Saturday's forecast for the North and North West in particular was very poor so opting for a "slightly easier" day we headed south from Crieff to the Galloway forest. There are great views of Corserine and the Rhinns of Kells from the Forest Lodge Car Par and as we left the hills were clear, green and free from snow. The first heavy shower turned to sleet and then big heavy wet snow before we had passed the house at Fore Bush and from there on it just got worse. The land rover track quickly get you up past Loch Harrow and the correct firebreak has a signpost towards the footbridge and stile ~ no navigation difficulties in this forest !
There is a footpath from the stile heading direct up the hill which seems to go all the way but we lost it under snow about the 2000ft mark. it is an easy angled slope up this side but as we emerged onto the plateau the full force of the wind struck direct into our faces. The moisture on my glasses instantly froze and would not clear so the snow goggles got there first outing for a few years. It was mainly spindrift at this height and the wind scoured the plateau so there was less than an inches of snow, but it was like being sandblasted for the 20 minutes or so it took us to find the trig point. It was hard to maintain balance in the wind so we swiftly abandoned the hoped for traverse of the Rhinns of Kells which looked awesome in the conditions and descended by the south east ridge of the wide corrie instead. this brought us back to the stile and the last 40 minutes or so in heavy but gentle snow as the trees protected us from the wind.
Looking back from the car park the hills were very different from when we started out, now covered with a good thick white winter coat and looking beautiful in the weak light against the dark skies.
Looking back from the car park the hills were very different from when we started out, now covered with a good thick white winter coat and looking beautiful in the weak light against the dark skies.
Yep, many resonances there with our weekend Graham. The power of the wind and the blizzards was quite awesome, and something I will remember for a long time. I don't know if you are familiar with the majestic cadences of the last few chapters of the book of Job?
"Then the Lord God spake unto Job out of the whirlwind: "Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?"...... etc etc.
Kinda made me feel my place in the universe being out there at the mercy of the elements!
"Graham Ingram" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
There is a footpath from the stile heading direct up the hill which seems to go all the way but we lost it under snow about the 2000ft mark.
Even without snow, I lost the path last autumn round about the 700m contour. I think it just disintegrates where the slope evens out a bit, various narrow sheep runs seemed to appear & disappear from that point almost the whole way to the top.
Even without snow, I lost the path last autumn round about the 700m contour. I think it just disintegrates where the slope evens out a bit, various narrow sheep runs seemed to appear & disappear from that point almost the whole way to the top.
Lovely smooth top... Seems like a great place for a game of cricket.
"RJ Webb" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
Even without snow, I lost the path last autumn round about the 700m
contour.
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
I think it just disintegrates where the slope evens out a bit, various narrow sheep runs seemed to appear & disappear from that point almost the whole way to the top.
Lovely smooth top... Seems like a great place for a game of cricket.
Possibly. More fun for the batsman than the fielders though....
"RJ Webb" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
Even without snow, I lost the path last autumn round about the 700m
contour.
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
I think it just disintegrates where the slope evens out a bit,
various
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
narrow sheep runs seemed to appear & disappear from that point
almost the
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
whole way to the top.
Lovely smooth top... Seems like a great place for a game of cricket.
Richard Webb
Last thing on our minds was a game of cricket, just standing upright was challenge enough. If the wind was any stronger it could have whipped our bails right off ! ! ! ;-)
Last thing on our minds was a game of cricket, just standing upright was challenge enough. If the wind was any stronger it could have whipped our bails right off ! ! ! ;-)
