free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
Having read smiffysmc's fab report (
http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=18116) on this walk just 6 days earlier, I knew it was a bit ambitious starting at 9am when our chief navigator (and driver!) had a strict deadline to be home by.
Power walked the 5 miles or so to get to the hill (in hindsight thinking a pair of trainers would have been better for this bit!).
- long walk in
- off tarmac but still a fair way to go
Started up the hill, managed the scramble navigating the rocks no problem, beginning to recognise scenery from Smiffy's report
There was definitely more snow this week though!
- more snow than last week
- almost same pic as Smiffy, just more snow :)
- up and over snow covered rocks
- icicles hanging off rocks
Although not raining, the mist came down and visibility dropped.
- looking back as mist came in
Needed to get ice axes out and I did have to cut a few steps (aagh! still no micro spikes
) Slow progress getting up and it became harder to see.. turned to whiteout and I was relying on stepping in to the footsteps made before me. Although I'd checked out the map before this outing, I hadn't appreciated the long ridge at the top - like false summits, I think.. couldn't see much in front of me but it felt like each climb would see me at the top but instead there was a flat or a dip then another climb.
Caught up with others in the group on a flat and it was decided to call it a day as we were running out of time. One of the group had already made it up the next climb which did turn out to be the last one, and I did briefly think of running up and back to catch them up again (like I had the energy!
), but instead headed back down with the group. Means I get to try again, hopefully with views next time - can't have it all though, there was no wind at all today!
Returned the same way we went up. On the way back down I got to sit and slide in the soft snow, wheee!
Fine getting back down over the rocks, but then twice I lost my footing and had to stop myself with an ice axe arrest
This was my first time for real ie hadn't intended to go so wasn't a controlled slide, and trying to kick out steps while hanging on to the anchored axe so I could get back onto the path was a new experience
Another great day out and we just about made that deadline for getting back home!