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NOTE: The small road leading to the dam at Loch an Daimh only has a slight slippery layer of snow to begin with, however once you reach the small bridge shortly before the parking area the road is covered in hard and high sided icy snow. We were only in a hatchback (Mazda 6) and our car couldn't cope passed the bridge, getting stuck. The two of us spent about 45 mins to an hour switching between driving and pushing the car before we managed to dislodge it and park up, just off the road before the small bridge.We had intended to bag both Stuchd an Lochain & Meall Buidhe however things did not quite go to plan. Our first problem to overcome was getting the car stuck in the snow (see above). However the views of beautiful snow adorned mountains spurred us on.
We decided to tackle Stuchd an Lochain first because it was the more strenuous of the two and due to the lack of light we would have later in the afternoon if we were to ascend it after bagging Meall Buidhe. We walked passed the dam and headed towards the boat shed starting our ascent probably about 10 meters further west then the walkhighlands route suggests. My partner was in crampons and I was in my MICROspikes. Soon we hit a short stretch of steep ascent - Mr Crampons was up it no bother whilst I found myself falling a few times and having to do my first completely for real, although in retrospect maybe not completely necessary, ice axe arrest. I did forget to lift my feet so in a way it was good that I was in spikes
. I had to heave myself up with my ice axe which was great fun. Once that little steep section was out of the way it was a straight slog up the hill. The snow was a mix of deep hard crusted snow and patches of softer stuff. Aside from the early steep section my spikes served me well and I was loving it
Unfortunately the wind became really strong as we were about to tackle the acsent to 888 meters before approaching Sron Chona Choirein. At certain points I wasn't too sure I'd be able to stay upright. With snow flurries starting to blow all around us my partner decided that we should probably turn back. I was 70% "keep going and at least bag one Munro today" and 30% "yeah - you're probably right". But he was adamant that we should turn back, so I reluctantly agreed.
Shame we didn't get to tick Stuchd an Lochain & Meall Buidhe off our list but hey - I still had great time hiking in the snow
