Scratching Around for Ice
February 1st, 2010 • Winter climbing • No comments
On the Road at 6am it was a familar pilgrimage up Scotland’s Great Western Road on Saturday morning. Into Glencoe’s Stob Coire nan Lochain, Mini and Kia managed to get the rope properly fankled on boomerang gully, while Spad took a slightly uncommon route up to Dorsal Arete. Having previously avoided it for more difficult routes, the Arete proved to be nothing but good fun and I wondered why I hadn’t done it before. Back down in the Fort it was pints and pub scran before lamb chops arrived. A good sleep in till 7am, but rescued by the gondola it was off the back of Anonach Mor on Sunday. We all lacked ice screws and on a variation of Tunnel vision, Mini and myself ran out of rope, with me 25m above the last shakey protection, and 2m from the top. Plenty of excitement as it felt like I soloing over hard ground (for me). Soft snow didn’t make life easy higher up, but luckily some other friendly climbers, up from Glasgow, dropped us a line. We did the same for lamb chops,Skippy and Spad, who had had a similarly taxing climb. Having run out of time for the Gondola, all that was left was twilight descent into the Glen, some gear sorting, and a pint on road down before making glasgow at midnight.
Arrochar Alps
February 1st, 2010 • Cycling, Mountainbiking • No comments
7.30 in the morning. Trundling through the freezing, dank, dark streets of Yoker to Scotstoun; Chae bundles his stuff into the boot and 50 minutes later we’re standing at the foot of the Arrochar Alps. The sun was peering over the eastern hills turning the glass like loch pink and orange, it was a brisk -1ºC. After a short spin along the flats the climb up the fire road begins in earnest and gains height quite rapidly. The surface is hard packed and easy going apart from the odd patch of ice. The track soon levels off and meanders it’s way following the contours of the hill until Ben Vane comes into view. It’s 950m and is an impressive mountain, snow capped with cascades of ice running of it’s slopes and an imposing cap of swirling cloud. We were fortunate that the sun was shining and the once we were in amongst the peaks it really did feel like we were in an alpine environment. The climb topped out and gave us view up to the damn at loch Sloy and to the east the hills beyond loch lomond, with the loch itself obscured by the fore ground. The descent on the fire road was fast a wee bit loose and heaps of fun culminating in a rough and icy ford over the Allt Coiregrogain. Another high speed descent followed, with deep water bars and loose gravel to contend with it was more fun than you’d have thought. Then you join the single track which leads back to Arrochar, this is where the real fun begins, it starts out pretty smooth and flowing punctuated with the odd shallow climb before a short, steep and technical ascent. This is when you get what you came for, the trail plunges down on loose rocky, water eroded and rutted terrain. The trail snakes it’s way down glen Loin, the riding is excellent, not to challenging but loose and rough enough to get the juices pumping. Speed is high and the km’s get despatched rapidly. There are some great steep sections both up and down, which keep you on your toes. In no time at all you are on the valley floor, the final stretch is easy going but still fun with the odd water bar and rocky patch to keep you interested. I would say the route is about red grade and being so convenient for Glasgow is a real alternative to heading for the Carron Valley or Glentress. The trails are natural, amongst real mountains and quiet except for the odd walker on the Glen Loin trail. Totally recommended, I’ll definitely be heading back.
Wild Through a Pinhole
January 27th, 2010 • Ski-ing / Boarding • No comments
Having watched Jen carry about cameras made out of matchboxes on recent trips to the backlands, you’d have to have thought she was slightly mad. The results, however, speak for themselves. Here’s a couple that she sent me and I’m hoping she’ll add some more later. She’s been taking the pictures as part of a project focusing around the Glencoe Ski centre, which has recently been given a new lease of life under new management. We were up there on Sunday for a slide, and I would certainly say that it’s retained a friendly charm that you might not get to the same extent at other ski centres – well worth a visit.
