A long and strenuous first day of the Affric / Mullardoch trip, with Jim Groark from Steven Fallon's mountain guiding company. The weather had been superb the day before on arrival at Inverness airport - this morning it was cloudy, with rain at lower levels and light snow falling higher up, and the cloud base at 2,400ft. We first ascended Carn nan Gobhar from the south west, reaching the snowy cairn (3,255') in very poor visibility. The conditions then deteriorated and we edged along the ridge towards the summit of Sgurr na Lapaich (3,772') in very snowy whiteout visibility, unable to see the drop below the ridge. The summit was not a place to linger, a strong southerly wind blowing snow across the the area. We slithered down westwards, then up towards the summit of An Riabhachan (3,704') and along its ridge, then dropping down towards the Loch, and below the cloud, to the final obstacle of the day, the 9km walk out to the starting point. A day that taxed my endurance and skills, not having done any previous walking in winter conditions. 3 Munros, total 70.
1 comment:
An Socach is now going to be a challenge to do. Plus the other 3!
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