We met at the Nevis ski slope. The guide was late. Felt like a bit of a cheat to get the lift up, but equally looking down at the people trudging up by foot I didn't particularly envious. The guide was pretty dismissive of them, but their option did seem a more honest way to get to the top.
The guide asked what I'd had for breakfast which initially seemed like interest but then felt like interrogation based on doubt that I'd eaten suitably. I tried to keep a cheerful demeanour, but it was a bit trying.
It was trudge through the snow to the base of the ridge which we'd use to ascend. Think the route was called Golden Oldy.
The route would have been fun with a different guide I think. But the wind was in my face, the snow was swirling and biting and for the first time on the mountain I was cold. Again, the guide just seemed kind of impatient. The least pleasant bit was a level but narrow ridge section where the guide move maybe 30 feet along while I waited. He seemed to take ages and I could hear him or see him and was unsure of what route to take along the ridge. I looked at the amount of loose rope between the 2 of us and for the first time on all my winter trips it felt like I was actually in danger. I had no choice but to plough on, but I wasn't too happy about it.
When we got to the top it was a complete whiteout and the wind was howling and full of snow. At this point the guide asked me to stand 15 feet behind him and proceded to do a very good job at navigating us back to the ski centre. I was cold at this point, but felt quite patient and zen like - there was nothing I could do to speed the process along and I felt confident that the guide would get us back off the submit in time.
Out of the cloud the sun appeared, as did a bunch of skiers. It seemed odd that 2 hundred metres away the weather was so different.
We did our best to ski back down the tight snow pack on our boots.
Long drive back through Fort William and back down to Glasgow through snow fall.
Before going on this trip I was thinking that I was going to build up to Mont Blanc later in the year. After the trip I felt like I wasn't sure I want to do any winter mountaineering again.
Saturday, 8 February 2020
09/02/18 - Forcan Ridge (guided)
My guide suggested we go up to the Forcan Ridge which I had mixed feelings about - the route itself would be great in Winter and I was looking forward to a descent down the "bad step". However, it was quite a long drive for me - not so much for the guide though, as he lived on Skye....
We met at the side of the road. Fairly quickly the guide came across as not being particularly sociable. We set off at a steady pace, bit too steady maybe, I actually felt like I was faster (fitter!?) than the guide, who continued to be fairly unchatty.
The route didn't seem to flow that well. The guide didn't seem that concerned with how much fun I was having and it felt a bit like being dragged up. The abseil down the bad step could have been fun, but again, felt rushed and the guide seemed unnecessarily impatient. The weather wasn't particularly friendly either.
The guide actually seemed more bothered about talking to some people we met at the summit while we were grabbing some lunch. His main comment to me was to mock my Monster Munch as "the most unsuitable mountain food I've ever seen". They were good though...
On the walk out I felt decidedly slowed down by the guide, I actually thought that he was probably in pain and would be cancelling me tomorrow.
We met at the side of the road. Fairly quickly the guide came across as not being particularly sociable. We set off at a steady pace, bit too steady maybe, I actually felt like I was faster (fitter!?) than the guide, who continued to be fairly unchatty.
The route didn't seem to flow that well. The guide didn't seem that concerned with how much fun I was having and it felt a bit like being dragged up. The abseil down the bad step could have been fun, but again, felt rushed and the guide seemed unnecessarily impatient. The weather wasn't particularly friendly either.
The guide actually seemed more bothered about talking to some people we met at the summit while we were grabbing some lunch. His main comment to me was to mock my Monster Munch as "the most unsuitable mountain food I've ever seen". They were good though...
On the walk out I felt decidedly slowed down by the guide, I actually thought that he was probably in pain and would be cancelling me tomorrow.
08/02/18 - An Caisteal, Beinn a' Chronin
This was a good day for my solo day at the beginning of my winter trip. The snow cover was nicely packed but not so dense that your foot didn't push into it snugly. There were times of alpine sun, wind, snow, whiteout. Good mix.
Couple of "moments" on the way back where my phone and thereby main map died on me. And also when I slipped at a point toward the end where it was pretty flat and open, but quite uneven - my head fell very near a very large rock. Overall I was looking forward to having a guide with me for the rest of the trip...
Couple of "moments" on the way back where my phone and thereby main map died on me. And also when I slipped at a point toward the end where it was pretty flat and open, but quite uneven - my head fell very near a very large rock. Overall I was looking forward to having a guide with me for the rest of the trip...
17/09/17 - Meall Chuaich (Andy, Steve)
This was due to be another fairly quick route which we'd do before setting off home. Steve was feeling the pain of he previous 2 days and had little intent of making it to the top.
The first section would have been best on bike - it was flat and gravelled alongside a man made ditch. Once the ascent started Steve decided to leave Andy and me to it. The route soon got very muddy and steep. It was hard to keep momentum. Again, visibility was not that great and the hill didn't offer much in terms spectacle or even charm.
We found the summit with the GPS and turned for the descent, taking a bit of ciruitous but fairly fun descent due to us deciding yomp down the heather at pace. Andy in particular enjoyed this.
We returned to the car to find Steve resting and set off back home.
The first section would have been best on bike - it was flat and gravelled alongside a man made ditch. Once the ascent started Steve decided to leave Andy and me to it. The route soon got very muddy and steep. It was hard to keep momentum. Again, visibility was not that great and the hill didn't offer much in terms spectacle or even charm.
We found the summit with the GPS and turned for the descent, taking a bit of ciruitous but fairly fun descent due to us deciding yomp down the heather at pace. Andy in particular enjoyed this.
We returned to the car to find Steve resting and set off back home.
16/09/17 - Mullach Clach a' Blair, Sgor Gaoith (Andy, Steve)
The weather was looking better today, which was a relief as it would be a much longer day. We set off with a bit of a crowd of people. I got mick taken for trying to find a shorter route to the first summit, which I'd still maintain was the best option, but Andy and Steve certainly saw it as an opportunity to reprise the joke from the last trip of me just plughing up the side of the hill irrespective of any path...
First summit was relatively uneventful.
Tracking across to the second summit was tricky due to the boggyness. Luckily it was dry and peaty and could be hopped across but it still took some time.
The second summit was whited out and made even more charmless due to the forest track which led pretty much to the top.
First summit was relatively uneventful.
Tracking across to the second summit was tricky due to the boggyness. Luckily it was dry and peaty and could be hopped across but it still took some time.
The second summit was whited out and made even more charmless due to the forest track which led pretty much to the top.
15/09/17 - Schiehallion (Andy, Steve)
This was my second trip to Scotland with Andy and Steve. The weather wasn't looking as clement this year. Steve wasn't really that inclined to do the walk on this day. We were up and down in a few hours, and it was a good job because the weather was pretty unpleasant - raint and windy with zero views. I doubt that Schiehallion has much to offer for itself anyway really, but Steve in particular didn't enjoy this walk so much.
When we got back to the car I realised that we were nearly out of petrol which led to some anxious driving to locate fuel. We managed to get a can's worth in a nearby vilage which just gave us enough to get to Dalwhinnie. And just in time for the last tour of the distillery....
When we got back to the car I realised that we were nearly out of petrol which led to some anxious driving to locate fuel. We managed to get a can's worth in a nearby vilage which just gave us enough to get to Dalwhinnie. And just in time for the last tour of the distillery....
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