free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
As the wife was away to exotic plabces with work I was on my Todd for a walk this week.. or so I thought. Posted in the meets section and Grenfell was also at a loose end so late last night we agreed to do Meall nan Tarmachan - with an option to do the ridge depending on time (my fitness) and conditions.
We had only traded chat on here and on Instagram so fingers crossed he wasn't a serial killer or worse (as no doubt he was also thinking the same !)
Agreed to meet at Ben Lawers car park (where I have been before )a at 7.30am
First hurdle - me getting out the door for 6am... got up at 5.30am and had to move it back to 8am.. Is it still night??
Then (again remember I have been there before) I somehow managed to drive right by the car park ( it was pitch dark - my excuse and I'm sticking to it! )and only finally realised when I was about 15 mins away!
Its now 8 am and I'm reckoning Grenfell has given up on me and set off , quick "burlie" and I'm back along the road - only stopping to catch the sunrise over the back of the Tarmachan ridge.
Get back to said carpark now in early dawn light and he's still there (cheers mate). Quick drag on of gaiters and pack and much faffing about and we set off.
Made good time going up (i was burst) , following the easy path as it climbed through the gate, (great views back the way of Ben Lawers, Ben Vorlich/Stuc a Croin and of Ben More et al..)
Meall nan Tarmachan by
coachmacca, on Flickr
Meall nan Tarmachan by
coachmacca, on Flickr
Meall nan Tarmachan by
coachmacca, on Flickr
Meall nan Tarmachan by
coachmacca, on Flickr
Meall nan Tarmachan by
coachmacca, on Flickr
Snow line appeared at about 650m , patches here and there but a great clear morning with fantastic views. _ this is what its all about eh
Meall nan Tarmachan by
coachmacca, on Flickr
We get up to the first top and then drop down to cross the shallow beallach across the style and then hit some good snow.
Climbing up the path starts to dissapear under thick snow as it climbs up the steeper steps so we decide its time to try out the ice axes and kick some great steps in and move up.
We rejoin the path for a bit then as the final ascent path curves behind the summit we decided to move directly up again finding out feet in the snow, digging in on some steep parts but nothing too challanging.
Meall nan Tarmachan by
coachmacca, on Flickr
Yours Truly
IMG_4078 by
coachmacca, on Flickr
Grenfell
Reached the summit, some obligatory summit snaps then decided as the clag was now too thick and we had no knowledge of the ridge (and little winter experience) that we should call it a day and head down... except we werent paying attention as as we had cut off the track coming up started to make our way down the ridge track instead.... quickly realised it was an error and headed back.
Meall nan Tarmachan by
coachmacca, on Flickr
At this pioint we met two guys coming the other way as we stroll by the summit cairn without a look and meet them. They assumed the summit must be further on given our nonchalant pass of the summit so were very happy to find out that no it was the summit and instead we were just stooopid
Headed back down the path, clag now like soup and NOTHING to see.
Meall nan Tarmachan by
coachmacca, on Flickr
Bumped into a few folks and in particular 4 boys with a "few" years more experience than us so we stopped for a good 10 mins while they told tales of Munro magnificence and some survival epics. If I ever have to share a bothy late in the wilds with nothing but fire and a bottle the "longer in the tooth" boy would be my choice of companion - tales were brilliant!
Anyway made it back in good time and I'm happy to report not only did I survive without Grenfell skinning me alive but we had a grand day and he's a welcome companion any time! (if he slows down now and then as he did today for auld yins!)
Photies tell a better story but if any of you were folks we met on the hill let us know! (They are only iPhone, not the quality some of you guys have ) (the ones with me in are by Grenfell obv. )
