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Amongst the snow and the stags on Sgurr a'Mhaoraich

Amongst the snow and the stags on Sgurr a'Mhaoraich


Postby Ranger » Sun Dec 02, 2012 10:31 pm

Route description: Sgùrr a' Mhaoraich, Loch Quoich

Munros included on this walk: Sgùrr a' Mhaoraich

Date walked: 02/12/2012

Time taken: 6 hours

Distance: 10 km

Ascent: 950m

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Not the sunny day I'd been hoping for, a bit on the monochrome side from the cold calculating photographer in me, but crisp and clear, with extensive views across half of Scotland - can't complain! :D

Was surprised how exposed the scramble was near the top under a good dusting of snow. The standard east ridge doesn't look that exciting on the map but stick to the crest and it's a welcome bit of spice 8) Even some Via Ferrata on a slab with some old fence posts protruding out :crazy:

Will definitely return on a sunny day in the future :)

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Beautiful views west along Loch Garry to the hills of Glen Kingie - Gairich on the right

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Ben Tee and the back o' Sron a' Choire Ghairbh across Loch Garry

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Gairich always looks the part from this part of the glen

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Sgurr an Fhuarain and a stag!

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Stag city

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The view from the car park

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Nevis beyond the summit of Gairich

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The sun battling to get through

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Mullach Fraoch Choire standing out like a sore thumb...

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Ominous clouds that would kindly keep their distance

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Beautiful monochrome contrasts - Sgurr na Ciche behind

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Another lucky patch of land gets some sun

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Stick to the crest for a bit of scrambling - snow made it feel a lot more exposed than I expected!

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I asked for a pose and I got one!

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60 miles to the Cairngorms: Braeriach on the left, Cairn Toul on the right

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Still clear but darkness closing in

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Dodging the scramble by descending due south, then cutting across

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4 ptarmigan posing in front of The Ben
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Re: Amongst the snow and the stags on Sgurr a'Mhaoraich

Postby heatheronthehills » Sun Dec 02, 2012 10:37 pm

Lovely photos, looks like a great day on the hill.
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Re: Amongst the snow and the stags on Sgurr a'Mhaoraich

Postby McLEOD » Sun Dec 02, 2012 10:43 pm

Love the Ptarmigan pic, good stuff :thumbup:
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Re: Amongst the snow and the stags on Sgurr a'Mhaoraich

Postby Ranger » Mon Dec 03, 2012 11:39 am

McLEOD wrote:Love the Ptarmigan pic, good stuff :thumbup:

Cheers, I couldn't how placed them much better myself! :)
Looking it I can't believe how close Nevis looks in the image, you wouldn't think it was 25 miles away!
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Re: Amongst the snow and the stags on Sgurr a'Mhaoraich

Postby robertphillips » Mon Dec 03, 2012 3:34 pm

Lovely photos of the stags good report. 8)
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Re: Amongst the snow and the stags on Sgurr a'Mhaoraich

Postby pigeon » Mon Dec 03, 2012 6:31 pm

Great pics and report ranger ,a favourite hill of mine this one,good to see it in the snow.How was the road down there by the way,these wee roads scare me in the winter :lol:
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Re: Amongst the snow and the stags on Sgurr a'Mhaoraich

Postby Lenore » Mon Dec 03, 2012 7:12 pm

Well you might not have been fully satisfied with the lighting, but I think your pictures are excellent! Some lovely moody light and the animal shots are wonderful! :clap:
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Re: Amongst the snow and the stags on Sgurr a'Mhaoraich

Postby simon-b » Mon Dec 03, 2012 7:32 pm

That looks a really good route in those conditions, Ranger, the scrambling section looks exciting. Excellent, clear pictures of the distant Cairngorms and the Ben, the CMD group looks really good. This has got me looking forward to heading back north next year and seeing more deer and ptarmigans.
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Re: Amongst the snow and the stags on Sgurr a'Mhaoraich

Postby Ranger » Mon Dec 03, 2012 9:45 pm

robertphillips wrote:Lovely photos of the stags good report. 8)

Thanks! Been climbing since 1996 and this was the closest I've ever come to stags - therefore best pics. Good things come to those who wait :lol:

pigeon wrote:Great pics and report ranger ,a favourite hill of mine this one,good to see it in the snow.How was the road down there by the way,these wee roads scare me in the winter :lol:

The road was fine - always a beautiful run. Was in the area in Spring http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=21118 definitely the best time of year for a visit 8)

Lenore wrote:Well you might not have been fully satisfied with the lighting, but I think your pictures are excellent! Some lovely moody light and the animal shots are wonderful! :clap:

Cheers, I know I shouldn't moan but I'm a fair weather walk at heart and walking along the ridge, seeing the wind-sculpted snow, KNOWING how amazing it would look in sunshine, was a wee bit annoying :roll: Too fussy by half :lol:

simon-b wrote:That looks a really good route in those conditions, Ranger, the scrambling section looks exciting. Excellent, clear pictures of the distant Cairngorms and the Ben, the CMD group looks really good. This has got me looking forward to heading back north next year and seeing more deer and ptarmigans.

The mountain is definitely under-rated: superb viewpoint, interesting ridges (the north one over Am Bathach is supposed to be good) and great stalkers paths
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Re: Amongst the snow and the stags on Sgurr a'Mhaoraich

Postby pigeon » Mon Dec 03, 2012 9:49 pm

Cheers Ranger,i remember reading your Kynodart report ,looks ace and it's on my big list of places still to visit :wink: Might try and get down to Gairich soon though
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Re: Amongst the snow and the stags on Sgurr a'Mhaoraich

Postby old danensian » Tue Dec 04, 2012 8:44 pm

Sometimes you just can't beat the monochrome effect - looked a great trip, especially the steeper scramble towards the top.

OD
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Re: Amongst the snow and the stags on Sgurr a'Mhaoraich

Postby quoman » Tue Dec 04, 2012 8:55 pm

We loved this hill tae it had everything a wee ridge, then a wee scramble your photos are nice cheers
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Re: Amongst the snow and the stags on Sgurr a'Mhaoraich

Postby madprof » Tue Dec 04, 2012 9:44 pm

What zoom did you have for the Cairngorms pic? An amazingly clear day.
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Re: Amongst the snow and the stags on Sgurr a'Mhaoraich

Postby PeteR » Tue Dec 04, 2012 11:34 pm

A nice report and pics there Ranger :D I've got this one down for some time this winter, so your report will be revisited by me pretty soon :D
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Re: Amongst the snow and the stags on Sgurr a'Mhaoraich

Postby rockhopper » Wed Dec 05, 2012 12:01 am

Cracker of a day and some stunning views :thumbup: am also hoping to get up here but probably not until spring - cheers :)
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