walkhighlands

Spectres and snowbows - above the cloud on Bynack More

Munros: Bynack More

Date walked: 11/01/2024

Time taken: 7.25 hours

Distance: 23.5km

Ascent: 1128m

It was a calm but cloudy forecast and with the Christmas excesses playing a major role in my planning, I decided on a straightforward out-and-back up Bynack More from Glenmore campsite. I wasn't expecting too much in the way of views, but got that completely wrong, topping out above the cloud, with snowbows, a brocken spectre and an inversion for a spectacular last 150 m or so..


Bynack More 11 Jan 2024.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts



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A quite cold start, up the Glenmore Lodge track, about 8:30, with verglas making the path entertaining


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An Lochan Uaine frozen hard and approaching the cloudbase


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As I left the forest, there were promising signs of the clouds starting to part in places, though Bynack More was still in the cloud


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And as I came round the corner, the Cairngorm plateau was cloud-free, though still persisting ahead of me


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The snowline started about 600m and was frozen hard, so I got the crampons on to try and avoid slips into the deep foot-holes on the track. Cloud still grimly holding on


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On the shoulder before the summit slope, at about 800m the clouds started to part


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Looking back down on the cloud bank, with a beautiful snowbow painted on


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And blue skies above with very light winds, a gorgeous summit day ahead


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As I gained height and the air cleared above the cloud, it just got better


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The snowbow came and went and was spectacular at times


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Crystal clear views of the Cairngorms


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Boulders on the final summit ridgeline


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From the summit cairn, a fabulous inversion to the SE


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With the low winds it was warm enough to linger and take a long lunch break and savour it all


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And on the way down there was even a brocken spectre in the snowbow to cap it all off


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Eventually it was time to head back down into the cloud, which had stayed in the glen the whole day.


It's a rare day in Scotland when the top of the mountain has better conditions than the glen, and what a spectacular contrast it was today, with Glenmore grey and misty the whole day. Not sure the people in the pub appreciated me waxing lyrical about it!

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Comments: 14



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johnbythell


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Activity: Mountain Walker
Mountain: Ladhar Bheinn
Place: Knoydart
Member: BMC, MBA
Ideal day out: Ridge walks/scrambles

Munros: 100



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Trips: 1
Distance: 23.5 km
Ascent: 1128m
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