I had last been up at the Cobbler with the dogs about a month ago, then there was quite alot of snow on the higher areas. Today there was alot more of the white stuff and our group from the GWHC were heading up for an enjoyable hike in winter conditions. I was first to arrive at the Succoth car park, meaning I had plenty of time to get my kit in order before we set off. Alfie also got to have a wee nosey around before being trussed up in his dog coat and harness. Gradually everyone arrived and got geared up, a few new faces for this one too, The Cobbler is always a popular walk.
So yeah, we waited for the rest to catch up and then blisteringly sped off up the path beside the Allt a' Bhalachain. Just after the Narnain Boulders we grouped up again as several of us were going to cut off the path and ascend the western gully. At this point we stepped into our crampons and began to climb up the iced over stream that marked out the route. I was interested to see how Alfie would cope on steeper terrain in these conditions and thus far he appeared to have had no problem using his claws as crampons.
The other section of the group chose to walk up the main path to just beyond the Lochan a' Chlaidheimh, there they would then take the southerly staircase route up to the south peak. For us up at the col, the route would take us up onto the north peak first before we retraced our spike marks back down to the col and then up onto the south peak (884m). A few of the other section had broken off to do Beinn Ime instead of the Cobbler, but we met the rest on the south peak before everyone moved back down to the col to have a quick bite to eat.
After refuelling we started down the staircase route to the cross paths at the Lochan. Most of the group were going to head on down the path back to the car park, but myself, Barry, Kenny and Stewart decided that Beinn Narnain was looking too inviting to resist. We moved north at first before heading east up the shoulder of Narnain. It got much colder as we neared the summit (926m). My insulated platypus tube froze, which it hadn't done on the Cobbler, so even that few extra metres in altitude can make alot of difference.
We didn't hang around for long on the top, heading quickly southeast towards the Spearhead. It was here at the gully where we really had to utilise our axes to the max. After watching Barry, Kenny and Stewart having to axe arrest at several places, I decided to turn face-in and down-climb the gully using my axe in a technical fashion. All worked out well, except that Alfie was stuck at the top of the Spearhead refusing to budge. I had to climb back up and tie his lead onto my pack's belt. He then grudgingly moved down the gully with me coaxing him in between axe placements. Kenny was anchored down below and watching to make a catch if need be, but thankfully Alfie stayed attached to me and we got down safely.
From there we trotted along the ridge to Cruach nam Miseag and then down to Creag an Fhithich before we broke into the forested area that took us back down towards the main road. We lost Stewart for a bit in the forest, maybe he needed some quiet time? but he soon popped out farther along the track as we joined the wide path back to Succoth.
The rest of the days hikers had dispersed with some opting for a drink at Ben Arthur's Bothy. Barry and I headed round there and managed to catch a few of them before they hurried back to the big smoke.
Some photographs courtesy of spritely paced GWHC members.
Pronunciation/Translation: Geal Charn - gyal kaarn (white hill).
Yes, there's quite a few Geal Charns... The one we were tackling this day was the Monadhliath offering. This was a GWHC meeting and we had driven up in Grant's car the night before, and stayed at the Pottery Bunkhouse near Laggan Bridge. (Note to self, if sharing a dorm with Grant and Barry again... bring earplugs to combat excessive snoring!)
Seven of us were making this climb. Once everyone had made the rendezvous at the start point we set off across General Wade's Garva Bridge and onto a track which took us through the first part of the route. Following the east bank of the Feith Talagain we moved through farmland until we started reaching higher ground near the Allt Coire nan Dearcag. A little upstream we managed to make it across the narrow but fiercely flowing stream.
From here it was a case of heading up onto the southwest shoulder of Geal Charn and just slogging it over increasingly rocky terrain to the wide summit (926m). To the east of the summit was some steep craggy cliffs leading down to the Laggan Choire. We moved south off the broad summit towards the bealach leading to subsidiary peak Beinn Sgiath.
After Barry had practiced some ice axe arrests above the col, we settled down for a bite to eat. Some darker snow clouds had begun to move in our direction, so we moved on quickly striding up and over Beinn Sgiath and then down over boggy ground towards a lower rising rib that lead to Meall an Domhnaich which on it's southwestern side would lead us steeply down through a band of larch wood to the Garva Bridge again.
We tentatively moved through the larch trees using trunks to slow down our momentum as we made our way lower to the bridge. Very soon we were back at the cars and planning a post-hike pint in Pitlochry.
A good hike in fresh conditions made an unremarkable munro a bit more interesting. Certainly a hill better visited in winter conditions.
Some photographs courtesy of GWHC members.
It was around this very time last year that Shona took the Coleman Bedrock to test in some harsh winter conditions. Whilst we were only a few minutes from the warmth of the Kings House Hotel on Rannoch moor the minus temperatures and snow flurries were doing their best to make our camping a miserable experience.
This year we took to the wilderness a day early and drove up to Bridge of Orchy on New Years day. It had been wet most of the afternoon and the ground that we were pitching upon was a little bit sodden, but with the extra defence of my homemade footprint we had some hope of keeping things dry below the groundsheet. Using light from my car headlamps we pitched our usual Karrimor Beta geodesic tent (of which we have 2, they're that good!)and got our kit inside ready for a nice snuggly New Years night under the stars.
