Blethering Blonde

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...

Storm Hannah tried to wreck the planned Craggy walk to Ben Lomond. Thankfully, she had moved off quickish to allow the walk to be rescheduled to Sunday.  For once wind was not going to be an issue, all the makings of a good hill day.  So off we trotted.  While there were only a few folk heading in the same direction as us, there seemed to be a constant stream coming down Ptarmigan.  I suspect this is a result of the route description in Walk Highlands.  My body was having issues at moving at anything more than snail pace, earning me the title of Pace Setter of the Day for keeping us at a steady 1.9km/hr.  I have to thank the gang for being super patient on what was a longer than anticipated ascent of Ptarmigan.  We had some Ptarmigan Ridge virgins in our midst, some requiring reassurance from Steve "trust me" Morley. Plus Quote of the Day 1 from Carol "so where's this ridge we're doing?" ( said at approx 700m on said ridge ) We eventua...

There is a definite common theme to the walks so far this year.......... buffeting winds.  As the weekend approached MWIS did forecast blustery conditions, windchill of up to -10C and beware sunburn!!!  Even the ferry was warning us the wind might cause disruption to services.  But that didn't stop Carol, Frank, John, Steve and Susan from wanting to get out. Rendezvous was the 7am ferry except John had underestimated his timings, so he'd be on the 820am. He'd catch us up somehow later.  As tradition dictates, breakfast on the ferry was consumed by some and discussion ensued on the route. Default route from Corrie is to go via the Corie Lan path, however......... we had been eyeing up going via Am Binnein.  Harvey's map suggested there is an intermittent path via an old quarry and forest from High Corrie.  It also looked like there was a good forest break from the usual path to follow to the base of the ridge onto Am Binnein.  As we got off th...

Winter weather has been very fickle this year.  This week had seen a dump of snow only for it to be mostly washed away.  So we weren't sure what we were going to be doing hill wise for Craggy's stay at the newly refurbished Glen Nevis Hostel . When the decision was taken to go for this date Alan had a cunning plan for doing the Ring of Steall with a few of us thinking of the Aonachs via the Gondola from Nevis Range. However........... Good old mother nature may have given a weather window of opportunity but not really of the kind that meant all the original targets were still in play. 50mph winds and a -5C windchill with snow showers were mentioned.  Backup plans B, C, D  were discussed with the Loch Lochy Munros in sight for Alan, Barry, Eleanor, Malcolm and Roddy.  Steve, Kathryn, Niamh, Susan and myself had the Corbett Beinn Bhan if the gondola was off. The morning arrived and the gondola was on.  Wind can't be that bad.......... or so we t...

So........ the plan was the "easy" group of hills to the west of Glenshee Ski Centre.  There are 3 Munros in the route given on Walk Highlands.  Carn Aosda ,  Carn a' Gheoidh  and  The Cairnwell   However.......... the jet stream is currently sitting over Scotland and didn't we know it. The weather when we arrived at Glenshee was better than expected. There was snow at the car pack at 650m but there was also blue sky. That was what lulled us into a false sense of security as we headed to the first target of Carn Aosda. With not enough snow to ski we had te hill to ourselves so just headed directly up one of the ski runs.  As we topped out we were soon getting the full hit of the 50 - 70 mph winds. Discussion quickly ensued on amending the plan. Going back down was the consensus. Even moving off the summit took a lot longer than anticipated as every time we went to move the wind got stronger!!!!!! Once onto the service track we...