The New Year period saw us potentially select a number of hills for a trip today and somehow Beinn Maol Chaluim won the draw and was selected for today's outing. We had a late start and as the snow was very bad in Crieff with icy conditions we decided to take the 4x4 instead of the usual car, problem being it only had 1/4 tank of diesel. Deciding to risk it we managed to refuel at The Green Welly Stop but all of this meant a start time in Glen Etive at 9:30 am, way past our normal start time. The route to this Corbett is straight up. Very steep slopes direct from the car are never my favourite hills but this was exceptionally tough ( maybe still suffering New Year celebrations did not help! ). Despite the steepness we soon made the main ridge and the views of Bidean nam Bian were simply astounding with the hill white against the darkening skies as the weather front started to come in. A very straightforward and enjoyable hill, no need for ice axe or crampons today ( carried axe but left crampons in car ) as the snow level was very high but fairly soft. Around 3.5 hours completed the trip and then a quick dash to the kings House for the first draught Guinness of the year. Lovely ! -- Cheers Graham
Very steep slopes direct from the car are never my favourite hills but this was exceptionally tough ( maybe still suffering New Year celebrations did not help! ).
This hill is brutal! Have you tried Stob Dubh yet?
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Despite the steepness we soon made the main ridge and the views of Bidean nam Bian were simply astounding with the hill white against the darkening skies as the weather front started to come in. A very straightforward and enjoyable hill, no need for ice axe or crampons today ( carried axe but left crampons in car )
This was my last but one hill - pre F&M had a crampon break on me.. so wandered about with one up there... Better terrain than the other time I lost one, on Bidean, when pratting around soloing nice neve gullies. Gripped? yes!
This hill is brutal! Have you tried Stob Dubh yet?
No, Today was our first Corbett raid in Glen Etive so we still have Trilleachan which was looking splendid today. Stob Dubh just looks fearsomely steep and Mhic Chasgaig was equally impressive. We will probably "save" these hills for days like today, shorter winter days where some stiff exercise is required. It is a pretty good feeling though to get the first hill of 2004 under the belt. Home committments mean no more hills until next Saturday so a Friday night forecast will influence the location as usual. It is raining fairly heavily now so that may shift some more of the snow from low levels but may top up the fall on the tops with any luck !
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
Despite the steepness we soon made the main ridge and the views of Bidean nam Bian were simply astounding with the hill white against
the
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
darkening skies as the weather front started to come in. A very straightforward and enjoyable hill, no need for ice axe or crampons today ( carried axe but left crampons in car )
This was my last but one hill - pre F&M had a crampon break on me.. so wandered about with one up there... Better terrain than the other time I lost one, on Bidean, when pratting around soloing nice neve gullies. Gripped? yes!
This hill is brutal! Have you tried Stob Dubh yet?
No, Today was our first Corbett raid in Glen Etive so we still have Trilleachan which was looking splendid today. Stob Dubh just looks fearsomely steep and Mhic Chasgaig was equally impressive. We will probably "save" these hills for days like today, shorter winter days where some stiff exercise is required.
Take care... Stob Dubh eats people... The steepness is such that folk have died falling down the grassy slopes of the normal ascent route.
Mhic Chasgadh, depends on the recent condition of the goml bridge. I got across OK, but others have to wade. Well worth using that route:1) to let the buggers know they are not winning and 2) for the gorge at the back of the hill. Must go up Stob Gabhair that way sometime. Amazing scenery... Possibly worth saving for a warm summer's day as the swimming holes look good. God bless granite!
not too bad if you start a fair bit up the glen from the (uncrossable) bridge.
Good news! The huge gate at the bridge to Alltchaorunn, which was reinforced with corrugated iron and festooned with barbed wire, has been replaced by an ordinary metal farm gate. There are still extensions to the bridge parapets covered with barbed wire at each end of the gate but these no longer serve any useful purpose. Hopefully this is the first sign of land managers realising that they will not get away with the previous type of gate once the Land Reform Act comes into effect.
