A Windy Weekend

The weekend at the beginning of February saw the club off to Laggan to the Bunkhouse at the Roundhouse- a new and excellent venue for a small meet.

Despite the wild forecast for Friday evening  travelling wasn't too bad. Saturday was due to be very windy so we got down to checking forecasts and looking for suitable ventures.

Yvonne, Linda, Roddy, Mark, Andrew and Judith set out for a Graham on Creag Ruadh. We started out up the ridge sheltered from the wind in a bit of sunshine and in the snow. But gradually it became more overcast, windier and snowy. Once at the top of the ridge it became much wilder and our summit was completely out of view.  The intrepid trio of Roddy, Linda and Andrew headed into snow to get along the ridge while the others headed on the circuit down.  It was good to get out.

 


Ann and John decided to go skiing on Geal Charn and managed to get up as far as 750m which was good going in the wind and snow.

We were all glad to get back to the bunkhouse in the afternoon, enjoying tea and cake, chat and the usual high standard AMC meal.

Sunday was another day of howling gales in Laggan so we all headed off after a leisurely start. Mark and Judith found the sun beside Granton and decided to get out for a walk along the Spey  - a good option for a wild day higher up.

Marvellous Meagaidh

 Having made the very lucky decision to have a long weekend over west for John's birthday, Ann & John took full advantage of last Friday's brief weather window to get out and enjoy all this snow we have been hearing about. The choice was the Creag Meagaidh group, which was a good call as the weather for the first half of the day was nothing like as good as forecast.

After a hack up through the trees from Aberarder we got the skis on at around 600m and skinned up Carn Liath, the first Munro, in intermittent snow showers. Snow on the ground was perfect though, bit of fresh on a good base. Although it was pretty windy on the top the clouds stared to part so Plan B was put on hold and off we set for the full traverse.

In the woods

Ascending Carn Liath, wondering if we were doing the right thing

Bracing against the wind on Carn Liath

After that the pictures tell the story really. Great snow cover and quality, and slowly improving weather through the day. 

Coire Ardair from Carn Liath

Approaching Min Window

In Min Window, traversing the only ice we found all day

Looking east along the ridge

Cornices on Coire a Chriochairein

Ascent from The Window

On the plateau, looking towards Moy Corrie

Coire Ardair

We went right around to Sron a Ghoire, then had an excellent run down the corrie on a mix of powder and soft slab which only got hard right at the bottom. The only complaint was that Ann's legs were too tired to tele the whole of it. Forgot to check how low we got but 450-500m wouldn't be far out. To cap it nicely we got a zoomed picture of us in the avalanche blog for the day, taken as we approached the Min Window. 

Approaching Sron a Ghoire

View south from Sron a Ghoire

 

Monadliath Ski

Last Saturday, as part of the Laggan meet, Ann & John headed into the Monadliath for a spot of ski touring. We went up Glen Markie from Spey Dam. Sadly the snow line was just too high so we had a few km to walk up the track until we could turn up Piper's Burn towards Geal Charn.

View west towards Creag Meagaidh. At least we didn't go up there.

Crossing the Markie Burn

Skis went on just after the stream crossing and the ascent went well until we got to around 650 m. Then the weather, which had been slowly deteriorating, got really wild and combined the plentiful spindrift with lots of fresh. By 750 m we could barely see our own feet and while we might have carried on had we been on foot (and forgetting the depth of soft snow to post-hole through), it was no place for skiing. Most of the descent was horrible, straight into the wind and total whiteout for much of the time. No seasick feelings but several falls into hidden drops. Snow was not too bad, but a bit crusty in places.
 

Emerging from the whiteout at the edge of the corrie

Assynt and the Turkish Steam room IV

Last weekend Ed, Scuz and Mark headed north in search of dry weather.  After a visit to the new chicken carryout (in the old kebab shop) in Inverness (which did an excellant burrito), we drove up to Lochinver and had a great walk along the track into Suileag bothy under an almost full moon and semi clear skies.

The next day after a less than alpine start....

we headed up to Suilven

here the AMC twins were spotted

after visiting both summits we headed back to Suileag to pick up our sleeping gear

After lunch we headed back to the car and drove round to park near the top of the pass to Unapool.  We then marched with full bothy gear - 10kg of coal is one way to slow Scuz down (a bit).  By now the wind and rain had caught up with us and daylight was fading...We went up the Waterfall path to Bealach Bhuirich and from there, against Ed's better judgement, we took the shortest route, down a 300m steep heather slope avoiding cliffs here and there.  By now it was pitch black and pouring rain,  nothing like a bit of excitement on the way to a bothy!
But eventually, we, or at least me, staggered into Glencoul bothy aka 'The Turkish Steam Room' and got the fire going.

Reading the bothy books we realised that it was 11 years to the day that Ed had got Adam down to his underwear in the inaugural Turkish Steam Room trip.  Once settled in, Ed the Bothy Chef King, got to work and produced his usual excellant meal washed down with port and whisky.

The next morning we left this great place, and because of the high winds walked out round the loch rather than ascending the Stack of Glencoul as planned.  For once we took Ed's advice!

A cuppa and oatcakes and cheese at Glendhu bothy was a welcome break on the way out and the hitch along the road to collect the car was even more welcome.

Mark

More New Year photos....

New Years Day walk on Meall na Teanga and Sron a Choire Ghairbh. Scuz and The Goat hitched a ride to the start point with Yvonne and Chris. Scuz and The Goat completed their planned route of two Munros and got a lift home. Yvonne and Chris completed both Munros and survived. So everyone was happy!!

Very steep snow and spindrift on the final ascent of Meall na Teanga required axes, crampons and goggles. The wind had calmed a bit by the time we got to the summit of Sron a Choire Ghairbh so we descended the NE ridge over Meall nan Dearcag back to the car.

 

Invergarry New Year

A few wet and windy days were spent at Invergarry Lodge over New Year.  Up to 29 people ate, drank and most even went up some hills.  The weather was however fine for forest bike rides.

Judith and I met up with Ed and Scuz at the abandoned house/bothy at Garrygualach after a great ride through the forest to the south of Loch Garry.  WARNING - if you are passing the 'Beasts of the Forest' don't try cycling at them full pelt - they don't like it - do they Ed/Scuz?

Room with a view or open plan living - take your pick.....

 By the Friday night the Meet numbers were down to a more managable 12, and a very enjoyable evening was had by all.  But please no more cheese!

 Steve, Dave and Steve certainly seemed relaxed enough

Invergarry Lodge made a great New Year Meet venue for a large party.

Mark

Mark and the Swedish Blonde...

The Scottish hills and lochs are full of mythical creatures and legends; the Grey Man of Macdui, Nessie and Morag, the ghost of Ben Alder Cottage, and last but not least the elusive Swedish blonde bothy goer. Never actually seen, but occasionally referred to in bothy logs.
 
Up until now that is, may we introduce 'Maxim',  Mark even got his hands round her...............and for an evening she was the 'light' of his life.

 After a night with Maxim, What better than a wee stroll up classic hill.

Alas Maxim did not accompany us to another bothy for Saturday night.......leaving Mark only with sweet dreams.

Text and pictures by Ed