walkhighlands

Share your personal walking route experiences in Scotland, and comment on other peoples' reports.
Warning Please note that hillwalking when there is snow lying requires an ice-axe, crampons and the knowledge, experience and skill to use them correctly. Summer routes may not be viable or appropriate in winter. See winter information on our skills and safety pages for more information.

Al der and some snow

Al der and some snow


Postby scottishkennyg » Mon Mar 25, 2013 9:07 pm

Route description: Ben Alder and Beinn Bheòil from Culra

Munros included on this walk: Beinn Bheoil, Ben Alder

Date walked: 21/03/2013

Time taken: 12.5 hours

1 person thinks this report is great.
Register or Login
free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).

I arrived at Dalwhinnie Stn at 0745 just in time for the train.
BenAlderMarch2013 001 (800x224).jpg
Former colleagues waiting for me to cross the line

Over the level crossing then off along the smooth road. The top surface was icy in the woods and would contribute to at least five tumbleweed falls. At the wee feeding station a herd of long haired horses were dining alTesco. One of them tried to follow and I thought I was on to a lift.
BenAlderMarch2013 012 (800x556).jpg
Horses dining altesco - think I was more afraid of them

I continued along to loch Pattack, over the wobbly bridge then onto Culra bothy at 910.
BenAlderMarch2013 015 (800x598).jpg
A nice view back along the track with the morning sunshine trying to burn the creeping snow clouds away

BenAlderMarch2013 019 (800x403).jpg
The wobbly bridge en route to culra bothy


Parked the bike at the bridge and deposited a half can of Pepsi for later.

Heading up the Bealach Beithe I contemplated what route to take. The foul weather contingency was over the pass then up the west ridge right to summit and a return to reassess. As I neared the Coire na Lethchois I crossed the river and over the soft snow to converge with the long rocky spur.
BenAlderMarch2013 032 (800x437).jpg
River crossing to seek the long coire na lethchois ridge


The route was not as exposed as sections of the walk in Glen Affric last week. With full crampons on all the way, progress up the steepening rocky ridge was steady. The views were intermittent and there was constant evidence of snow movement.
BenAlderMarch2013 057 (800x500).jpg
View from where I joined the ridge

BenAlderMarch2013 065 (800x649).jpg
View back down ridge from about halfway

BenAlderMarch2013 072 (800x511).jpg
View up ridge from about half way

BenAlderMarch2013 085 (800x600).jpg
View back down ridge from about 2/3 up


There were several narrow corniced sections to negotiate but the snow was consolidated.
BenAlderMarch2013 086 (800x454).jpg
View up final sections of long ridge

BenAlderMarch2013 090 (800x500).jpg
View on ridge near top looking up

BenAlderMarch2013 091 (800x500).jpg
View back down long ridge from near plateau top

BenAlderMarch2013 095 (800x495).jpg
Section of ridge at top of long ridge - note snow crack


At the final section to the summit plateau the snow line movement on the ridge was clearly visible. This was a stark warning to stay well away from all edges.
BenAlderMarch2013 108 (800x419).jpg
NW ridge of BA


The spindrift snow and icy wind combined to make blizzard like conditions. It was minus 8 when I left the car I reckoned I was now walking in the equivalent of a large freezer. Not easy to make good progress in these extreme conditions. The summit plateau was vast and easy to get disorientated.
I had taken a direct bearing from the top of the spur and just battled 1.5km over the soft snow for about 40 minutes with many mirages and false dawns until the true top appeared. 1320. The trig point was adorned in frozen snow in the shape of leaves.
BenAlderMarch2013 120 (800x599).jpg
Summit top and mini blizzard


Not the place for lunch as even the wind shelter was too exposed. I did not fancy the next section of the walk as it required extreme caution and a watchful eye for any physical land features. I took a bearing direct for Lochan a Garbh Choire (ha ha) what chance did I have of finding that at a mere 100m wide if the massive big loch in the Bealach Beithe at 2km length was not visible. I moved on and tried in vain to keep the rim of the east cliffs in my peripheral vision. Visibility was very poor and the wind and spindrift ice bullets were painful. Progress was slow and the terrain seemed endless.
BenAlderMarch2013 139 (800x374).jpg
Eerie view of ridge on BA


