Hi there, back from a bagging expedition to Scotland. Only three Munros and one big Corbett. I based myself at Pitlochry for two nights in a B&B and then decamped to the bunkhouse at Weem and can add my good reports to the others for those going there for next weekend. The snow might be a bit of a problem for their winter skills course though as there is a noted lack of good hard snow to get your sikes into. My crampons went unused all week and the axe saw very little use and that as a walking stick. :-(
More details on which hills were ticked will follow with a link to the pictures in a few days. -- Phil Cook looking north over the park to the "Westminster Gasworks"
and then decamped to the bunkhouse at Weem and can add my good reports to the others for those going there for next weekend.
Good news!
The bar 300m up the road [1] has a good selection of malts. I managed to drink some fire service climbing types under the table one night. apparently they didn't leave for the crag till gone eleven teh nest day [2] whilst I was on the hill by eight thirty.
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The snow might be a bit of a problem for their winter skills course though as there is a noted lack of good hard snow to get your sikes into.
No! You're making it up. It's snowing, really, it MUST be!
It's been snowing alright, but then promptly melting or getting blown away. The hills I was on weren't particularly noted for northern corries though so there could be some usable stuff about. You should definitely learn about windslab though :-)
[1] The Weem Hotel next door to the bunkhouse is currently closed, expected to open at Easter.
[2] I don't believe their excuses abouty waiting for the rock to dry out. -- Phil Cook looking north over the park to the "Westminster Gasworks"
It's been snowing alright, but then promptly melting or getting blown away. The hills I was on weren't particularly noted for northern corries though so there could be some usable stuff about. You should definitely learn about windslab though :-)
A fair bit has fallen in some parts of Scotland this weekend - Its snowing in Edinburgh right now and Ben Lomond was covered yesterday.
Givena wind it will be blown into drifts that should hang about abit.
Bunkhouse is a goodone - shame we had to share it with a bunch of braying drunk postyuppies from London on a management training course that kept us up both nights on the Marilyn baggers dinner meet last summer.
and then decamped to the bunkhouse at Weem and can add my good reports to the others for those going there for next weekend.
Phil, what's the kitchen like? Do I need to take anything? (I was thinking simple things like knives and spoons rather than toasted sandwich makers and espresso machines!)
I've just put a fruit cake in the oven ..... so I must remember to take my sharpest bread knife!
Something not right with the bottom four thumbnails Phil., they aren't pointing to the proper pictures and the last one doesn't link to anything.
Oops. I'd missed out number four in the sequence. Fixed now.
Works fine now. Nice photos by the way 🙂 I like #4 in particular, but I don't know why 🙂
looking back that is the best of the week IMO. What it doesn't reveal is that I turned back on Carn Liath at just short of 800m due to the strength of the wind and the lack of view. Also to be factored in is that I had left my ice axe at the bunkhouse in Aberfeldy and had to buy another in Pitlochry so as not to waste an hour or so going back for it. In the end the new one remains unused. Of couse the best weather of the day was after I turned back. -- Phil Cook looking north over the park to the "Westminster Gasworks"
and then decamped to the bunkhouse at Weem and can add my good reports to the others for those going there for next weekend.
Phil, what's the kitchen like? Do I need to take anything? (I was thinking simple things like knives and spoons rather than toasted sandwich makers and espresso machines!)
I've just put a fruit cake in the oven ..... so I must remember to take my sharpest bread knife!
Well I always take my own knife (Opinel #8) and corkscrew but it is well equiped. Pans in all sizes from micro to mega and all the usual appliances. Elec ovens and hobs as well as a microwave. There is a supply of basic essentials - salt, oil, jam, tea bags and very basic coffee. You could cook a decent posh meal in there if you needed to. Otherwise it's the Eillean Crannog (or whatever it's called) 300 m up the road. there's a Co-op in Aberfeldy which is open till 10.00pm if you need supplies. -- Phil Cook looking north over the park to the "Westminster Gasworks"
Well I always take my own knife (Opinel #8) and corkscrew but it is well equiped. Pans in all sizes from micro to mega and all the usual appliances. Elec ovens and hobs as well as a microwave. There is a supply of basic essentials - salt, oil, jam, tea bags and very basic coffee. You could cook a decent posh meal in there if you needed to. Otherwise it's the Eillean Crannog (or whatever it's called) 300 m up the road. there's a Co-op in Aberfeldy which is open till 10.00pm if you need supplies.
Nice photos by the way 🙂 I like #4 in particular, but I don't know why 🙂
My favourite too, would of been better without the hut!
I never even considered taking a shot without the hut (which is an old game larder I think) it provides middle ground interest which would otherwise be lacking with just the tussocks poking through the snow.
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Looks wild on the top, this type of cloud hanging around the tops in winter is often a sign of plenty of wind!
Ha ha! You're not kidding! The wind was driving snow showers along with it and the wind got stronger during the showers. At about 800m I was begining to have difficulty keeping steady on my feet and that combined with the lack of visibility meant I reluctantly decided that I would be better off calling it a day and heading back down. I could probably have made the top but I wanted to include Braigh Coire Chruinn-bhalgain and leaving that would have left it an awkward singleton as I had bagged Carn nan Gabhar earlier in the week in similar conditions. Of course once I was back by the hut the top was clear and I reckon the wind was slowly abating. So I remain on 99 M*nr*s and Carn Liath remains as my probable target for my 100th. I'm going to make it one I can see from the road so that when I drive past in years to come, I can say, "I was up there on my 100th." -- Phil Cook looking north over the park to the "Westminster Gasworks"
So I remain on 99 M*nr*s and Carn Liath remains as my probable target for my 100th. I'm going to make it one I can see from the road so that when I drive past in years to come, I can say, "I was up there on my 100th."
Of course you do realise that they will pratt about with the list at some point, your proud 100th could then be your 98th or 101st!
My 100th was Brairiach, I had saved this hill specially to be my 100th. A year or two later the list was amended from 277 to 284, Brairiach suddenly become my 102nd, I now have Meall Glas in the Mamlorns as my 100th .
