walkhighlands

Stormy Winter Ascent of Beinn Na Lap

Route: Beinn na Lap, from Corrour

Date walked: 14/02/2020

Time taken: 6 hours

Distance: 10.5km

Ascent: 607m

Friday morning we get off the Sleeper train and start the walk to the Loch Ossian Youth Hostel. Following a snow-less winter start storm Ciara brought in loads of fresh snow and a promise of a quality winter weekend. However, storm Dennis was here to make life slightly more difficult. Thankfully the tracks have been cleared of snow making the walk to the hostel pleasant while carrying food (and drink) supplies for a long weekend.

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Cleared estate vehicle track to the Loch Ossian hostel from Corrour station


Upon arrival at the youth hostel, we're greeted by the new (winter) manager Tom, who has been overall very helpful during the stay, printing us daily MWIS and Metoffice reports! We dropped our extra supplies and headed off to Beinn na Lap. Having done the Ossian/Ben Alder Munros in summer it seemed like an ideal hill to start off winter with, considering storm Dennis was about to come in play.
Despite the MWIS's 100 mph gale-force wind on the WH, the lower tops of the Ossian Munros had a more forgiving gust of 70-80 mph forecasted!

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What a forecast to look forward to!



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We set-off in a party of 2 as we diverted from the slushy track onto the snow-covered slopes to get into instant snow-drifts and at-times waist-deep soft snow and bogs. Despite the forecasted heavy rain, the total rainfall didn't exceed an hour at the start.
About 600m up, still through deep soft snow, the wind clears up the cloudy weather where we could actually see views, with the prominent Corbett Leum Uillem being the first thing spotted

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Leum Uillem from Beinn na Lap


Glimpses of sunshine as well as a short clear window toward Glen Nevis, the Mamores and the Grey Corries allows some views before the wind picks up at the summit. At times the views were clear all the way to Ben Alder, the black water reservoir and Loch Rannoch.

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Glen Nevis and the Mamores

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Slowly clearing up sky over Beinn na Lap, Loch Ossian

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Clear sky over Leum Uillem

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Clear sky over Loch Ossian and Carn Dearg/Sgor Gaibhre


We dug a shelter behind the summit cairn to get some warm drink and additional over-mittens and down jackets before starting the descent.

We glissaded down to a steep section to the south east of the summit, looking at the steep terrain and the strong winds we contemplating climbing down facing inwards. We put on crampons for reassurance on the steepe slopes south east of Beinn na Lap's summit before opting to descent the same way we came in. Looking closely at the map and having checked our exact GPS coordinates, avoiding the corniced steep section, on descent, was probably a good decision.

Slowly making our way through the holes, bogs and endless spin-drift, the track is finally reached before making our way back to the hostel.

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Semi-frozen stream on the track to the Loch Ossian Hostel

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Loch Ossian Hostel



Mahmoud
Southampton University Hillwalking Club

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mah_wagih


Location: Southampton
Activity: Munro compleatist
Member: southampton university hillwalking club

Munros: 23
Corbetts: 1
Wainwrights: 2
Hewitts: 13



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Statistics

2020

Trips: 1
Distance: 10.5 km
Ascent: 607m


Joined: Mar 29, 2019
Last visited: Sep 15, 2022
Total posts: 1 | Search posts