Some thoughts and reports from outings...
Blogs from some outdoor adventures.....
A week and a half of MANFLU and no exercise had been done !! Feeling stuffy we decided on heading out on the Sunday to give an extra days rest from the MANFLU :) It worked nicely as on the Saturday the mountain conditions were not too great. With a state of self sorry due to manflu and my friends sore back after surgery we bimbled along the Zig Zags and up Broad Gully, taking our time but enjoying the outing. The weather remained fantastic all day and the broken cloud eventually gave way to bright blue skies and a cracking sunset on the way home. MANFLU has returned slighty again - so I guess it 'll have to be another trip somewhere to remedy it! Video, report and photos below..... With the trip now booked to the Higjh Atlas Mountains a requirement to get out as much as possible is now needed to get fit for our Morroco winter outing!! The Zig Zags and Broad Gully…. Having been struck down by the lurgy and even worse – possibly MANFLU!!!!! – I was feeling a little run down so we decided on a Sunday outing to give me an extra days rest in the hope my energy levels would be a little better come Sunday!! We had been out in absolutely stunning conditions two weeks previously on Ben More which saw my friends first ascent after back surgery and today would be his first easy mountaineering route since the surgeries. Over the last few years the Zig Zags have been mentioned as a first route when winter arrived but we always seemed to pick something else and not get up them. However today was different and we left the first car park and headed towards the Lost Valley and the Zig Zags. The snow level was not down as far as Gearr Aonach but there was plenty of water ice around which made things a little slippery, however the route was extremely enjoyable with lots of little bits and bobs of scrambling, I reckon I will visit here again and use this route in the years to come. Coming up and over the nose gave some slight exposure down into Glencoe and the views across the the Aonach Eagach were superb. The snow level was reached on the ridge of Gearr Aonach and we stopped for a bite to eat with spectacular views over to Stob Coire na Lochan, which was looking wintery. There was broken cloud now, but it was above the summits and the winds were light (if any at all) – very pleasant. Feeling good we decided to have a look at Broad Gully after hoeing and humming about heading up the East Ridge…. The snow was good when we got there, so we took a bimble up broad gully (my first time up – been down it a few times but never ascended it!). Conditions were great and we took our time. SCNL was empty, quietest I think I have ever seen it. There were only three climbing teams that I could see, and hardly any walkers – very unusual for a weekend good weather day – didn’t complain though…. Feeling a little tired – we decided against heading up Bidean and took the eastern should half way down before descending into a snow gully and eventually picking our way back to the path down Coire nan Lochan. By now the clouds had nearly all cleared and we got great views to the Aonach Eagach. The sunset bon the way home was a cracker- all round – a nice wee day out J………..
0 Comments
Two weeks ago (10th Nov) we headed for a hike in the central highlands. For once the weather was perfect- it felt like a perfect mid winters day, only in early November.... Will this be a great winter again weather wise?Loads of berries on the trees in autumn yada yada ya ;) who knows - fingers crossed though. Film from this perfect day below and trip report. ... Ben More and Stob
Binnein The Winter had arrived early with snow falling throughout the week, however the forecast for the weekend was to be bright and showery on Saturday then mild and windy on Sunday. Unfortunately I could only do Sunday due to other commitments and thus my thoughts of a trip into the snowy mountains seemed slim and perhaps a bit slushy and wet – However! -come Friday afternoon and another check on MWIS and a squint at the Met Office suggested hope – lots of hope. It seemed the Atlantic front was delayed due to a slight ridge of High pressure – happy days. As the weekend approached and Saturday went by, the forecast just got better and better!! Sunday was now the day to be in the hills –perfect. My friend had back surgery a couple of months ago and this was to be his first outing, Ben More was chosen as his come back mountain, and with the weather looking tremendous, this could be a good day! Anyway Sunday arrived and three of us met at Ben More Farm and we were off by 08.30. The weather was glorious - small patches of cloud amongst mainly blue skies. The snow line was relatively low down perhaps around 500m, and initially the snow was softish but it soon became a little more crisp and crampons were required. There was a considerable amount of snow and it felt like mid January but on a perfect day. As we gained height there were wisps of cloud towards the summit – perhaps we were not going to be so lucky and have a clagged in summit!! However the opposite was true – we were treated to a Fog Bow and the Glories then finally being above the cloud on the summit. It was not a day to move away from the top too quickly and we loitered for some time. Our timing was perfect as the slight breeze died away as we hit the top and there was warmth in the sun. The air clarity was superb and the hills of Lothian and the Borders could easily be picked out beyond Glasgow and Grangemouth in the central belt. Eventually we left the summit and our friend headed back down from the Bealach leaving two of us to head up Stob Binnein. The views from the top were almost as good as from Ben More and more loitering was done. Eventually we decided we needed to head home sometime and we headed down towards the track in Ben More Glen. We hit the track at its head – beware the mud trap. My brother sunk up to his thy literally a metre from the start of the track when jumping down!!!! Back to the car for 14.30 and a collection of great memories – hopefully the winter will bring many more similar days J |
WilkieMurraySome thoughts and reports from my outdoors activties... Archives
August 2017
Categories |