Post by Big Iain on Apr 3, 2010 13:17:28 GMT 2
I would like to share with you a great day that I had with best mate climbing in the Highlands yesterday. We chose to climb 2 "Munros" (mountains whose peaks are over 3000ft) near Dalwhinnie which is a 2 hour drive North from Edinburgh. They have the beautiful Gaelic (the Scottish version of that language!) names of Geal-charn and A'Mharconaich which translate as White Hill and Place of The Horses respectively
The car parking is at the remotest B&B in Scotland at Beul an Sporain
The plan is straightforward.... climb the one on the right, cross the low ridge at the far end and then climb and return by the one on the left!!
Here is a shot at the first of the lower "tops" of the first one (ie. it has more than one top but this is not the highest of them) looking South
Looking North from near the peak of #1
A feature of many of the Scottish Mountains is that they have large plateau tops like this one has, so the official peak is where the pile of stones is at the far end.
This is a great shot of my fave mountain, Ben Alder. One of our remotest mountains... a 12 mile hike just to get to the base of it!
The Swan is looking for sheep to punch!!
Have I mentioned that it was cold and reasonably windy up there? These wonderful patterns in the snow caused us to stop for a snack and contemplate nature's art.
Now on the climb up to the second mountain from the low ridge
The peak of our second mountain, so now looking roughly in the direction of the car
OK, so thats the way down. And it was at this time that the temperature dropped like a stone and we found ourselves on a huge sheet of ice with no crampons or axes. On the hills you can not claim to be unlucky when this happens, it is just plain stupid to be so caught. We were extremely lucky to have got down from there with no drama. Thanks again to my guardian angel... love you dude!!!
Looking back up at the lower descent
Totals for the day were: 7.7kms travelled (by GPS measure) 1121m of ascending in 5 hours and 4mins. We had a fantastic Indian meal in Fort William and a peaceful drive back to town.
The car parking is at the remotest B&B in Scotland at Beul an Sporain
The plan is straightforward.... climb the one on the right, cross the low ridge at the far end and then climb and return by the one on the left!!
Here is a shot at the first of the lower "tops" of the first one (ie. it has more than one top but this is not the highest of them) looking South
Looking North from near the peak of #1
A feature of many of the Scottish Mountains is that they have large plateau tops like this one has, so the official peak is where the pile of stones is at the far end.
This is a great shot of my fave mountain, Ben Alder. One of our remotest mountains... a 12 mile hike just to get to the base of it!
The Swan is looking for sheep to punch!!
Have I mentioned that it was cold and reasonably windy up there? These wonderful patterns in the snow caused us to stop for a snack and contemplate nature's art.
Now on the climb up to the second mountain from the low ridge
The peak of our second mountain, so now looking roughly in the direction of the car
OK, so thats the way down. And it was at this time that the temperature dropped like a stone and we found ourselves on a huge sheet of ice with no crampons or axes. On the hills you can not claim to be unlucky when this happens, it is just plain stupid to be so caught. We were extremely lucky to have got down from there with no drama. Thanks again to my guardian angel... love you dude!!!
Looking back up at the lower descent
Totals for the day were: 7.7kms travelled (by GPS measure) 1121m of ascending in 5 hours and 4mins. We had a fantastic Indian meal in Fort William and a peaceful drive back to town.
