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.

Snow, sun & inversion - the beauty of Schiehallion

Snow, sun & inversion - the beauty of Schiehallion


Postby Petr Dakota » Tue Feb 09, 2016 2:29 am

Route description: Schiehallion

Munros included on this walk: Schiehallion

Date walked: 08/02/2016

Time taken: 3.51 hours

Distance: 10.17 km

Ascent: 724m

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


RK_gpx _2016-02-08_0938.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts



Finally my day off !!! :D Despite my busy schedule on monday, I wanted refresh myself by walk in the mountains again as it was over three weeks since my last mountains adventure. The weather forecast was promising for some areas in Scotland 8) , but because of my limited time I was thinking about something nearby and quicker...Schiehallion chosen ! :D
Leaving home in the rain I was hoping that the forecast is right about Schiehallion, but some doubts made me think about plan B and C also :roll: :? :crazy: ( plan B and plan C prepared the night before like usual ) :wink:
I started my trip not very early so I was worried and wondering if there will be a free space in the car park, as I expected more walkers in the mountains after too many rainy-windy days...
The weather was improving during the way and surprisingly there was not any car at the car park :o :shock:
I paid the parking fee £2 per day ( ticket expires at midnight ), prepared all my stuff and started the walk looking forward to enjoy the mountain in clear snow with a hope of clear views :)
The ground was still wet after all the rainy days and melted snow, but the path is really good in any conditions...no wind at the bottom, no rain, blue sky behind some clouds and good visibility made the start optimistic...the top of the mountain was hidden in the clouds sometimes, but changes many times...big wish I will get there in the right time for some views around...
I missed my 3.5 years old daughter Cheyenne in this trip as she was there with me in december 2015 when we turned back because of strong cold wind when I did not want risk her health...Memories on the way, she was in my thoughts and I was thinking how she would enjoy the trip today....... :)

A little snow from first ascent, then more and more snow in the higher level. Clouds still moving, but the sunshine started dominate on the sky :D 8) :clap: I followed the path until the path disappeared under the snow, no footprints ahead and misty in some places when ascending...then clear sky and great visibility again in the higher level and beautiful inversion around :D 8) :D
Shortly before the final ascent poor visibility again, but fortunately not for long. Some deep snow on the slopes, but boulders and ice on the plateau, windy on the top. There are more places with a low shelter on the way.
I reached the summit and spent some time there, enjoying the inversion views 8) Especially the South was beautiful with the sun, clear blue sky and clear white clouds. Darker and heavy clouds on the North.
I met a walker with his dog, still in higher level on my walk down , the visibility was not the best at the time...then I met another walker at the bottom - near the car park...he just started his walk. It was also a WH member hopper68 and he recognised me by this website :o :D It was nice to meet you and hope you both got some views from the top as it was mostly misty there when I was looking back from the bottom :?:

From the car park I decided to go via Loch Rannoch on my way home and try get the typical shot of Schiehallion from a distance, but unfortunately the top of the mountains was still in the clag all the time. A little disappointed that I was not able to get the shot where the conical shape of the mountain is visible, but I know that I can't have everything that day and overall very happy for all the inversion and clear views with the right timing...so rare but more appreciated by the way :D 8) :wink:

Here is the photostory:


4.JPG
Getting closer...shot from the road

5.JPG
The empty car park
6.JPG
Schiehallion in the clag
14.JPG
Getting clearer sometimes...
18.JPG
Looking back towards start point over the nice rest place
28.JPG
Maybe there is a path...or maybe not !
:lol: :lol:
29.JPG
The border between the blue sky and the clouds, towards North-North-West
32.JPG
Great clear snowy ground
40.JPG
Another top ahead...darker clouds on the North
42.JPG
Towards South, just crossed the animal's track
:lol:
52.JPG
In the level of clouds...
8)
56.JPG
In the middle of the Fog Bow - towards North
59.JPG
The boulder level
61.JPG
Towards Glen Lyon - South-West
63.JPG
Better more snow than the boulders...
69.JPG
Towards South
71.JPG
...and South-West again
77.JPG
The gentle snowy slope

Here is my one and only company on the hill :D ( below ) "he is not going with me often as he is able walking in sunshine only...rare case !!! " :lol: :lol: :lol:
80.JPG
My companion...the sun lover !
:lol:
88.JPG
Another bouldery area in the higher level
89.JPG
Towards South-West, the clouds in lower level
93.JPG
Inversion everywhere around...clearer on the Southy side
94.JPG
96.JPG


