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A quick hill fix before the storm....

A quick hill fix before the storm....


Postby wilkiemurray » Thu Dec 11, 2014 9:25 pm

Route description: Ben Vrackie, near Pitlochry

Corbetts included on this walk: Ben Vrackie

Date walked: 08/12/2014

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The snow had arrived and an improving forecast for the afternoon meant I managed to escape for a quick blast up my nearest hill (well most convenient).

Left car about 1330 and took a new route up to the moorland as forest works were underway.

A big black cloud emerged and a blizzard soon set in by the time the benches were reached. Goggles on and all other gear too:)

Imagesnow by mountains MJVW, on Flickr

As I reached Loch a' Choire the blizzard started to pass but the wind was picking up. I rounded the corned and startled a couple of Ptarmigan and upon reaching the spot were they fled I was treated to this lovely feathry outline :)

ImageFeathers by mountains MJVW, on Flickr

Cloud still shrouded Vrackie but as I ascended the skies stated to turn blue. Behind me the remnants of the snow shower were now fleeing southwards!!

Imagepanorama cloud burst by mountains MJVW, on Flickr

As I got higher the snow also started to get deeper - thy deep in some of the lee ward dips and hollows! Soon the summit was in view.

ImageSun lowering by mountains MJVW, on Flickr

Imagecrags by mountains MJVW, on Flickr

ImageDSC03684 by mountains MJVW, on Flickr

The views were amazing although it was rather breezy on top.....

Lovely light on Beinn a Ghlo to the North

Imageghlo12 by mountains MJVW, on Flickr

Imageghlo by mountains MJVW, on Flickr

And back cross to the eastern summits...

ImageDSC03696 by mountains MJVW, on Flickr

and out west...

Imagesky by mountains MJVW, on Flickr

Imagesunset Vrackie west by mountains MJVW, on Flickr

I noticed the sun was lowering in the sky - time to head home before it got dark...

Some sunset shots on descent..... you can see the spindrift on the hill, indicating it was still breezy...

Imagesun down3 by mountains MJVW, on Flickr

ImageDSC03698 by mountains MJVW, on Flickr

Got back to the car just as dusk was ending !! Been up here loads but I think this was my favourite trip so far :)


Unusually I have no video report! so I'll make up for it with a couple of oldy but still wintery films from Vrackie :)

Almost 2 years ago
http://youtu.be/dSkAfcsL9Ys?list=UUJyJKu3ysdceGqK_JaZFUNA

3 years ago :)

http://youtu.be/xSpJLwVKS3c?list=UUJyJKu3ysdceGqK_JaZFUNA
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Re: A quick hill fix before the storm....

Postby dogplodder » Fri Dec 12, 2014 1:02 pm

Obviously a favourite hill of yours and yet again you've captured it beautifully. :D
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Re: A quick hill fix before the storm....

Postby PeteR » Fri Dec 12, 2014 3:09 pm

Superb :clap:

To think I was up on Vuirich a couple of weekends back and there was no snow at all. Lots of blue sky though :D

Seeing the quantity of snow in your photos is certainly food for thought for this weekend.
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Re: A quick hill fix before the storm....

Postby wilkiemurray » Sun Dec 14, 2014 1:01 pm

dogplodder wrote:Obviously a favourite hill of yours and yet again you've captured it beautifully. :D


Thanks DP- A real favourite - so easily accessible when the road conditions are a little suspect. Was up again yesterday! Got lots of character this wee hill :)

ATB

Murray
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Re: A quick hill fix before the storm....

Postby wilkiemurray » Sun Dec 14, 2014 1:03 pm

PeteR wrote:Superb :clap:

To think I was up on Vuirich a couple of weekends back and there was no snow at all. Lots of blue sky though :D

Seeing the quantity of snow in your photos is certainly food for thought for this weekend.


Yeah loads of snow this week.

Went up again yesterday and not see so much soft snow on Vrackie. Took areal effort to break trail through, robably worse lower down before the loach as the wind hadn't scoured the snow - typically knee deep but some places I was up to my waist!!!

Be melting today though!!

ATB

Murray
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Re: A quick hill fix before the storm....

Postby litljortindan » Mon Dec 15, 2014 10:12 pm

Some great pictures there.
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Re: A quick hill fix before the storm....

Postby Huff_n_Puff » Mon Dec 15, 2014 11:01 pm

Lovely - Ben Vrackie as I've never seen it :clap: :clap:
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Re: A quick hill fix before the storm....

Postby Beaner001 » Tue Dec 16, 2014 4:47 pm

Superb Murray, really looking forward to this hill, great pics again, love the Ptarmigan outline pic! :D
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Re: A quick hill fix before the storm....

Postby wilkiemurray » Tue Dec 16, 2014 8:21 pm

litljortindan wrote:Some great pictures there.


Thanks - felt like a great smash and grab act :)

got lucky with the lowering sun - great views from a great hill :)

ATB

Murray
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Re: A quick hill fix before the storm....

Postby wilkiemurray » Tue Dec 16, 2014 8:22 pm

Huff_n_Puff wrote:Lovely - Ben Vrackie as I've never seen it :clap: :clap:
should have seen it 5 days later!! a lot more snow on the hill :)

:)
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Re: A quick hill fix before the storm....

Postby wilkiemurray » Tue Dec 16, 2014 8:23 pm

Beaner001 wrote:Superb Murray, really looking forward to this hill, great pics again, love the Ptarmigan outline pic! :D


Thanks BEANER :)

Just looked at the outline and snapped with the IPHONE - wasn't sure how it would come out but a different shot anyhoos :)

ATB

Murray
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Re: A quick hill fix before the storm....

Postby Sarah86 » Wed Dec 17, 2014 2:44 pm

Beautiful set of photos, the light hitting off the snow is lovely.
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