Ben Dorain

What a fantastic way to finish 2007. After the last couple of wind ripped outings we had a calm, still day with good powdery snow and some amazing lighting thrown in for good measure. Definately much colder air temperature than previous trips (ice forming on my rucksack and jacket while walking) but feeling much more pleasant due to the absence of any wind.


We parked at the Bridge or Orchy rail station and headed up the hillside, deciding to take the more direct route rather than the usual gulley approach which turned out to be a great decision. Once up at height the long summit ridge is much more interesting than the view from the roadside would have you believe, in fact, from the road this looks like a big smooth whaleback shaped mountain but the reality is a craggy ridge with some serious cliffs to the east side which I'll definitely be visiting again.

On the way back down we were treated to a Broken Spectre, the same lighting phenomenon as John and I saw in Glen Shiel in the summer. Again very hard to photograph but you can almost make it out in the pics below. We descended the scree filled gulley passing quite a few groups on the way, probably the busiest hill I've seen for quite a while.

Brilliant trip to end the year, hopefully we'll have a good dump of snow between now and mid January when I'll be back out again.

Meall nan Tarmachan

It was John's birthday today, so we decided to go and stand on top of a big hill in freezing winds to celebrate...as you do!

Since John needed to be back home that afternoon we decided on the gentle meander that is Meall nan Tarmachan. The mountain is in the Ben Lawers region which is owned by the National Trust for Scotland and is therefore very well pathed with decent parking spaces. I'm always in two minds about the dedicated paths on these hills, I understand it preserves the hillside and stops the horrible gouges of mud that scar the hillside of many other mountains but it does remove the wilderness feel when your walking along a constructed path. Anyway, path to the top, easy ascent apart from the ripping sub zero wind , quick pics and a reverse back down again stopping to "fanny about" in some snow banks (see video clip below). A return trip is needed before the winter is out to do the longer and more demanding route from the top of the dam on Lochan na Lairige.

Stob Diamh

The weather man got today completely wrong, not just a bit wrong but waaay off. Had I set off for the hills prepared only for the big sun icon that was stuck over Argyle I would have been in serious trouble. Luckily I'm getting a bit smarter about this Scottish hillwalking lark and prepared for a full winter onslaught. Sure enough the weather had ignored the Met Office prediction and was in a foul mood, we had 50mph wind on the ridge around the lip of Coire Chreachainn swirling in freezing clag multiplied by spindrift that was ripping the skin off the face and were walking on either solid icepack snow, frozen turf or frozen water run-off right from the roadside.

We parked the car at the junction of the minor B8077 (NN 113 282)and headed steeply and up to the 641m point of Monadh Driseig via the obvious col. Onwards to the Corbett of Beinn a Bhuiridh in very low visibility and strengthening winds. Northwards for 2km on the high broad but exposed ridge to Stob Diamh itself, where we stopped for no more than the obligatory photographs, then round the corrie rim clockwise to descend on the broad shoulder that makes up the north side of the corrie all the time fighting the strengthening winds that were now giving us a good beating.

In all an "enjoyable" speedy circuit at 5hrs and although I'd climbed this hill with my dad and the Michelin Walking Club years and years ago, as part of the normal Cruachan Circuit, it was good to revisit it again in very different conditions.

Ben Chabhair

Club Sunday

This is the 4th Sunday in a row I've been out. The spring /summer / autumn hills are great and the long hours and colours can be beautiful but nothing beats the winter for sheer enjoyment. By "enjoyment" I mean getting up at 6:30 on Sunday morning, driving in the dark to a hill then lugging a heavy rucksack with axe and crampons up some snow to stand in minus blah blah wind while easting a ham sandwich.....great stuff.

Anyway, we approached Ben Chabhair from Derrydaroch Farm to avoid the boggy start of the usual ascent route, climbed onto Chabhair's NW ridge and on the the summit.We were subjected toa fair old icy buffeting on the ridge but occasionally passed boulders which cut the wind off like someone had flicked a switch and provided welcome respite for a few seconds. From the summit we dropped steeply down to the col with An Caisteal and then walked out along the valley side.

Stob a Choire Odhair

I woke up at 8am on Sunday morning and made a snap decision to head out for the hills. A Quick sandwich make, flask fill and rucksack pack later and I was heading off for Stob a Choire Odhair which was a mountain I'd been meaning to tick off since last year around this time. Stob Ghabhar and Stob a Choire Odhair are normally climbed together as a circular trip, but having done the former early last winter, today was just the latter.

A beautiful day emerged north of Crainlarich and as I parked up near at Victoria Bridge near Bridge of Orchy on a warm(ish) sunny morning. Only the horror of realising I'd grabbed my summer boots as I looked at the snow capped mountains dampened my spirits.

A stroll along the river to the obvious hut and a easy, but warm, walk up to the corrie rim and then crossing the snow line I followed the wide ridge up to the summit of Stob a Choire Odhair through some mid calf depth snow. Hung around for a bit enjoying the spectacular views and even though my feet were cold the summer boots had been ok.

Lesson learned, If you think you might go out the next day...pack your bag beforehand and check the plastic bag with the boots in it has the boots you need. doh!