The report continues in the post - comment below
Last edited by Petr Dakota on Fri Oct 14, 2016 5:18 pm, edited 4 times in total.
User avatar
Petr Dakota
Mountain Walker
 
Posts: 1274
Munros:247   Corbetts:28
Fionas:8   Donalds:4
Sub 2000:3   Hewitts:19
Wainwrights:12   Islands:1
Joined: Sep 3, 2014
Location: North Lanarkshire

Re: Snow, sun & inversion - the beauty of Schiehallion

Postby Petr Dakota » Tue Feb 09, 2016 2:30 am

97.JPG
The final top ahead...
99.JPG
Looking back
101.JPG
Looking South
103.JPG
...and back again
104.JPG
107.JPG
Near the summit
115.JPG
Summit shot no.1 ( thanks self timer )
117.JPG
Summit shot no.2
118.JPG
Summit shot no.3
119.JPG
The clag is coming
120.JPG
More heavy clouds
125.JPG
The visibility changes now...
:roll: :?
126.JPG
...but it's clear again shortly after
:D 8)
129.JPG
131.JPG
...and misty again for a change
134.JPG
The wind is working harder on the top and over the slopes
137.JPG
Towards East-South-East
138.JPG
Great snow conditions on the descend
142.JPG
Looking back again...bye bye Schiehallion
143.JPG
The snow disappear in the bottom...Loch Tummel in the background
145.JPG
Looking bak again from the path
149.JPG
approaching the car park
152.JPG
Tried to catch the the typical shot of Schiehallion from the distance - attempt no.1
153.JPG
...attempt no.2.......
154.JPG
...and attempt no.3
Last edited by Petr Dakota on Thu Feb 11, 2016 8:22 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Petr Dakota
Mountain Walker
 
Posts: 1274
Munros:247   Corbetts:28
Fionas:8   Donalds:4
Sub 2000:3   Hewitts:19
Wainwrights:12   Islands:1
Joined: Sep 3, 2014
Location: North Lanarkshire

Re: Snow, sun & inversion - the beauty of Schiehallion

Postby jamesb63 » Tue Feb 09, 2016 8:25 am

As usuall Petr you give a great account of your day :clap: :clap:
and some beautiful photos of your walk :D
I done this last April on a lovely clear day and the views were
some of the best I have seen
User avatar
jamesb63
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 398
Munros:218   Corbetts:3
Sub 2000:2   
Joined: Apr 14, 2015
Location: Alexandria

Re: Snow, sun & inversion - the beauty of Schiehallion

Postby martin.h » Tue Feb 09, 2016 8:39 am

Wow! lovely photo's there Petr and the weather looks perfect, Schiehallion is one of those for us to go back to, we missed the views, with the weather as it has been just lately, you were one of the lucky ones, great report. :clap: :D
Cheers.
User avatar
martin.h
Mountain Walker
 
Posts: 657
Munros:223   Corbetts:25
Fionas:15   Donalds:15+2
Sub 2000:4   Hewitts:151
Wainwrights:214   Islands:29
Joined: Jul 31, 2011
Location: Halifax, West Yorkshire
Walk wish-list

Re: Snow, sun & inversion - the beauty of Schiehallion

Postby jacob » Tue Feb 09, 2016 12:34 pm

Snow and inversion at the same time: two ingredients for great photos.
User avatar
jacob
 
Posts: 521
Munros:19   Corbetts:9
Fionas:4   
Hewitts:19
Joined: Mar 4, 2015
Location: East of Felixstowe ;)

Re: Snow, sun & inversion - the beauty of Schiehallion

Postby donnycoll » Tue Feb 09, 2016 1:22 pm

Great pics, well done! Def a bit jealous, we were out and about too but never got above the clouds :(
User avatar
donnycoll
Hill Bagger
 
Posts: 19
Munros:81   Corbetts:2
Fionas:6   
Sub 2000:2   Hewitts:1
Islands:14
Joined: Jul 28, 2014
Location: Glasgow

Re: Snow, sun & inversion - the beauty of Schiehallion

Postby rockhopper » Tue Feb 09, 2016 2:34 pm

enjoyed that :D
sun, snow, blue sky, fog bow and inversion all in one day - haven't been many like of late :roll: - cheers :)
User avatar
rockhopper
 
Posts: 7445
Munros:282   Corbetts:222
Fionas:136   Donalds:89+20
Sub 2000:16   Hewitts:2
Wainwrights:3   Islands:20
Joined: May 31, 2009
Location: Glasgow

