Keeping it local - Misty Law

One thing's for sure, the beast from the east kinda disrupted the plans for the weekend. While Ballater may have been the desired destination, playing in the snow was always the aim. So the fact that there had been a dump of snow practically on the doorstep meant time to explore the snowfields of Clyde Muirshiel Park.

It was me and the two Steves. Misty Law was the target. Route was straight from the village of Lochwinnoch. This meant no need to worry about getting to the start as we just parked in the village. This route utilises minor road then landrover track practically all the way to the top. Should be relatively straightforward..................... except for the people eating drifts obliterating the track!!!

Suffice to say, it was quiet out on the route. Only met one other couple who had turned back after getting swallowed up by the drifts once too often. But we carried on even though there were a couple of attempts on us. At Mistylaw Muir we took the decision to go cross country. This turned out to be a good choice, keeping us out of the direct hit of the wind and reducing the undulating nature of the track.

We were glad to have reached the summit, for all of 10 seconds. The wind was brutal and artic. We dropped down for a quick fuel up and decided we would go back via the landrover track............... nope that aint happening. Wind was blowing us over and the slope looked too steep in the snow to be falling over on. We quickly retraced our steps and headed back cross country to the safe side of the track avoiding the people eating drifts.

Well our local walk certainly gave us a good workout. We had earned the lovely pint of Happy Chappy perfectly poured by the staff in the Brown Bull. It would have been rude not to use some of the villages amenities.

Looking back down over the village

Steve struggling in the drifts

Cross country we go

Yes this is the summit of Misty Law

Looking north, Ben Lomond is out there somewhere

This one he did deliberately

Comments

Creag Meagaidh MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

Creag Meagaidh has been on the to do list for so long. The past couple of years have seen us have to abort at least three attempts at the last minute because conditions weren't for us. So were we going to get it done this time................. YES The weather bods said mostly dry with a risk of potential showers later in the day. It was warm so even if it did rain it would be warm. Off we set having smothered ourselves in factor 50 and Smidge. Warm they said.......... baking I said!!!! We had decided our ascent would be via Coire Ardair and The Window to ease us into the walk on a good path. It felt more like a slow roasting. It is a gorgeous walk out to Coire Ardair on a very good path but as soon as we were out of the forest the heat and humidity kicked in. When we reached Lochan Coire Ardair there was only one thing on my mind, getting my boots off and getting in. It was at this point I began having major doubts as to whether we woul...

Time Marches On .........

Life has changed considerably since my last entry to this blog. Steve's Parkinson's diagnosis in late 2018 may have meant resetting some goals but it hasn't stopped us having adventures in other ways. Completing the West Highland Way when Steve retired in April 2022 was our last significant hillwalking challenge. The risk has just got so great. . COVID lock down I discovered Zwift. Now I had my safe way of pushing my limits and even racing. This opened a whole new world. As we stepped back from the hills, Steve's table tennis sessions increased along with my cycling Through an aborted attempt to attend a table tennis event in September 2022, we found ourselves inadvertently setting up our new regime for time away - somewhere with stable weather where I can safely cycle which also has table tennis in the hotel and hopefully at a local club. We now have a few destinations on rotation Alcudia, Altea/Calpe, Lanzarote and Paphos. Steve started entering tab...

Ben Lomond - 8th time lucky

This was my first Munro so many years ago I can't even remember when. It's my local hill. But until today I'd never had a view from on top. There have been days in the past when I knew on leaving the car park I wasn't going to see anything. That was fine, I just wanted out on the hill. It was the days with the promise that I'd get my view and didn't that fed my love hate relationship with this hill. January last year was the last time we visited just after a huge dump of snow. It was a mini epic due to leaving too late, loads of fantastically deep snow and coming down in the dark - fun :-D The forecast had said best south of the A85 with cloud base over 1000m, maybe today was the day I would get a view. The route was inevitable, via Ptarmagin Ridge. For me the tourist route is only ever for descent. One day however I will try out ptc* route as it looks like fun, just not this time. From the drive in we could see that there was still a good covering of snow. It...

Blethering Blonde

Search This Blog