After some time I was getting anxious as I had not yet found the East flank to the pass. I got a glance through the conditions and took a line of site bearing. Seemed like a good idea but almost a disastrous outcome. I was walking on this line and my sixth sense made me halt, like a horse rearing, and I got a glimpse onto the black rocks immediately beneath me. **** Very scary moment, rapid retreat required. I dug a hole and sat in for a wee while to evaluate the options and re-navigate.
BenAlderMarch2013 140 (800x422).jpg
Spindrift blowing up east cliffs


I decided that the safest option would be to take a very wide general south east bearing aiming away from the cliffs to source easier slopes. I inched my way along this route taking very small steps. After some time I noticed a large cairn, which turned out to sat perched on the East top. I re checked the map and aimed SE to traverse down to the pass. (Bealach Breabag) It was now 1520. I was delighted that I now had the less risky option to return down the glen to the bothy.
BenAlderMarch2013 155 (800x493).jpg
View from BA east ridge SE toward Schiehallion

BenAlderMarch2013 161 (800x475).jpg
View from BA east ridge across to SLN, BB and over to Beinn Udlamain and co.


However the clouds lifted and I could see the light…I loaded up on some sugar and snow, (I could not drink my juice the entire day as the fluid in both bottles had frozen solid within the first hour).
I decided that it might be a long time before I returned to this location so I decided to continue up the ridge to Sron coire na h lolaire. And true to form the winter conditions returned. The cairn provided a fantastic viewpoint. Alas, not the best of conditions for site seeing Prince Charlie’s cave.
BenAlderMarch2013 169 (800x430).jpg
SLN top north to BB ridge and summit


I continued N along the ridge. I sat down to put the crampons back on for the negotiating the ridge. My fingers got stuck to the metal of the crampons, it was like getting a plaster pulled off cold skin with hair.
BenAlderMarch2013 183 (800x597).jpg
Frozen juice


The small corniced section was fine and the climb up the ridge to the summit was sound except for the strong howling wind from the east.
The summit cairn was reached about 1648.


As I sat on the cairn on a quiet moment I felt pins and needles in my lower back. Oh no the voodoo doll again. I checked it out and it was my fleece that had risen and my skin was exposed to the wind and snow. Not good. It was time to get off the summit and out of the winter weather.
I descended the ridge on a north bearing and came across a couple of winter ptarmigans.
BenAlderMarch2013 192 (800x569).jpg
Couple of wee winter ptarmigans


I walked to the point where the ridge ended abruptly at Sron Dreineach rocky crag. Then it was a sharp detour down the steep slope to the lower ground. This also provided an ideal opportunity for a controlled bottom slide. Look at the size of that track.
BenAlderMarch2013 197 (800x500).jpg
gl-ass-ading down final slope


I returned to the bike about 1830 and had a chat with two lads who were on a long weekend. Discussed the walk and the overall ground conditions and bode them well. Deep down I suspected that the weather was set to deteriorate. I found my half can of Pepsi had frozen into a cola ice cube. Pants, as I was gasping.
I jumped on the bike and got going. The track out was even more icy and of course there were some uncontrolled falls. Thankfully the ice and snow helped to ensure no damage to the expensive gear. Just pride, but that comes before a fall anyway. Of course the wind had changed and was now directly into the direction of travel. I broke the casing on my head torch which created a poor connection resulting in an on off light show. Passing the feed station there were hundreds of deer and their green eyes reflecting in the head torch was quite unnerving. I said cheerio to my horse and headed along loch Ericht. One more enforced dismount in the dark woods before returning to the car at 2020. The end of an epic day with Scottish winter conditions providing haunting memories. Thankfully safe and sound with a few near misses and one very real scare.
Surely it must be time for the golf season now.
Attachments
BenAlderMarch2013 144 (800x472).jpg
Looking NE down glen
Last edited by scottishkennyg on Wed May 28, 2014 6:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
scottishkennyg
 
