Snow, ice and my crazy descend from Meall nan Tarmachan

[Petr Dakota]

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After my previous trip ( The Saddle via Frorcan Ridge 12 days ago ) with a lack of snow I was looking forward to do something under the snowy conditions as the snow covered most of the hills in the last a few days finally.
I was not sure how much snow will be in the mountains and also about the condition of snow if heavy, wet, soft or icy so I decided to go to the Lawers area and start with Meall Tarmachan, then I will see how is the conditions and how much time I will still have to continue and connect at least the near Corbett Meall nam Maigheach on the North or in case of more remaining time and easier conditions maybe the two Munros opposite over the Lochan na Lairige which would be easier to finish even in darkness if necessary...I was really optimistic about Otherwise I was decided just to finish the ridge from Meall nan Tarmachan.
The weather forecast was promising, especially for the first part of the day...very good visibility, no much windy..., then light snow and moderate visibility later afternoon...
Well, Meall nan Tarmachan chosen - this option offered some variety of routes and number of hills which can be decided during the walk, depends on the weather, conditions and time.

Meall nan Tarmachan from the distance in the morning. My car refused to go uphill - stuck on the snowy narrow road shortly after the junction from A827, I managed turning back and then I found a small car park next to A827 after 1.5 km towards East. There is space maybe for 7-9 cars and the car park was empty in the morning ( free of charge ). Because I did not get to the Lawers car park by my car, this circumstances meant another extra walk of 3.5 km ( each way, 7 km in total ) to the usual start point and also the delay dispute my plan to do Meall nan Tarmachan and the Corbett Meall nam Maigheach or the two Munros opposite. I used shortcut via initial path from the car park, then via grass and some boggy areas, fortunately partly frozen

Meall nan Tarmachan closer now...

Looking back...sunrise over Loch Tay

Lawers hills touched by the sun, no much snow on the ground in the lower level

Climbing Meall nan Tarmachan, more and more snow on the slopes. Beinn Ghlas and Ben Lawers in the background

Really deep snow in some areas, sometime I got in up to my waist, but more times between ankles and knees "only"

First top ahead, after loosing more and more energy and time in the deep snow...Meall nan Tarmachan behind

Towards East

...and towards West, the ridge

Lochan nan Lairige, the dam and the Lawers hills from higher level

Looking back...the sun over Loch Tay

The sun over Loch Tay

...and once again a little zoom, the sun lighting on the hills in the distance. Three walkers below , walking up in the snow...

Another top ahead, Meall nan Tarmachan behind

The view from the top, towards Meall nan Tarmachan. The ascent looks steepy, time to prepare crampons as the snow is icy, hard and slippy in the steeper parts

Another view towards the dam and the Lawers hills. Crampons removed as the snow was deep again

Climbing up...

The final very steepy ascent, the snow was hard, icy and slippery...steping very carefully, big support by ice axe here, especially in the higher level...

Looking back down, all the tops done on the way. Loch Tay in the distance

The summit of Meall nan Tarmachan

Looking back from the summit, there are two of the three men - one is almost on the top of the steepy ascent, another one is going around to find easier way I think, not sure where is the las one - probably climbing up, hidden somewhere ...I met them on the previous top where I spent some time to add some energy by food and prepared my crampons . We spoke shortly, they wanted to do the ridge...I kept my plans still opened until the summit

The dam from the summit

The views towards the ridge

Some dilemma on the summit, if just continue the ridge to finish the circle as usual route or risk it and try to connect at least the Corbett. The snow made it worse to see any best way for the descending towards North, hard to recognise where is rock or a cliff further, but the time was not bad yet...I decided to risk it and try to connect the Corbett somehow there...

The report continues in the post ( comments ) below.......

[Petr Dakota]

Descending towards North / North-Nort-West, after short part towards North-East...white everywhere

The weather changed, poor visibility, snowing... and the snow is deeper in this side

The "way"...

Snow everywhere

in the a little lower level

Some harder snow for easier walk sometime, then deep snow again every step made carefully. The visibility is still very poor and the time is going so quickly...I see that I will not be able to connect the Corbett by this pathless way in the snow and unsure terrain to finish in daylight...

Another part done, checking my position by GPS and looking on the map I turned towards East to find some doable way for the descending down

There is my hope, the place between slopes, some streams around by the map and the fence ahead...

a few mins. later...looking back

I got closer to the Loch below the hill, but there are rocky cliffs in this side of the mountain...still to high...walking around the edge I was looking for some doable way down...disappointed by all the views ( still rock - cliffs ) another dilemma if keep going far or better to start return back thinking about the daylight...but the imagination of walking back all the distance, climbing up or going far around in this conditions made me the motivation to find any doable way down as the visibility was not good, misty around and snowing... I found this narrow gully and used this way down...here in lower level already. The dam in the distance on the left

Finally at the bottom, walking along the fence

Near to the dam, the cliffs where I was on the top looking for the way down...

