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Many of you will have already viewed EwaMH's great report on our (Ewa, agrubb and I) wildly windy walk up Ben Vrackie which can be accessed via the link below:
http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=17685Here's my perspective. Firstly the day began with a case of the sniffles. I thought I should probably sit this one out but instead popped a few paracetamol and headed out anyway - we'd been talking about doing this one for ages so I wasn't going to back out. We'd headed out a little late but we were still early enough to witness the beautiful sunrise. Much of the lower walking was very icy and with the wind and accompanying gust beginning to strengthen we decided to don our microspikes. My spikes were getting their 3rd outing but this was Ewa and Andy's first experience of microspike joy and I got the impression they were pleased with their purchases.
Even at only 400 metres up the views were great and would only get better the further we ascended. Once we were through the gate between Stac an Fheidh and Creag Bhreac the view to Vrackie was before us in all its glory - looking stunning in its winter coat. It was clear the winds at the summit would be hard going as we watched the snow whoosh and whorl around the hill. Just before the loch we passed two fellow walkers sheltering behind a rock. They asked whether we were heading up and seemed unimpressed with our positive response. We didn't see them again... wimps! We had a snack break in a gully before the main ascent and spied another fellow walker. He was also going to head up and began his ascent while we were layering up and getting our axes and goggles out. The moment we left the gully the seriousness of the wind hit us at full force - several times I had to whack my axe into the snow and bow my head waiting for it to calm and grant us safe passage. Once out of the gully we were treated to a beautiful view of Schiehallion.
The snow just got deeper and deeper, the wind became harder and harder and soon it became apparent that the guiding lines of snowy footprints (the ghosts of walkers passed) had been erased - we were blazing a trail (and being eaten by the snow). We must have been around 625 metres up when not only was the wind whipping up snow from the ground to batter us with but the blizzard started. I think we were all thankful to have goggles on and also very aware that the walker from the gully had turned back and we were alone on the hill - were we crazy? Probably. Eventually Vrackie's mood lightened a little and the blizzard passed but the wind wasn't through with us yet. The deep snow before the summit tried its hardest to have us for elevenses but we persevered and soon Andy and I had spied the summit cairn. But the route to the summit wasn't straight forward. The wind was crazy and blew us over several times and Ewa had the right idea staying as low to the ground as possible. Once we were at the cairn and trig point it didn't matter - victory was ours! Our reward? Glorious views - the view to the Beinn a'Ghlo was beautiful.
The way down was a very different story - impromptu sledgeless sliding down the steep hillside, clear blue skies and lots of people. Seems every other man and his dog had decided to bag Vrackie although they had the sense to wait for the conditions to calm.
A thoroughly well deserved pint and a dram at the Moulin Inn was a great way to finish the day. Although by 6pm that night my minor sniffle was a full blown cold. But it was worth it! Now I'm off to blow my nose - enjoy the photos.