Going Walking at Hogmany?

Thanks KRO

We were looking at a winter traverse of the Aonach Eagach on Friday but may have to reconsider under
the circumstances. Although more than competent and confident with axe and crampons ( and rope when
required) the ridge and obligatory descent is not the place to be in the conditions described below,
specially the gale force winds

--
Cheers
Graham

"Where the eagles cry, On a mountain high"

284/284 71/219

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"KRO" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

From Met Office Website (surely no copyright issues for content
such as this)

quote

ADVANCED WARNING OF SEVERE WEATHER

Here is an ADVANCED WARNING of Heavy Snow and Blizzards

affecting

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Scotland, North West England and North East England.
Issued by the Met Office at 10:15 on Tuesday, 30 December

2003.

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The Met Office is forecasting a deep Atlantic depression to

move close

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to north-west Scotland by the start of Thursday 01 January 2004. A

period of

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heavy snow combined with gale force winds is expected to affect

higher parts

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of northern England and Scotland tomorrow afternoon and evening,

during the

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run up to the New Year celebrations. Blizzard conditions will occur

for a

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time over higher ground, making driving conditions very difficult

and

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dangerous. Some lighter snowfall is also expected at low levels for

a time

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across eastern and southern Scotland, and eastern England. The snow

is

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expected to turn to rain through the night-time period, except over

the

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highest mountains of Scotland.
For inquires regarding this warning - please contact your

regional Met

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Office.
Transmitted by the Met Office. at 10:15 on Tuesday 30 December

This warning will be updated at 0900 tomorrow, Wednesday 31

December

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2003.

unquote.

Looks like it should be quite "sporty" in the hills :-)

KRO

Adrian Tupper <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

1st Jan

A stunningly nice Edinburgh daybreak has turned into thick grey cloud just in the last half an
hour. Perhaps someone in the Borders (Bernard?) can tell us if the gloom has stretched that far
south yet.

Manchester
13:30

The rain has stopped, the robin is busy chasing dunnocks out of his patch in my garden, and there is
a break in the dark clouds to the NW where I can see some blue sky.

Just pondering whether to take off for a couple of miles to start shedding the 6lbs I have gained
since before Xmas......
--
Gordon

"Graham Ingram" <[email hidden]> wrote in news:3ff1f9f7_
[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Thanks KRO

We were looking at a winter traverse of the Aonach Eagach on Friday but may have to reconsider
under the circumstances. Although more than competent and confident with axe and crampons ( and
rope when required) the ridge and obligatory descent is not the place to be in the conditions
described below, specially the gale force winds

Shame you didn't do it today. Ice is the main problem in the hills just now. And that is at lower
levels where paths must have taken a soaking then a freezing recently.

--
Adrian

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

We were looking at a winter traverse of the Aonach Eagach on

Friday

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

but may have to reconsider under the circumstances. Although more than competent and confident
with axe and crampons ( and rope when required) the ridge and obligatory descent is not the
place to be

in

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the conditions described below, specially the gale force winds

Shame you didn't do it today. Ice is the main problem in the hills just now. And that is at lower
levels where paths must have taken a soaking then a freezing recently.

Work commitments I am afraid. I am still working today to around 5:30 pm and have just checked the
weather forecast on Sky and it seems to be developing into a nasty couple of days ahead. Hopefully
will still get out though but will just have to be more careful in the choice of location.

Cheers Graham

Sounds evil, and may well turn out so... But remember the killer storms forecast at the end of 2000?
Was hammed up to deter travel and going outdoors. In Applecross, it spitted and spluttered a bit,
thats all.

Wolf has been cried rqather a lot around public holidays lately. Nanny wants you wrapped up warm. So
take care out there... it may turn out to be a barsteward, certainly looks foul... but remember
Grampian Police say "journey really necessary" every time it snows these days, so keep an open mind.

Happy New Year everyone

Richard Webb

I'm out tomorrow, I'm just about to check maps etc and give myself one of those nearer-to-home walks
I've left just for this very occasion. As of writing (1500ish) the weather hasn't quite arrived in
SW Scotland, and I'm of the opinion that the sooner it arrives, the sooner the worst of it will be
gone. Here's hoping.

KRO

"Richard Webb" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Sounds evil, and may well turn out so... But remember the killer storms forecast at the end of
2000? Was hammed up to deter travel

and

Quoted message said:

going outdoors. In Applecross, it spitted and spluttered a bit, thats all.

Wolf has been cried rqather a lot around public holidays lately.

Nanny

Quoted message said:

wants you wrapped up warm. So take care out there... it may turn

out

Quoted message said:

to be a barsteward, certainly looks foul... but remember Grampian Police say "journey really
necessary" every time it snows these

days,

Quoted message said:

so keep an open mind.

Agreed, but it is currently snowing fairly heavily in Crieff and starting to get a bit windy so I
think the forecast is looking fairly accurate at this time. The Aonach Eagach has been put on hold
and the current thinking for Friday is to do the circuit of two Munros Sgor Gaibhre and Carn Dearg
which gives one of our group of four for the day two new Munros while self and regular walking
partner can pick up the Corbett Meall na Meoig on the descent of the south ridge. Also hoping to get
into Glen Etive on Saturday but not yet decided which Corbett to go for yet.