Shot from the dam

Looking back, after walking over the dam

On the safe road now

the view over Loch Tay, very different from the sunrise in the morning

The "visibility" towards Lawers hills ...looking back

Here is the place I stuck in the morning ( and more cars as I saw later )

Back in the car park, more cars and fresh snow there now

Driving home, there was an accident at Killin and the road was closed for a while until reopened again. This is the road A84 to Stirling then...

Despite the fact that I did not add another mountain either the Corbett or the two wee Munros I felt refreshed by the snow and happy for the views in the morning. It was great day in the mountains and I will come there again to do the rest of the hills and also to enjoy the full ridge from Meall nan Tarmachan

[Happyfeet]

The White Album...........Looks a bit like Rod's snow adventure, with very deep snow!

I can smell the snow from here........

[Jaxter]

Good effort!! Your photos, in particular the 'sunrise over loch tay' are stunning

I planned to go there in December but the road being impassable put me off. But daylight hours are getting longer so perhaps I could be tempted over....

[Silverhill]

What a bummer that your car got stuck. I love the picture of that sunrise over Loch Tay, magnificent.
Your descent route looks very crazy indeed. Well done for picking a route down those crags in the poor visibility!

[Petr Dakota]

The White Album...........Looks a bit like Rod's snow adventure, with very deep snow!

I can smell the snow from here........

Thank you Emmelie Yes, white album... - hard to show ( by photos ) the measurement of hills, slopes, angle, distance or the depth of snow if walking alone I can still smell the snow

Good effort!! Your photos, in particular the 'sunrise over loch tay' are stunning

I planned to go there in December but the road being impassable put me off. But daylight hours are getting longer so perhaps I could be tempted over....

Thank you Jackie Glad you like the photos Hope you will get there next time...

What a bummer that your car got stuck. I love the picture of that sunrise over Loch Tay, magnificent.
Your descent route looks very crazy indeed. Well done for picking a route down those crags in the poor visibility!

Thank you Silverhill Glad you love the photo, the sunrise in real was great Really dillema and decisions about the descend...as the time was going quicker than my steps in the snow on the unsure terrain and poor visibility...got to an edge many times, disappointed by another rocky cliffs...I was not sure if exploring the area more or turn back and walk all the way up or far around...Fortunately my hope won

[Mal Grey]

Quite an adventure. Sometimes we have to adapt our plans on the day, that's part of being a hillwalker. Sounds a bit "interesting" at times!

[ancancha]

Thats a real shame the weather closed in
Quite a hike even up to the Lawyers carpark
Well done for not being put off and toughing it out Petr

[Petr Dakota]

Quite an adventure. Sometimes we have to adapt our plans on the day, that's part of being a hillwalker. Sounds a bit "interesting" at times!

Thanks Mal, sometimes we need to improvise in our walks as there is always more things which we must expect in the mountais: weather, conditions, visibility, terrain or anything what can happen.......

[Petr Dakota]

Thats a real shame the weather closed in
Quite a hike even up to the Lawyers carpark
Well done for not being put off and toughing it out Petr

Thanks Craig, some extra distance to get to the usual start point and back, but every walk is a bonus for the body , just the extra time and shorter daylight are changing our plans then

[ancancha]

Thats a real shame the weather closed in
Quite a hike even up to the Lawyers carpark
Well done for not being put off and toughing it out Petr

Thanks Craig, some extra distance to get to the usual start point and back, but every walk is a bonus for the body , just the extra time and shorter daylight are changing our plans then

I'm certainly looking forward to getting settled here and getting into fitness mode again.
Meall nan Tarmachan & Tarmachan ridge was one of my earliest munros and remember it being quite steep in places

[dogplodder]

Love your sunset pic.... but rather you than me on that descent!

[Alteknacker]

Pretty gripping story there, Petr. When one reflects that this is probably a 2.5 hour walk up and down in good non-snow conditions, it just highlights the challenges of winter walking!!

Very glad you got back safely!

[Tomsie]

Tough conditions, the continuous walking in snow between ankles and knees is tiring as I found out last week and turned back. Nice sunset photo and is that anew car park , I'v never seen it before.

[Petr Dakota]

Thats a real shame the weather closed in
Quite a hike even up to the Lawyers carpark
Well done for not being put off and toughing it out Petr

Thanks Craig, some extra distance to get to the usual start point and back, but every walk is a bonus for the body , just the extra time and shorter daylight are changing our plans then

I'm certainly looking forward to getting settled here and getting into fitness mode again.
Meall nan Tarmachan & Tarmachan ridge was one of my earliest munros and remember it being quite steep in places

I'm looking forward too, when you settle down, to read more your adventures...but nice to see you are keeping the outdoor activities ( walk and your biking ) even now