Glas Maol & Creag Leacach 21 March 2010

The Cairnwell (on right) from Leacann Ridge

As forecast today was best for the east decided to keep fairly local and do these two munros in Glenshee,done them many times before but it's a day on the hills. Left car at the car park at bottom of Devil's Elbow and headed for the Leacann Dubh ridge, as having decided to go to Glas Maol first. Have often descended this ridge but never ascended before. Path was snow free until it joined with the path leading to the Meall Odhar. It was then easy walking to the last climb up to Glas Maol where it was quite steep and completely covered with snow therefore it was a case of crampons or no.  Husband started with a few steps and to quote said "naw it's alrite". Halfways up the climb and comitted was not so sure but  good  footsteps were cut out of the snow so did make it no bother.Then an easy walk to the trig on Glas Maol.

Cairngorms in distance from Glas Maol

Descending from Glas Maol looking towards Creag Leacach

At the summit of Creag Leacach

From the summit it was onto the south top from were had great fun glasading down the snow patches leading to the Allt a Ghlinne Bhig then back to the car.

Meall Greigh Sun 7 March 2010

Done this hill 20 years ago and never been back to the Ben Lawers group from the Lawers village approach because of  the farmer at Machuim Farm who came upon us going round the wrong side of his shed because the arrow sign to the hill was hidden by fertilizer bags shouted and swore and I mean really cursed at us that I have never ever forgot the viciousness of it thus ruined the memory of these hills for me but today we decided it was a pretty safe choice given the avalanche risk etc...Having left the car at the Ben Lawers hotel we walked up past the farm shed (on the correct side) up through the sparse trees and continued to follow a  path in snow to strike off up the hill at around the first burn coming down from hill.When we left the car there was a lot of fog and cloud hanging around the hills although the Meall Greigh was just clear but as we were climbing  it totally closed in at about 500m and it was like looking at a pure white wall which felt like you were about to walk in to the abyss.

The view I had of Paul on part of the ascent

Nearing the Summit (spot new Haglofs rucksack)

Just as we were about 850m the cloud and fog lifted although still patchy was good enough to see all other surrounding hills.We had planned to do Meall Garbh also but given the walking through the snow was really hard going decided not to. Pushed for time I think.

An Stuc from the descend from Meall Greigh

The descent was about as hard going as ascent as snow even softer and falling though quite a lot.When we were about back at the trees typically the cloud completely cleared and the sun came out. At the car we nicked into the Ben Lawers Hotel for a drink as they like you to do this if using their carpark, only fair. Good to be out on the hill again but the snow conditions made a normally straightforward day pretty tough!

Stob Coire Sgriodain & Chno Dearg Sun 21 Feb 2010

Approaching Stob Coire Sgriodain

Having only done the 2 munros on the east side of Loch Treig only once we left the house and it was -5, then when reached Dalwhinnie it was -10 and at Loch Laggan -12. The narrow road up to Fersit is not the best even in summer but with the snow they must of had last week it was, well you did'nt want to meet anything. Anyway after leaving the car and getting the satmap fired up (great little GPS, expensive but I love it and so accurate ,very reassuring but after 25+ years of hill walking not sure I really need it but what the hell) we headed for Stob Coire Sgriodain at first looked a bit dicey with the crags and snow but once closer was ok but ice axe and crampons were def needed, it was quite a pull up to the first top of Sron na garbh-bheinne as a lot of powdery snow.

Paul nearing summit of Stob Coire Sgriodain

Finally at the summit was rewarded with the great views of surrounding Mountains and Loch Treig

Myself at the Summit

Loch Treig

Left the summit and then stopped at the first col for a quick bite to eat then it was over the next two tops through pretty hard going snow towards Chno Dearg.When at the final col between the 2 hills removed my crampons as not required anymore,then last pull up to the summit of Chno Dearg. One bonus of the the hard going snow on ascend it made for a great fast descend. All in all a fantastic winter's hillwalking day.

Views N towards towards Roy Bridge from descend of Chno Dearg

360 Video from Summit of Stob Coire Sgriodain
Video makes it sound like it was very windy but it was'nt

Mayar Sun 14 Feb 2010

Myself just emerging from the woods on the Kilbo Path

Not exactly sure how many times I've actually done Mayar (10+) but it's my local and as my hill legs were needin a workout decided to head up Glen Doll. As it was a bit later in the day when we started was not really sure of what route to do and did not fancy Mayar and Dreish by Corrie Fee, as was in Corrie Fee two weeks ago we saw people heading up the scorrie of Driesh, which looks harder than it is so we thought bout going that way but could na really be bothered hauling out the crampons as these would def be needed to get up that route.So decided on Kilbo path leading on to the Shank of Drumfollow,as George Henderson pointed out to me as never really thought about it before what a great name for a ridge. Snow was quite good for walking but hey it's still hard going whatever. Good walking along the ridge which was made quite narrow with blown snow. We then decided to head to Mayar as was starting to snow. Had a quick cup of coffee and my Caramac,yes remember them, has to be a Caramac. On to Mayar and great views all round but everything looking very white.

Looking towards Dreish

Just decided to head back to the Shank of Drumfollow to save fiddleing with the crampons as was snowing as you can see in video. Was going to climb Dreish but I love descending the Shank and better still Clova Hotel, here we come !!

1st Post on Blog

OK thanks to George Henderson http://bit.ly/bYZLw6 I have started this blogspot
Soon will add next post with pics and video of Sunday 14th Feb 2010 on Mayar, Glen Doll