Easter 2004

Today is Jan 1st 2010;  Selkirk is (unusually) still deep in snow, which has been lying continuously since before Christmas.  This blog is still stuck back in 2004, so I'll need to press on through the next few years ....

Easter 2004 - we spent a week in a lovely cottage ay Keltneyburn, near Aberfeldy, with the whole family (right).


The weather was pretty good all week, so we had several expeditions to the hills.






First outing (5th April) was Schihallion (below) - a repeat climb for Anne and me, but a first Munro for Fiona!

We parked at the Bridge of Foss car park, and made speedy progress up the new NT path.  Half-way up, I was saying "I wish I'd worn my shorts", as it was lovely and warm.  I soon changed my tune once we got onto the summit ridge, where it turned absolutely Arctic, with a very cold wind blowing the powdery snow horizontally in our faces.  We didn't stop long at the cairn - just long enough for a photo of Fi on her first Munro!  (and maybe her last?).

Next day (6th April), I set off alone up Glen Lyon, to climb Meall Ghaordie (M 164).  Steep damp grassy slopes up into Coire Laoghain, then more gently on to the ridge at Cam Chreag, with snow underfoot from 750m, and a cold wind.  From the summit, there were beautifully clear views (right), and a superb sense of isolation for the world below.  It took 2.5 hours up, but only 1 hour to descend on snow, then grassy slopes into Glas Choire and round below Creag a' Mhadaidh.

Next outing (7th April) - persuaded Iain, Julie and Anne to join me to climb Beinn Tulaichean (M 165), from Inverlochlaraig (Balquhidder).   Very steep slog up to the ridge, with feet suffering in a new pair of boots.  Cold wind, but warm sunshine and clear views.  Several showers around, but none fell on us!  Enjoyed the snowy ascent (left) to the rocky summit, then descended north towards Cruach Ardrain, then east down into Inverlochlaraig Glen.

Reverted to my old boots for a traverse of the Tarmachan ridge, with Anne and Fiona (so another Munro for her!) on April 9th.  Started at the Ben Lawers car park, and followed the good path on to the hill.  Hit some snow, and mist above the SE top at around 950m, which cleared away later in the day.  Enjoyed ourselves as we progressed along the narrow ridge beyond Meall Garbh, with the wind at our backs.  The girls dropped off from the col beyond Beinn an Eachan, while I continued over the last top, Creag na Caillich (right) - arguably the best part of the ridge - before returning along the hydro board road to the starting point.


(written 01/01/10)

brocken spectre and abysmal drops

Ben MacDui (10th Sept 2003)

Iain and I set off from Coire Cas car park at 8.45am on a bright clear morning.  As we climbed into Coire an t'Sneachda, the sun cast our shadows onto the mist lying below us, creating a perfect Brocken Spectre (right):

Enjoyed the scramble up Fiacaill Coire an t'Sneachda (left)

Iain detoured up Stob Coire an t-Sneachda, while I waited for him along the cliff top of Cairn Lochan (right), which must be one of the most dramatic cliff edges in Scotland - the almost horizontal summit plateau suddenly drops almost vertically into the coire below.  I wouldn't like to be anywhere near the edge in mist or a white-out.  Even on a clear day, I approach the edge lying flat on my stomach!




Strolled across the plateau to Scotland's second highest mountain, Ben MacDui (and, for me, my 163rd Munro).  Superb panoramic view to the west of Carn Toul, Sgurr an Lochain Uaine and Braeriach:

Headed east over bouldery ground, down to Carn Etchachan, for superb views down to Loch Avon (right):


Back across the plateau.


Iain detoured to Lurcher's Crag (is he becoming a top bagger?), while I took the direct route down the ridge.  He soon caught up - long, youthful legs!


Enjoyed the easy walk back on the superb path t the car park.


(written 31/12/09)