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Beinn Narinain - a hill I've been keen to do for sometime and yesterday was to be the day.
Snow, lots of it so full winter pack including crampons, axe, Sam's Sandwiches and flask of coffee as well to ensure survival and we were off. Got to the Succoth car park around 9.30 - late I know for most of you but early enough for us on a Sunday!
I'll try not to bore with all the details but we followed the route from WH, headed up the direct path past the concrete blocks left by the Hydro works as described and left the forest to look at the hill itself. snow of the tops of all hills around but still clear at this stage.
Beinn Narnain Mar 17 2013 by
coachmacca, on Flickr
Beinn Narnain Mar 17 2013 by
coachmacca, on Flickr
Made our way pretty much straight up threading through some boggy ground then hit the first hint of a snow line (with sheep guarding the path) so it was time for a quick stop, coffee , layers on and hat/gloves within easy reach then it was on into the snowy flanks.
Beinn Narnain Mar 17 2013 by
coachmacca, on Flickr
Beinn Narnain Mar 17 2013 by
coachmacca, on Flickr
We made our way directly up the route as planned, some great Wintry scenes and soon the microspikes were out to save us effort and time caused by the now frequent slipping and sliding of snow over strawy grass - I really do like my spikes!
Beinn Narnain Mar 17 2013 by
coachmacca, on Flickr
Sam getting ready to take on our 9th Munro
We found the route really good fun, working our way through snow and rock every now and then coming over a rise to see the summit (or the next rise as was the reality) appearing before us.
About 2/3's of the way up Cruach nam Miseag we decided to stop get some sarnies and coffee to get our energy up for the final push. We were making ok time for us (usually we dawdle a bit) so were really getting a good feeling !
Little vid of the weather
We pushed on , winter conditions getting more extreme so goggles on, hoods up and gloves keeping us warm we pushed on to the steep scrambly rise of the Cruach. We met a few lads coming down and they advised they wouldn't go over the top of the Beinn as they werent equipped with Crampons - sensible!
We were so were now looking forward to making the summit!
Beinn Narnain Mar 17 2013 by
coachmacca, on Flickr
Once on top enjoying the views and feeling very hardy in these arctic conditons we were overtaken by first a dog then a runner ... in shorts! Nothing like one of these nutty hill runners to put your "gas on a peep" as we say!
Not only on the top to be greeted by the sun lighting up that other old friend - The cobbler!
Beinn Narnain Mar 17 2013 by
coachmacca, on Flickr
We soon lost sight of him as visibility was shortening pretty hard so on we pushed - heading for the Spear! (To be honest I was wondering how hard it was going to be in these conditions... and rightly so! Crampons on, poles stowed and axes in hand now... only way to go!
Long story short.. we headed up a route at first but soon realised it wasn't right.. and had to come back down and east a little .. as we moved round we started to get a bit concerned..
Our recent Glenmore training and all the recent events had us very cautious of what could happen and as we watched snow rolling across a chalky surface we couldn't help but think about avalanches!
At this point (about 700m) it was clear that Sam was getting very tired and it thought we really needed to stop, rest and eat or turn back but the thought of going all the way back down wasn't great so we found the Narnain equivalent of "Death Bivouac" and had some rations to refuel - amazing what a hot coffee, half a roll and some mints can do for the spirit as well as the body!
Ok time to move on.. we moved steadily up and east coming round the base of the final craggy face at about 800m we started to get a bit worried...
All routes looked less than inviting and were getting steeper... Going back was looking worse and the snow frankly was concerning us.(In hindsite we were not far around East enough and had come in too far south)
At this point I invented a new mantra - the 4 C's I call it...
Calm (yourself , breath and relax)
Consider (your next more carefully, look around , what are the possible ways to go)
Careful (movement and always full contact with crampons and axe, fist in for extra purchase if you can)
Climb (up in this case .. the only safe option)
The angle was now getting to about 60-70 degrees and with us spacing out around 10 feet and hugging rock we tried to disturb the snow as little as possible while still pointing in and making our way up. At times I don't mid admitting we were both really concerned about something going wrong and with about 30m to go we pulled in to a small ledge for a rest and to plan the final move (thank goodness for altimeters!)
Beinn Narnain Mar 17 20133 by
coachmacca, on Flickr
Planning the last attack!
Last push, round a almost marble shaped rock, angle decreasing rapidly, staying fluid but cautious and were up and out of the longest, steepest, scariest, snowiest gully I have every been in!!
Beinn Narnain Mar 17 2013 by
coachmacca, on Flickr
Final push up and out
Walking on the heading we found the trig point , elated and also VERY relieved (funny how you worry more about the other person than yourself!).
Beinn Narnain Mar 17 2013 by
coachmacca, on Flickr
Sam at the trig point
Beinn Narnain Mar 17 2013 by
coachmacca, on Flickr
Yours truly
On and down we screwed up. Managed to navigate safely away from the NW cliffs but somehow overshot the SW route out and headed West... taking us round the Cobbler... limited visibility, the false comfort of a stream that you think you remember and inventing features on the "cobbler" to fit your plan meant we were now heading out on a very long road not the planned one. I checked the compass, map and GPS but somehow thought I knew better and it was only after about 30 mins I worked out our true position. Anyhoo... a good path then the A82 meant a fast if long hike back to Succoth! (Taking a group of ill equipped adults and kids with us - see here!
http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=29620&start=90 )
In summary - Awsome hill, amazing winter walk, superb is scary ascent, astounding views and a very strong lesson learned about navigation!
Cant wait until the next one
Beinn Narnain Mar 17 2013 by
coachmacca, on Flickr
The long walk home.....
