free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
Trying to hold off my 100th munro until all the gang can get together (any excuse for a party) so thought I would just sneak in Stuchd an Lochain but was foiled by the Lawers road.
On the way up there were several areas of ice on the road caused by water run off, the worst was about 15m long, take a good run and keep the wheels straight.
As I went round the first bend on the hill you could see all the passing places stowed with parked? abandoned cars, there must have been about 80 before reaching the car park, which was full. Here the road was rutted ice and freeze/thaw snow, no chance being by myself, so where to go.
I have completed the Munros in Glen Lochay but still one corbett outstanding.
- Distant Ben Challum from Kenknock
Lovely drive along the road in the sun and bagged the last parking space, booted and spurred for 11.50 and off up the road past the farm. There was an RAF MR vehicle parked in the car park and as I walked past Kenknock farm a SAR Seaking flew up the glen and took a right towards Heasgarnich.
Glorious views of the snow covered hills with bright sunlight colouring the snowy areas.
- Ben More and Stob Bennein
- Creag nam Bodach
Followed the road up until a likely looking route showed on the hill then off piste and the fun started.
- General route upwards
At first it was try to avoid the snow banks as the were soft and did not offer support so follow the tussack grass upwards. As height gained this reversed and it was easier to walk on the snow - well relatively, still lots of soft deep patches to catch you unawares.
- Disturbing the wildlife
- Sgiath Chuil across Glen Lochay
I found it hard going especially on the calves but hey ho walk through it.
I was not navigating, well I mean I looked at the map and was going by salient features but not really following a bearing. The snow fields were dictating where I trod so it was a meandering course, aiming upwards.
On the ridge I climbed a knoll to get a view to find another higher knoll about 1/2km away so headed for it. Guess what another one was behind this one, then another. They were only 30-40m high but with the snow they could have been double this height.
- Ist top
- 2nd top
- At last
At last I made the true summit which towered right over Glen Lyon and what a view.
Meall Ghaordaidh is a straight forward, plain hill form Glen Lochay but with the three buttresses it is well impressive from Glen Lyon.
- Pubil in Glen Lyon
- Glen Lyon and the butresses of Meall Ghaordaidh
- Meall Ghaordaidh
- Ben Lawers and Beinn Ghlas peeking out
- Lawers range
- North west to Achaladair and others
The route back was a 'straight' line south towards the car park via a stone cairn.
- Ben Vrlich and Stuc a Chroin
- Way home via cairn
- Glen Lochay
- Car park (in the trees)
- Kenknock and up the glen
- Streamside chandelier