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We set off at 6.30 to head for Glen Dochart so that we would get to the start of this walk for the sun coming up. Although it was still pitch black when we left with the stars still twinkling in the sky, it was a reasonable 7 degrees and the roads all the way up were fine, no black ice to slow us down.
The sky was just starting to show some light when we set off and I looked up to see the most amazing thing in the sky. It was a cloud just hanging there, but it looked like a window shaped rainbow !
We`ve since learned that is called a Nacreus, or Mother of Pearl, seen usually only in polar winters.
- Diamond cloud
We couldn`t quite believe what we were seeing and kept snapping away, changing the settings on our cameras for a better picture.
- zoomed in sunset mode
We walked through the farm, by the black sheep and highland cows till we got to the stream and began following it up the hill, with the handy boot print signs on the fence.
We kept looking back up at the sky with the sun coming up and the freaky clouds, it was a sight to behold.
- sky again
- and again
- freaky sky
- sunrise
Before we reached the dam, we were already trudging through snow, and whatever wasn`t covered in the white stuff was quite boggy. Once we were on the other side of the river it was deep snow for much of the way. It was hard work at times and we were forever falling down holes underneath.
- Ben More
- Jim on way up to Sgiath Cuil
- by Meall Glas to Ben Lui
It was a hard slog up but enjoyable. Why is falling in snow so much fun ?
The nearer the top we got the wind got much stronger and most of the snow must have been blown off the mountain as we were on more rocky terrain. Jim got to the top before me and had a good chuckle as I came over the top to find myself blown a couple of feet before throwing myself to the ground. The strongest wind we`ve ever experienced was waiting for us up there. We tried posing for pics but it was too wild and we mostly just lay about up there for a bit taking in the views, which were marvellous.
- me on Sgiath Cuil summit
- cairn over to Ben Lawers
- Jim
It was so windy we put on our new snow goggles and the world seemed like a much brighter place.
He headed for the bealach fighting against the wind and doing our best to keep upright. Once we dropped down a bit the wind gave us a bit of a break and we were free to slip, stumble and slide our way down the hill. At one point I just sat on my map case and slid down on my bum for a bit
- Meall Glas/Beinn Cheathaich side
Down in the bealach almost completely out of the wind we decided to stop for lunch and Jim`s birthday cake
- Happy Birthday
I made myself a homemade morrisons style deli box, but after eating cake, fudge and hot chocolate it was a bit heavy for me and I burped my way up the steep snowy slope towards Beinn Cheathaich. I did fell a little bit sick
The snow did get a bit firmer up here but still able to walk without crampons
another time maybe.
Once I got up onto the ridge I felt better again as I knew all the steep stuff was out of the way. Again a lot of the snow was blown off and this made it it easier to walk and with the wind at our backs it made it much easier getting up higher. And the views over Glen Lochy wre amazing.
- Glen Lochy hills
We stopped quickly at the Munro top, as the wind wouldn`t really let us stand around much.
And off we went to the main summit.
Jim went up over the wee hilly bit in the middle while I skirted round the side, before the final climb. And it did end up a climb as we dug our feet and hands into the snow to get on top, to be met by ...guess what.....more gale force winds
- Relief at Meall Glas summit
- Jim in front of Ben Challum
We were again thrown about by the wind up here and at times we were actually rolling around grappling for hats and camera cases etc, before heading down quickly as we knew we only had an hour or so of sunshine left. The descent from here was made much easier by sliding down the snow again, this time for much longer periods.
- bum slide marks down the hill
The walk out through snow and bog was quite sticky and we found some novel ways of discovering streams and lochans, i.e by falling through the snow into them
We just got back to the car as it got dark and caught the sun going down behind the hills.
- sunset