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When it used to snow....

When it used to snow....


Postby clivegrif » Thu Mar 01, 2012 10:01 pm

Route description: Binnein Mòr and Na Gruagaichean, Mamores

Munros included on this walk: Binnein Mòr, Na Gruagaichean

Date walked: 15/03/2008

Time taken: 5 hours

Distance: 13 km

Ascent: 1380m

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Sitting here in soggy Worcestershire pining for the hills, I have taken the liberty of re-loading all the pictures from this report onto Flickr, so they are now much clearer and are expandable. I hope you like the result.

Four years ago I had the good fortune to be in the Mamores on a memorable March day when it still used to snow. The route was not long and it was quite straight-forward, but what views!
We started from the car park in Kinlochleven, making our way through the woods to the open ground, picking up the stalkers path on the slopes of Meall an Doire Dharaich, steadily climbing above Loch Eilde Mor into the snow. We broke left, and climbed more steeply up to Sgor Eilde Beag on good snow.

Image
The Grey Corries by cliveg004, on Flickr

The Grey Coires were looking good to the east, and the views across to Bidean Nam Bian and the Buchailles were quite something.
Image
Bidean by cliveg004, on Flickr

Image
Buchaille by cliveg004, on Flickr
When we reached the ridge line between Na Gruagaichean and Binnean Mor, Ben Nevis was revealed in all its glory almost completely cloud free – would have been a good day on the North Face thats for sure.

Image
Ben Nevis looking good by cliveg004, on Flickr

It was clear that the wind had been blowing hard from the north west, stripping the snow from the slopes on that side, and dumping it on the south east faces. One side of Binnean Mor was white, the other quite green.
Image
Binnean Mor by cliveg004, on Flickr
Image
Back to Binnean Mor by cliveg004, on Flickr

This part of the Mamores Ridge is really quite beautiful, particularly in these conditions. The snow was hard and took a crampon well, making for easy going. Binnean Mor is a fine peak, sharp and narrow. When I was last here, I dropped straight down a scrambly north east ridge to reach the much smaller Binnean Beag – but not today.
Image
Na Gruagaichean by cliveg004, on Flickr

Back along the main ridge to Na Gruagaichean I was snapping away like a Japanese Tourist and with good reason, the air was clear and still, and the views in all directions were just breathtaking.

Image
Na Gruagaichean by cliveg004, on Flickr

Image
The final climb by cliveg004, on Flickr

Image
Nr Na Gruagaichean by cliveg004, on Flickr

We descended by the Leachd na h-Aire shoulder, with fine views along Loch Leven, and then dropped south west straight down to Kinlochleven.

Image
Loch Leven by cliveg004, on Flickr

An absolutely marvellous day!
Last edited by clivegrif on Thu Jan 03, 2013 10:43 pm, edited 3 times in total.
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clivegrif
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Re: When it used to snow....

Postby soulminer » Thu Mar 01, 2012 10:23 pm

clivegrif wrote :
An absolutely marvellous day!


No kidding :lol: About as good as it gets I would venture to say 8)
Magic, cheers for posting.
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Re: When it used to snow....

Postby luckyguy68 » Thu Mar 01, 2012 10:29 pm

Epic photos, timeless even after three years. :thumbup:
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Re: When it used to snow....

Postby Alastair S » Thu Mar 01, 2012 10:41 pm

Stunning stuff :clap: :clap: :clap:
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Re: When it used to snow....

Postby Morecambe Monkey » Thu Mar 01, 2012 10:54 pm

Lovely stuff,one of those days out that stay long in the memory. Some great photo's. 8)
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Re: When it used to snow....

Postby KeithS » Thu Mar 01, 2012 11:34 pm

What a great day that looked like and great pictures.

The Mamores are my favour range south of the Great Glen, it gives some of the best ridge walking.

The last time I was on the ridge was in an absolute heatwave and people were suffering from dehydration.
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Re: When it used to snow....

Postby ChrisW » Thu Mar 01, 2012 11:44 pm

wow - beautiful pics....don't give up on the snow yet, you've had so little this winter it has to come sometime...maybe march is it :wink:
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Re: When it used to snow....

Postby Milesy » Fri Mar 02, 2012 1:13 am

Sigh. Thanks for depressing me :(
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Re: When it used to snow....

Postby brpro26 » Fri Mar 02, 2012 1:16 am

Maybe next year now.... :(
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Re: When it used to snow....

Postby Klaasloopt » Fri Mar 02, 2012 11:34 am

brpro26 wrote:Maybe next year now.... :(


Last year it snowed heavily early March. Snow thick and down to 300m level on March 15...

IMGP0253.jpg
Loch an Daimh, March 17
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Re: When it used to snow....

Postby L-Hiking » Fri Mar 02, 2012 6:28 pm

Cheers Clive

Some nice pics, the the shot on the aproach Na Gruagaichean is fab :D
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Re: When it used to snow....

Postby Border Yellerbelly » Fri Mar 02, 2012 7:21 pm

That's just stunning. The photo's are fantastic. I live in hope of being able to experience a day like that myself.
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Re: When it used to snow....

Postby clivegrif » Sun Mar 04, 2012 11:17 am

Perservere, it will happen! :D

If you like a bit of spectacular, with snow and ice - you might want to have a look at my post on the other channel.
Trip of a lifetime
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Re: When it used to snow....

Postby clivegrif » Thu Jan 03, 2013 10:13 pm

Sitting here in soggy Worcestershire pining for the hills, I have taken the liberty of re-loading all the pictures from this report onto Flickr, so they are now much clearer and are expandable. I hope you like the result.
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clivegrif
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Joined: Nov 28, 2010
Location: Worcester

Re: When it used to snow....

Postby Fudgie » Fri Jan 04, 2013 11:47 am

Having done that walk a few months ago, I would love to go back in conditions like that. Fabulous light and you've captured the stunning views very well :thumbup:
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