Cheers Graham (and also a Guid New Year to all )

KRO wrote

Quoted message said:

As of writing (1500ish) the weather hasn't quite arrived in SW Scotland,
and I'm of the opinion that the sooner it arrives, the sooner the worst of

it

Quoted message said:

will be gone. Here's hoping.

I was out on a couple of cold but clear Marilyns in Fife this morning. The storm clouds were
gathering over the Ochils by the time I was heading back to the car c.1.00pm. A very little snow
fell on the M8 on the way back, but it's turned to rain already in East Kilbride.Still windy, but
not as bad as expected.

--

Bernie Get back on the wagon to reply..

On 31 Dec 2003 06:40:56 -0800, [email hidden] (Richard Webb)

Quoted message said:

Sounds evil, and may well turn out so... But remember the killer storms forecast at the end of
2000? Was hammed up to deter travel and going outdoors. In Applecross, it spitted and spluttered a
bit, thats all.

Wolf has been cried rqather a lot around public holidays lately. Nanny wants you wrapped up warm.
So take care out there... it may turn out to be a barsteward, certainly looks foul... but
remember Grampian Police say "journey really necessary" every time it snows these days, so keep
an open mind.

Well we had six inches dumped in the peak district which made it a little unpleaseant and very
awkward to get the cars out this morning. Mind you we didn't care much as we were tucked into a nice
warm(ish) camping barn for New years eve.

Melting now fast with the rain that's been coming down, and the gloom is lifting a little.

Quoted message said:

Happy New Year everyone

Richard Webb

--
79.84% of all statistics are made up on the spot. The other 42% are made up later on. In Warwick -
looking at flat fields and that includes the castle.

"Bernie Hughes" <[email hidden]> wrote in
:"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

KRO wrote

Quoted message said:

As of writing (1500ish) the weather hasn't quite arrived in SW Scotland, and I'm of the opinion
that the sooner it arrives, the sooner the worst of

it

Quoted message said:

will be gone. Here's hoping.

I was out on a couple of cold but clear Marilyns in Fife this morning. The storm clouds were
gathering over the Ochils by the time I was heading back to the car c.1.00pm. A very little snow
fell on the M8 on the way back, but it's turned to rain already in East Kilbride.Still windy, but
not as bad as expected.

1st Jan

A stunningly nice Edinburgh daybreak has turned into thick grey cloud just in the last half an hour.
Perhaps someone in the Borders (Bernard?) can tell us if the gloom has stretched that far south yet.

--
Adrian

On Thu, 01 Jan 2004 16:37:08 GMT, [email hidden] (Chris

Street) said:

Well we had six inches dumped in the peak district which made it a little unpleaseant and very
awkward to get the cars out this morning. Mind you we didn't care much as we were tucked into a
nice warm(ish) camping barn for New years eve.

Melting now fast with the rain that's been coming down, and the gloom is lifting a little.

Quoted message said:

We turned back in a sleety blizzard from our walk up onto Kinder (from the Snake Inn) this morning,
at the ~500 metre point below the final steep bit of Fairbrook Naze. The snow (quite a few >knee-
high drifts) was melting really quickly and everything was turning into a horrid sloppy mess.

It was quite bracing.
--
email - webmaster at sacktheboard dot com email addresses in From: and Reply-To: fields are valid
but unread

"Bernie Hughes" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

KRO wrote

Quoted message said:

As of writing (1500ish) the weather hasn't quite arrived in SW Scotland,
and I'm of the opinion that the sooner it arrives, the sooner the worst

of

Quoted message said:

it

Quoted message said:

will be gone. Here's hoping.

I was out on a couple of cold but clear Marilyns in Fife this morning. The storm clouds were
gathering over the Ochils by the time I was heading back to the car c.1.00pm. A very little snow
fell on the M8 on the way back,

but

Quoted message said:

it's turned to rain already in East Kilbride.Still windy, but not as bad

as

Quoted message said:

expected.

I set off intending to do both Meall a Bhuiridh and Creise, starting from Blackrock Cottage, the
initial "up" took me an hour as the snow got deeper, (maintenance staff zipping overhead on the
skilift!) the "flat" bit across Coire Pollach took almost an hour through ski fences etc. No sign of
Creise. On the last uphill section the wind increased, snow deepened and at a couple of stages was
reduced to crawling up rather than having my feet sink in soft snow up past the knees (snowshoes
anyone?). I had a breather in a small shed at the top next to the skilift and it's not more than 5
mins from there. Visibility was very poor due to flying snow and ice hitting my face and eyes
(goggles anyone?) and I nearly lost my rucksack over the side at the cairn while trying to take a
picture. Creise well and truly cancelled. I zoomed down back to the car in 3/4 hour though and am
now sitting at home letting dinner digest (drink anyone?). For anyone going between Loch Lomond and
Glencoe direction, the roads are in quite a slippy condition. At least one crash spotted on the way
southwards.

