TR - Week based at Lawers Loch Tay

Dennis Foster said:

Sat 19th - Drove up to find a comfy cottage but the nearby pub closed
until Friday 11th March.

Two weeks before Easter - strange time, was it due to a refit? Is this
the Lawers Hotel? If it is that might mean the carpark is available
"for free."

Quoted message said:

Sun 20th. From the cottage Meall Greigh - Meall Garbh - An Stuc - Creag
an Fhithich - Ben Lawers descent to Lawers. Good snow conditions though
some blown snow and spindrift especially on Ben Lawers when we could
hardly stand up. Ascent of An Stuc was quite challenging. Superb
visibility most of the day and few others about.

Tues 22nd. Roads fairly clear so up to the Ben Lawers centre car park
for a round of the Tarmachans. More good walking....

Thurs 24th More snow overnight but we drove on clear roads to Braes of
Foss and enjoyed a pleasant climb of Schiehallion though the wind was
problematic at times and we had cloud cover on the summit so no views
from there. The new path is certainly an improvement.

Quoted message said:

Made more use of axe and crampons than for a number of years. An
excellent week just a pity the pub was closed.

I was up in the area before the snow fell earlier this month and my
axe and crampons were just dead weight - making two February visits in
a row without using them.

My visits to all these hills were in various years in May, always in
brilliant sunshine. The summit of Schiehallion being achieved just
before sunset. I almost trod on a hen ptarmigan descending the old
path scar.
--
Phil Cook looking north over the park to the "Westminster Gasworks"

Sun 20th - I was on the Meall Greigh - An Stuc circuit with 3 chums.
Yep - the An Stuc bit was a bit of a challenge. We followed two sets of
prints up a rather steep snow-covered slope. Not the way I recall the
scramble going. I wonder if you were in front of, or behind us (was it
your tracks?). We left the Lawers Hotel car park around 9 am, just as a
large group - 8/9? - were arriving.

And yes - car parking currently free at the Lawers Hotel on account of
it being refurbished.

"Dennis Foster" <[email hidden]> schreef in bericht
news:[email hidden]...

snip

Quoted message said:

Fri 25th Back to Ben Lawers CP to complete Meall Corrainich and Meall a
Choire Leith. Some cloud drifted about below the summits but we had good
weather and views with more strong winds. The return to Lochan nan
Lairrige is over very rough ground and I suspect could be very boggy when
not frozen.

It certainly can be very boggy. Not the nicest way to descent.

--
Theo
www.theosphotos.fotopic.net

In message <[email hidden]>, Phil Cook
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

Dennis Foster said:

Sat 19th - Drove up to find a comfy cottage but the nearby pub closed
until Friday 11th March.

Two weeks before Easter - strange time, was it due to a refit? Is this
the Lawers Hotel? If it is that might mean the carpark is available
"for free."

Quoted message said:

Yes it is the Lawers Hotel. It seemed, as there was evidence of
Christmas decorations that it had been closed since then. While the
notice said due to a refit there never seemed any evidence of anything
happening. A good number of cars were in the car park most days.

Quoted message said:

My visits to all these hills were in various years in May, always in
brilliant sunshine. The summit of Schiehallion being achieved just
before sunset. I almost trod on a hen ptarmigan descending the old
path scar.

We saw a couple of mountain hares on Schiehallion, the only ones we saw
all week. Didn't see any ptarmigan at all although there were signs,
tracks and droppings.

--
Dennis Foster

In message <[email hidden]>,
druidh <[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

Sun 20th - I was on the Meall Greigh - An Stuc circuit with 3 chums.
Yep - the An Stuc bit was a bit of a challenge. We followed two sets of
prints up a rather steep snow-covered slope. Not the way I recall the
scramble going. I wonder if you were in front of, or behind us (was it
your tracks?). We left the Lawers Hotel car park around 9 am, just as a
large group - 8/9? - were arriving.

And yes - car parking currently free at the Lawers Hotel on account of
it being refurbished.

Suspect we were in front we left Lawers about 8am and only recall 2
people passing us as we put our crampons on just below Meall Garbh.
--
Dennis Foster

Dennis Foster said:

In message <[email hidden]>,
druidh <[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

Sun 20th - I was on the Meall Greigh - An Stuc circuit with 3 chums.
Yep - the An Stuc bit was a bit of a challenge. We followed two sets of
prints up a rather steep snow-covered slope. Not the way I recall the
scramble going. I wonder if you were in front of, or behind us (was it
your tracks?). We left the Lawers Hotel car park around 9 am, just as a
large group - 8/9? - were arriving.

And yes - car parking currently free at the Lawers Hotel on account of
it being refurbished.

Suspect we were in front we left Lawers about 8am and only recall 2
people passing us as we put our crampons on just below Meall Garbh.

Interesting line you took there. Ever been up An Stuc in summer?

druidh

Dennis Foster said:

Made more use of axe and crampons than for a number of years. An
excellent week just a pity the pub was closed.

But you might have ended up accomplishing less if it had been open :-)

--
Stop ID cards and the Database State
http://www.no2id.net/

In message <[email hidden]>, druidh
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

Dennis Foster said:

In message <[email hidden]>,
druidh <[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

Sun 20th - I was on the Meall Greigh - An Stuc circuit with 3 chums.
Yep - the An Stuc bit was a bit of a challenge. We followed two sets of
prints up a rather steep snow-covered slope. Not the way I recall the
scramble going. I wonder if you were in front of, or behind us (was it
your tracks?). We left the Lawers Hotel car park around 9 am, just as a
large group - 8/9? - were arriving.

And yes - car parking currently free at the Lawers Hotel on account of
it being refurbished.

Suspect we were in front we left Lawers about 8am and only recall 2
people passing us as we put our crampons on just below Meall Garbh.

Interesting line you took there. Ever been up An Stuc in summer?

No, first time in that area and I tend to avoid Scotland in the summer
having experienced midges in the past. The line we used followed old
footmarks for much of the way.
--
Dennis Foster