Enjoyed your wild wintery wander, weaselmaster.
User avatar
onsen
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 290
Joined: Oct 10, 2012
Location: The Great Southern Land, Australia

4 people think this report is great.
Register or Login
free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).




Can you help support Walkhighlands?


Our forum is free from adverts - your generosity keeps it running.
Can you help support Walkhighlands and this community by donating by direct debit?



Return to Walk reports - Scotland

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: elaine61, moirabee and 84 guests