Glencoe
January 11th, 2010 • Hill walking, Winter climbing • 3 comments
Glencoe was in spectacular form, and somehow amazingly quiet. The severe weather warnings for the roads must’ve put people off driving, but as it turned out the roads were fine and the weather was fantastic. Tim and myself got a day in Stob Coire Nan Lochain on SC Gully, and then out along the Aonach Eagach the following day – something I’ve been meaning to do for a few years. Jen joined us a the bunkhouse after having been up at the ski centre taking pictures on a pinhole camera – the few frames she showed us from her last trip looked spectacular (hopefully we can persuade her to post them up here). Spad arrived looking very fresh and ready for action – in completely the opposite kind of form to us after several days out on the hill! Dave came through for some thinking time, after recent events there was some solace to be found in the snowy Glencoe hills. A walk up towards Beinn an Dothaidh cleared the heads before it was back to Glasgow. All in all, another classic weekend.
Pictures from Tim:
Geal-charn / A’Mharconaich / Beinn Udlamain / Sgairneach Mhor
December 30th, 2009 • Hill walking • 1 comment
Tuesday 29th December 2009
Drove up to Drumochter on Monday night to sleep in the car at minus 10. Not too cold but not warm either and I missed out on a sesh at Ricky and Sian’s for the privilege!
However was on the hill at 8.30 am and walked the round of 4 Munro’s. 7 hours later and I was back at the car and drove home.
Once above the valley mist visibility was good all day but not as sunny as I’d hoped for. White and cold sort of summarises the day – and thank goodness there was no need to compass navigate. Fairly featureless.
Low level wanderings
December 30th, 2009 • Hill walking • 1 comment
So here I am stranded in Kirkwall. Plane was grounded due to freezing fog and in an effort to divert my attentions from the bright lights and frenetic bustle of my surroundings thought I’d stick up some photos I took whilst on late morning wanders in Shetland.
Bressay is an alien place to highlander like myself. Bleak and sparse are adjectives that come to mind, most trails on the interior of the island are made by sheep and rabbits. Few people still dig the peat so human trails are few and far between but this all adds to the remoteness. Up on the higher peaks of which there are two Ander hill (144m) and the Ward (226m) you can watch the weather approaching off the horizon which all adds to the sense of exposure. The landscape is riddled with the past. Numerous crofting settlements a herring station, 2 world war 1 guns (and ammunitioon stores) one on the east one on the west, a military camp and the look out tower on Ander hill; it makes for a haunted atmosphere. If you were brave you could certainly have some fine climbing on the cliffs which are towering and complex even on a small island like Bressay. It’s certainly an environment that encourages adventure and in days of yore demanded it. Hopefully make it up the peak of the Shetland, Ronas Hill (450m) in the summer…
Somhairle
Glas Tulaichean
December 21st, 2009 • Hill walking • No comments
Saturday 12th December 2009
Glas Tulaichean, Glenshee
Drove over from Glendoll the night before and slept in the car again. Only minus 5 but I felt the cold – shouldn’t have because I’ve been out in much worse – must be getting old! Morning was overcast so no hurry to get up and I drove the final 10 miles to Dalmunzie about 9.30am.
From there cycled up to Glenlochsie only using the old railway track to avoid the cottages then onto the estate track and about 4 river fords. The path up the hill was just short of motorway standards so no navigation required. I got the impression clear blue skies were just a few 100 feet above – but not for me. Jogged down and a fast descent on the bike.
I’m now half way to the Munro’s. Only taken 40 years. Better up the pace a bit!!!
Sunday 13th December
Lochgilphead JogScotland Santa Run. Only 3 miles. Fortunately no pictures available.