Posts: 646
Munros:282   
Joined: Jan 2, 2013

Re: Al der and some snow

Postby robertphillips » Mon Mar 25, 2013 10:05 pm

Well done great winter walk these 2 :clap: done them in similar conditions this time last year. 8)
User avatar
robertphillips
Mountain Walker
 
Posts: 300
Munros:282   Corbetts:222
Fionas:219   Donalds:89+52
Sub 2000:423   Hewitts:179
Wainwrights:214   Islands:39
Joined: Dec 28, 2010
Location: Kilbirnie North Ayrshire

Re: Al der and some snow

Postby weaselmaster » Mon Mar 25, 2013 11:06 pm

Woo - looks cold and scary :roll:
Apart from the almost going over the edge of the cliffs, a good day out then!
Hoping to be there this coming weekend, so thanks for the weather conditions update.
weaselmaster
Hill Bagger
 
Posts: 2429
Munros:277   Corbetts:216
Fionas:183   Donalds:73+30
Sub 2000:391   Hewitts:33
Wainwrights:15   Islands:28
Joined: Aug 22, 2012
Location: Greenock

Re: Al der and some snow

Postby wilkiemurray » Mon Mar 25, 2013 11:14 pm

Great report and pictures - last time I saw the wild horses the conditions were rather different - 30 degrees- blue skies - no wind - and chased up the hill by a plague of Klegs!!
User avatar
wilkiemurray
 
Posts: 1333
Joined: Jan 26, 2012
Location: Perthshire

Re: Al der and some snow

Postby scottishkennyg » Mon Mar 25, 2013 11:23 pm

Cheers Robert, and I thought it would be good weather too...
User avatar
scottishkennyg
 
Posts: 646
Munros:282   
Joined: Jan 2, 2013

Re: Al der and some snow

Postby scottishkennyg » Mon Mar 25, 2013 11:28 pm

Thanks weaselmaster, yes it was very cold and in between the mini blizzards it was great...not sure about next weekends forecast as it was pretty severe over this weekend and the temperature up here has not warmed up yet.
User avatar
scottishkennyg
 
Posts: 646
Munros:282   
Joined: Jan 2, 2013

Re: Al der and some snow

Postby scottishkennyg » Mon Mar 25, 2013 11:35 pm

Cheers wilkiemurray, what a great day you must have had with temperatures like that. Another positive for me was that there was definitely no clegs around at this time. :)
User avatar
scottishkennyg
 
Posts: 646
Munros:282   
Joined: Jan 2, 2013

Re: Al der and some snow

Postby Scotjamie » Mon Mar 25, 2013 11:40 pm

Stunning stuff skg...too scary for me, but very enjoyable report with great atmosphere in the pics.
Am away to practice my putting :)
User avatar
Scotjamie
Wanderer
 
Posts: 1170
Munros:148   
Joined: Jul 27, 2009
Location: north berwick

Re: Al der and some snow

Postby quoman » Tue Mar 26, 2013 10:11 am

That's a long day in those's conditions great report and cracking picture's.am glad your sixthsence clicked in :clap:
User avatar
quoman
Mountaineer
 
Posts: 960
Munros:282   Corbetts:10
Fionas:1   Donalds:5
Sub 2000:2   
Joined: Nov 14, 2011
Location: larbert

Re: Al der and some snow

Postby scottishkennyg » Tue Mar 26, 2013 2:17 pm

Cheers SJ, liked that, I'm definitely going to the range later..
User avatar
scottishkennyg
 
Posts: 646
Munros:282   
Joined: Jan 2, 2013

Re: Al der and some snow

Postby scottishkennyg » Tue Mar 26, 2013 2:18 pm

Thanks quoman
User avatar
scottishkennyg
 
Posts: 646
Munros:282   
Joined: Jan 2, 2013

1 person thinks this report is great.
Register or Login
free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).




Can you help support Walkhighlands?


Our forum is free from adverts - your generosity keeps it running.
Can you help support Walkhighlands and this community by donating by direct debit?



Return to Walk reports - Scotland

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: rocket-ron, shaun4444d, Speedgoat and 78 guests