Well, the rain continued to fall. I lay listening to the sound of it getting stronger then sometimes easing off before drumming hard against the flysheet once more. Eventually with the help of Balvenie single malt I nodded off. At some point during the night I remember waking to hear that the rain had calmed down considerably. Yes, it still seemed to be raining but sounded much softer than the previous battering we had been experiencing.
Our plan was to wake early and perhaps climb Beinn Dorain and Beinn an Dothaidh. That was not going to happen, by morning we were going to be digging our way out of Bridge of Orchy! With quite a surprise I unzipped the inner tent flaps to see that there was snow piled up on all sides of the flysheet. After kicking away most of the drifted snow we managed to get out of the tent and take in the pristine white surroundings. The car was rather well hidden under snow, and a little further along some other campers were trying to dig out their VW campervan with kayaks on it's roof.
Looking up at the two hills, Dorain and an Dothaidh it was only just possible to make out the bealach through the snow clouds. I had forgotten to bring along Alfie's dog coat so climbing in these conditions was out of the question. It was going to be a chore just getting onto the main road. After breakfast and once we had packed everything and the dogs into the car we made our attemp at escaping Bridge of Orchy. Initially we turned left and began heading for Glen Coe, hoping that things might brighten up. On Rannoch moor things began to get really grim and by Kings House Hotel we took the decision to turn around and head to Tyndrum while we still could.
Halfway between Bridge of Orchy and Tyndrum, a coach several cars in front of us made an enormous sway and slide along the road. Ending up sideways blocking most of both lanes, we were lucky to be in a position to make it around the front of the stricken coach and onwards to Tyndrum.
By Tyndrum things were much more civilised. It looked like the day was warming up and alot of the snow here was resceding. After a short break at the Green Welly Stop, we decided to try taking the lower Loch Awe road towards the coast where the snow would be less likely to hinder our progress. We took a nice drive over the Connel Bridge and up to Fort William, the weather here was quite good compared with what we had witnessed earlier.
Heading back down to Glen Coe we were planning on striking camp by the Kings House Hotel, just like last year. When we got to the access road by the Glen Etive crossroads, the snow was falling steadily again and arriving at the camping ground I noted that we were the only ones planning on camping here. Not wishing to be stuck on our own on at the end of the single track access road, we decided to abort our mission and head back to our warm home comforts in the lowlands.
Pronunciation/Translation: Schiehallion - shee haal yan (fairy hill of the Caledonians).
As it was Barry's birthday from the GWHC, he had arranged for the club to meet and climb Schiehallion in Perthshire. We all met up at the Weem Hotel just outside Aberfeldy then drove as a convoy up to the Braes of Foss parking area at the start of the route. The rain had been constant all morning and for most of the previous night i'd guess judging from the amount of surface water on the roads. There were quite a few members attending this meet today, so as usual as soon as we set off I took Alfie to the front to avoid him getting under anyones hiking boots.
For most of the route except for the rocky area near the summit there is a very well maintained path. This meant that although the ground surrounding us was really boggy and wet, we were still able to make a good pace up the path. A few of the group were struggling with the ascent. Because of the heavy rain, some had decided on wearing full, heavy waterproof regalia and unfortunately were overheating.
There was quite alot of waiting around for us up at the front, and two of those struggling decided to turn back for the car park. This was probably a wise decision, if they were finding it tough on the lower part of the hill then things could get far more serious higher up for them.
As it turned out, things did get much worse the higher we went. Rain began to turn to sleet and as we moved out of the shelter of the hillside the wind really picked up. At the 850m mark the group bunched up and Barry made a decision to call off the ascent. There were several people worried about the strong winds and their ability to stay on their feet.
Kenny, Martin and I decided to continue to the summit. Yes it was windy, but not to the extent that I had any great concerns regarding my own personal safety. The route ahead was on rocky ground, but there were no knife edge ridges to worry about.
I led the way and very soon Alfie as always was standing up on the rocky summit (1083m) looking back down on me trying to climb my way over wet rocks in the near gael-force winds. I got to the top and took a few snaps of Alfie and I looking rather wet then wasted no time in heading back down to lower ground. I passed Martin and Kenny still ascending and they were pleased to know that the summit was not far off. Once I had made my way to the path I waited for the guys to catch up, then we strolled down the hill and at places began to jog where the path was more level.
It was good to get to lower ground and feel the benefit of the shelter from the mountainside. The sun even made an attempt to break through the clouds, but that was short lived. We made ground fast and were soon back down by our cars at Braes of Foss. The others had made their way back to the Weem Hotel where a few drinks were being knocked back in Barry's honour. We served up a cake for him and the manageress of the hotel was great and gave us all little side plates to serve everyone a slice.
All in all it was quite an enjoyable day despite the rotten conditions, it was good to get Schiehallion done and dusted. It's a long drive to go for a walk along a well kempt path.
some of the photos courtesy of Martin, GWHC.
