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Something different from my last clear sunny winter mountain's trip
Finally my two days off on weekend, but the weather forecast sounded bad for most of Scotland...rain, heavy rain or snowing with a gales in the hills, poor visibility
I had a company for this trip, my work mate Mark wanted join me for a mountain's trip
He also has the passion for outdoor and hillwalking. Before this trip Mark had done 5 Munros and some more hills - walks in the beautiful scottish nature, mostly on his own. He sounded be very interested about to discover more and more hills and also to get the experience in variety conditions in the mountains
I recommended him to register in this WH web site and use all the advantages and opportunities to get more about the hillwalking. His big hobby is weather forecasting and he is really dedicated to the nice sphere and all about
We planned the weekend's trip long time before as it was rarely the same days off work for both of us...a good opportunity for a walk together, bad luck we got the bad weather as a couple days before the weather was great for walking in the hills, but we were working at the time...
Despite the weather forecast we were determined to go and try to do some Munro(s)
We arranged to meet at 04:00 am on sunday morning and then to drive towards North. I prepared some routes and also plan B and plan C as it all was depended on the very recent weather and the roads conditions, but it looked between Drumochter or Cairngorms ( options from Braemar or Glenmore or Cairngorms Mountains Centre )...final decision kept for the morning to see the real conditions.
Mark was reliably arrived at 3:55 as I was leaving the house exactly the same time so we met in the rigt - same time
Rain showers welcomed us in the morning and also during the driving, changed to sleet and then snowing around Drumochter. We stopped at the layby which is starting point for Carn na Caim and A'Bhuidheanach Bheag just to see how it looks there...it was still darkness, snowing in the area, but the snow was soft and wet, not the best for walking there and get wet from beginning. We decided to continue to Glenmore and see how it looks there. We can do Bynack More and maybe also one of the two nearest Corbetts depends of the conditions and the time
if the snow gate will be closed or we can try the Mountain Centre carpark and try Ben Macdui and Beinn Mheadhoin. The Bynack More sounded as a better option as the weather can change even during the day so better to saty before the snow gate anyway
If the weather would be worse there we can still turn back to Drumochter and to do these two
The weather and also the conditions on the road and around was much better after @ 12 miles going from Drumochter - no much surprised as the Drumochter area is usually worst in winter time.
We arrived to Glenmore on wet road, there was a short queue before the closed snow gate so we just turned into the car park along the road. Parking fee £2 per a day. After quick preparation we started our walk with full of expectation
All the walk is in the video below - incl. photos and videos and also the difference between the conditions on the bottom and in higher levels:In the videos included in the movie above ( some photos always between - made by the timeline ) you can see how strong and powerful the wind was...but the real feelings can't be showed or described...In his report Mark wrote:"On Sunday, 21 February 2016, my friend Petr Kolegar and myself took off from a rainy Cumbernauld at 4am for the Cairngorms, despite a poor weather forecast, I wanted to experience what winter had to offer in the Scottish mountains. Without the experience and knowledge of Czech born, Petr, I would not have attempted this myself. We both knew the dangers.
Strong WNW winds driving ocean modified Greenland air across the Northern UK along with hefty sleet, hail and snow showers, rain to low levels of Central Scotland. 850mb (5,000ft) level temperatures between -5 and -10C.
After driving 2 hours up the A9 we crossed over snowy Drumnochter Summit as daylight slowly began appearing in the wind, snow and darkness".......
Here is the Photo story:
- Snowgate closed as we expected, it meant just a short extra walk to the car park - start point for Bynack More
- We started optimistic as the weather and the conditions was gentle on the beginning at the bottom...just a sleet sometimes...Mark on the right, me on the left ( Mark's photo )
- The nice foot bridge... ( Mark's photo )
- Some deeper steps...
- ...deep snow in some places, but icy snow on the tops
- Approaching the final slope ahead...poor visibility and the ground is icy and slippery
- The snow was very icy...and the wind was stronger and stronger in higher levels...visibility poor...the right time for crampons
- Starting the ascent, the wind is stronger and stronger with every step up
- Looking back...Mark is bravely following. Another climber behind us.
- higher...
- Bad visibility, icy slippery ground and the gale is getting stronger and stronger
- ...more higher ! Our faces was red - blue - purple...but our willpower was still strong enough to keep us moving ahead against all the obstacles. Hard to hear each other in that noise
- ...and more higher...keeping going ! Determined !!!
- The walker behind us was really seriously struggling to get to the first top...after a time, we saw him get there to the horizon behind us...we saw him fell down in the strong wind on the slippery - icy ground and then we saw him turning back down. It was about 300 m to the summit I think - hard to estimate ( now backward ) in that poor visibility and also by the slow pace in the conditions
- Closer to the summit
I'm not an weather expert, but here is what Mark - the weather specialist, described in his Weather Website: Mark says:"Once on the long, icy climb (ridge) summit-bound, we were buffeted by an icy gale with snow flakes hitting our face which resembled tiny needles which worsened with each step as we entered bare, treeless mountain terrain.
With no weather station on top of Bynack More, I checked conditions on neighbouring Cairngorm and did an estimate of what the wind, temperature and wind chill conditions would be on Bynack More summit.
As of 12 noon, air temp: -4C, Sustained wind: 40-50 mph, Gusts: 70-75 mph, Wind chill (in strongest gusts): -15 to -20C.
70 mph gusts may not be the worst but on an exposed rime ice covered rocky ridge 3,580ft up and blowing snow creating a white out, these conditions sucked the energy out of my body. This was likely the worst conditions I've ever experienced.
Combined with near hurricane force winds in the last 100ft from the top, 1-2 inch thick sheets of ice made it tough to stand. Sudden gusts produced zero visibility with Petr just metres in front, disappearing!"
- Near the summit
- Peaceful thoughts in the final sections
- ...very close ! ...but the real summit is not visible yet
- Always removing gloves when making pics each other...but getting frozen quickly
- The summit of Bynack More
- Done !!! happiness and satisfaction...but it's only half way - time to think about descending
- Mark lost one crampon on the way up, there was a scary moment as he fell about 12-15m down on the icy slope - fortunately he managed to stop...We also saw one walker following us who fell down and then we saw him turning back before the final ascending to the summit...the conditions was really challenging. Because all of this we decided to try a different way for descending, but the visibility and snowdrift made it difficult...
- Back in the safer lower level...it's like a different world often
- We made it !!! Good team work
Another great day in the mountains and another great experience. Mark is a brave man who did it despite all the obstacles
He was a great company and we decided to do more trips together in the future if we will be lucky with the same free days out of work.
I'm also happy that we can welcome another WH member who seems to be a dedicated to the hillwalking, he did not lost the interest even after this harder experience...not surprised he passed in this winter test.......
thanks to your great attitude Mark !