Re: Snow, sun & inversion - the beauty of Schiehallion

Postby spiderwebb » Tue Feb 09, 2016 9:15 pm

Wonderful winters day there Petr, I'm only midly jealous :lol:
User avatar
spiderwebb
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 1515
Munros:97   Corbetts:15
Fionas:3   Donalds:1
Hewitts:108
Wainwrights:68   
Joined: May 18, 2011
Location: Miltonduff, Elgin

Re: Snow, sun & inversion - the beauty of Schiehallion

Postby Jaxter » Tue Feb 09, 2016 10:27 pm

Lucky you!! :clap:

Great photos and a great day. Confirms my decision to leave Schiehallion last.

Here's hoping for a day like this on Sunday.... :roll:
User avatar
Jaxter
Wanderer
 
Posts: 1486
Munros:217   Corbetts:139
Fionas:90   Donalds:49+13
Sub 2000:129   Hewitts:69
Wainwrights:81   Islands:35
Joined: Aug 8, 2011
Location: Glasgow/Inverness

Re: Snow, sun & inversion - the beauty of Schiehallion

Postby ancancha » Tue Feb 09, 2016 11:39 pm

Nice one Petr :clap:
A crisp clear day for some great inversion photos 8)
Schiehallion summit is an interesting place, must have been a fabulous day for you :wink:
User avatar
ancancha
Mountain Walker
 
Posts: 989
Munros:84   Corbetts:3
Fionas:1   Donalds:1
Joined: Jun 30, 2014
Location: Killadysert

Re: Snow, sun & inversion - the beauty of Schiehallion

Postby hopper68 » Wed Feb 10, 2016 8:15 am

Nice to meet you Petr, that was a cracking TR and stunning pics. I had some cracking views all the up but the summit was spoiled by the clag by the time I got there and missed the jackpot.
hopper68
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 62
Munros:199   Corbetts:34
Fionas:17   Donalds:28
Sub 2000:9   Hewitts:8
Wainwrights:13   Islands:11
Joined: Oct 25, 2014
Location: Hamilton

Re: Snow, sun & inversion - the beauty of Schiehallion

Postby IndoorMunroist » Wed Feb 10, 2016 9:35 am

This is such a brilliant website, I never tire of seeing any inversion shots and these are rather extraspecial.
IndoorMunroist
Walker
 
Posts: 73
Munros:66   
Joined: Jan 15, 2016

Re: Snow, sun & inversion - the beauty of Schiehallion

Postby Petr Dakota » Thu Feb 11, 2016 8:41 pm

Thank you everyone for all the nice comments...I appreciate :D

I was really lucky with the timing and all the views...grateful for the refreshment :D

Trusting the forecast despite the rain in the morning...

the weather was getting better as I got closer:

1.JPG
2.JPG


The Fog Bow on Schiehallion:

57.JPG
56.JPG
54.JPG


...and Brocken Spectre - not the best shot as it disappeared quickly :(
37.JPG
:o 8) :) :wink:
User avatar
Petr Dakota
Mountain Walker
 
Posts: 1274
Munros:247   Corbetts:28
Fionas:8   Donalds:4
Sub 2000:3   Hewitts:19
Wainwrights:12   Islands:1
Joined: Sep 3, 2014
Location: North Lanarkshire

Re: Snow, sun & inversion - the beauty of Schiehallion

Postby dogplodder » Fri Feb 12, 2016 12:26 pm

What a fabulous day you got - with sublime photos to prove it. :thumbup:
User avatar
dogplodder
 
Posts: 4236
Munros:242   Corbetts:74
Fionas:25   
Sub 2000:32   Hewitts:4
Wainwrights:9   Islands:24
Joined: Jul 16, 2011

Re: Snow, sun & inversion - the beauty of Schiehallion

Postby Happyfeet » Sat Feb 13, 2016 9:14 am

Superb blue and whites, looks just fantastic Petr.

Love your sunshine companion, guess he dont get out much :lol:

And what a photo in Trail !! Again :clap: :clap:
Hope you have send a copy to your brother. :D
Happyfeet
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 37
Munros:5   Corbetts:1
Sub 2000:1   Hewitts:16
Wainwrights:24   
Joined: Jan 28, 2014
Location: Too far from Scotland

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

Next



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: Download, Graeme D, jamesb1966, rockrat67 and 53 guests