Tolmount & Tom Buidhe
December 21st, 2009 • Hill walking • 2 comments
Set off from Slockavullin about 8am to Glendoll via Troon and Kirkcaldy for some family stuff. Arriving in the glen at 11pm at minus 4 and, ignoring the ‘no overnight parking signs’, slept in the car. There used to be a great wee basic campsite up here, progress has given us some big visitors centres and signs! The plan was to bag the Tolmount and Tom Buidhe and as many of six tops and one relegated top I’d failed to summit on previous trips stretching back to 1979, as was possible. Given that I expected a long trek I took my bike for the trail in and out and (hopefully) to cycle about the plateau.
Slept well but the cold made me stay wrapped up until 8.30am and I set off at 9. The missed 90 minutes of daylight would prove costly later on. I must work on motivation in the mornings!! Cycled up Jock’s Road until the end of the forestry then pushed up the mountain track, eventually to Crow Craigies, first top of the day. The descent before re ascending to the Tolmount was uncycleable due to soft snow. Great. Pushed the bloody bike up a mountain and can’t use it! Left the bike next to a prominent rock and climbed the Tolmount, over to Tom Buidhe and back again. Prominent rock wasn’t quite so prominent as I thought but found the bike after not too much hassle.
Skies were blue, sun was shining, views up to the Cairngorms spectacular and 2 munros and one top bagged. So far so good. Pushed up to the relegated top of Creag Leachdach where I met possibly the rudest person I’ve ever met in the mountains who barked at me “What are you doing here”. Possible he doesn’t like bikes; possibly he’s just a rude twat. Anyway I did my best to annoy him. Briefly thought of doing a Trotsky on him but I’d left the axe in the car. Next time! Plateau snow was good and hard most of the time. A few patches meant the front wheel sunk in and I went over the handle bars a few times, but it was good fun. From Leachdach to Fafernie in no time then over the Munro of Cairn Bannoch which I’d done before with Brian but it was too easy to miss. Cycled to just below the summit cairn then down to two tops of Cairn of Gowal and Craig of Gowal. By now it was 2 pm and if I wanted to do more I had to get over to the Lochnagar side of the range.
I was 3 tops short of completion and would no doubt finish in darkness. Cycled off in the direction of Creag and Dubh for no good reason other then it was the best snow to cycle. I’d been before but went back anyway, which probably wasn’t a good idea because getting back to Cairn Bannoch from there was hard work before a really fast (for me!) cycle to the foot of Carn a Choire Bhoidheach and a push to the summit. Another repeat Munro just because it was en-route to two tops I’d missed, Eagles Rock and Creag a Ghlas-uillt. Now with the sun sinking fast I had one top left, Meal Coire na Saobhaidhe, but that meant getting up and over Lochnagar.
As darkness fell I stopped and ate for the first time and pondered what to do. Thought about leaving the bike and walking by torchlight, but probably would never have found the bike again, so set off back to the car. Found the Glas Allt path easily and biked down bits until it got too steep. Round the head of Lock Muick and pushed up the Coirre Chash path to the path down to Glen Doll – when it all started to go wrong. I couldn’t find the Glen Doll path. I’m pretty sure in daylight this would be easy but I was restricted to the beam of the torch and looking both sides of the wee barn I couldn’t find the way down. Eventually set off over rough ground, eventually reaching the river and the track back. At least that’s the summary, seriously considered sleeping out at one point! Back at 9pm.
A 12 hour day. 4 Munros, 2 of which were repeats, 7 tops, (2 repeats and 1 just to be sure) 1 relegated top. About 27 miles. If I’d got up earlier I’d have bagged the last top.
Whitey in the Cairngorms
December 20th, 2009 • Hill walking, Winter climbing • No comments
Where did it all go wrong Mini?
Up top in Arran
December 20th, 2009 • Hill walking, Winter climbing • 1 comment
With the weather looking good it was go go go for Arran. We made the Sannox ridge on Saturday with Tim and myself carrying on for a sublime but not uneventful crossing of (most) of the A’ Chir with full pack. We were quite literally above the clouds; bubbling away beneath us and stretching out as far as our eyes could go.
Photos by Tim (apart from the ones he’s in!):
Recent Comments