Happy New Year

KRO

Nope. Staggering on New Years Day though.

Graham Ingram said:

Thanks KRO

We were looking at a winter traverse of the Aonach Eagach on Friday but may have to reconsider
under the circumstances. Although more than competent and confident with axe and crampons ( and
rope when required) the ridge and obligatory descent is not the place to be in the conditions
described below, specially the gale force winds

So did you try it? That Friday was dry and sunny, though conditions were much icier on the tops than
earlier in the week following the thaw of 21st/1st. Aonach Eagach looked to be (but probably wasn't)
mostly clear of snow. We did Sgurr Udlaidh or whatever it's called, very nice it was too but not
quite enough daylight to add on the one beginning with F next to it ;-)

Graham Ingram said:

"Richard Webb" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Sounds evil, and may well turn out so... But remember the killer storms forecast at the end of
2000? Was hammed up to deter travel

and

Quoted message said:

going outdoors. In Applecross, it spitted and spluttered a bit, thats all.

Wolf has been cried rqather a lot around public holidays lately.

Nanny

Quoted message said:

wants you wrapped up warm. So take care out there... it may turn

out

Quoted message said:

to be a barsteward, certainly looks foul... but remember Grampian Police say "journey really
necessary" every time it snows these

days,

Quoted message said:

so keep an open mind.

Agreed, but it is currently snowing fairly heavily in Crieff and starting to get a bit windy so I
think the forecast is looking fairly accurate at this time. The Aonach Eagach has been put on hold
and the current thinking for Friday is to do the circuit of two Munros Sgor Gaibhre and Carn Dearg
which gives one of our group of four for the day two new Munros while self and regular walking
partner can pick up the Corbett Meall na Meoig on the descent of the south ridge. Also hoping to
get into Glen Etive on Saturday but not yet decided which Corbett to go for yet.

I think they got it right for North Wales this year.. but of course the trouble with drying wolf is
...... that the wolf does eventually turn up

Richard Webb

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

We were looking at a winter traverse of the Aonach Eagach on Friday but may have to reconsider
under the circumstances. Although more than competent and confident with axe and crampons ( and
rope when required) the ridge and obligatory descent is not the place to be

in

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the conditions described below, specially the gale force winds

So did you try it? That Friday was dry and sunny, though conditions were much icier on the tops
than earlier in the week following the thaw of 21st/1st. Aonach Eagach looked to be (but probably
wasn't) mostly clear of snow. We did Sgurr Udlaidh or whatever it's called, very nice it was too
but not quite enough daylight to add on the one beginning with F next to it ;-)

No. For a number of reasons ( mainly weather ) we had decided to avoid the ridge and then the two
walkers joining us on the day could not make an early start so our daylight time was going to be
limited. We were very close to you however as we did the Glen Etive Corbett Beinn Maol Chaluim. (
see separate trip report posted 2 Jan. ). You are right about the conditions though, much better
than forecast and a definite lack of snow below about 2000ft. The Corbett we were on runs parallel
to Bidean and the views were superb as the bigger hill had good snow cover. We summitted just before
midday and could clearly see walkers on Bidean and a couple of dots on Stob an Fhuarain, the top on
the ridge of Sgor na h-Ulaidh so it could even have been you if you took that route up ! Ulaidh is a
super day out, the first time I climbed it we did the long north ridge up and took in the top. A few
years later we returned to do the Corbett Meall Lighiche and then crossed to col and took the route
up through the slabs and crags onto Ulaidh. The neighbouring Beinn Fhionnlaidh can be combined with
Ulaidh as you say but is also a good hill from the Etive side. I have also done this hill twice but
used the same route on both occasions. We dropped into the Kings House for a beer before heading
home that day and very nice it was too!

Cheers Graham

Simon Caldwell said:

We did Sgurr Udlaidh or whatever it's called, very nice it was too but not quite enough daylight
to add on the one beginning with F next to it ;-)

Sgor na h-Ulaidh. Beinn Fhionnlaidh.

Animated panorama here p-t-cook.freeserve.co.ukpan1.htmOpen ↗ Or if you don't have java
look at the plain jpeg p-t-cook.freeserve.co.ukpan1.jpgOpen ↗
--
Phil Cook looking north over the park to the "Westminster Gasworks"

Graham Ingram said:

the top on the ridge of Sgor na h-Ulaidh so it could even have been you if you took that route up !

That's the way we went, steep pull up then superb ridge over the top. Very tempting to traverse onto
the face and do the grade I gully, trouble is we couldn't remember if it was the left one or the
right one and didn't want to end up on a grade III by mistake!

Quoted message said:

Animated panorama here p-t-cook.freeserve.co.ukpan1.htmOpen ↗
Or if you don't have java look at the plain jpeg
p-t-cook.freeserve.co.ukpan1.jpgOpen ↗

Drool! I expect I was doing something mundane and boring that day.....

2 times up said hill, and I will post what I saw here.....

<end piccy>

Richard Webb

Richard Webb