Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan, Mullach na Dheiragain and An Socach 1 May 2012

Another extremely strenuous but very enjoyable day with Jim, this time in perfect weather conditions, sunny with an easterly breeze. A 17 km cycle ride on rough tracks took us to our starting point, the Alltbeithe youth hostel in upper Glen Affric. From here we ascended SW then followed the SE ridge of Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan, a narrow corniced snow-covered ridge, to reach the small snowy summit and cairn (3,776'). Amazing views today in all directions, with the Cuillin ridge, Ben Nevis and the Grey Corries and the Glen Shiel peaks being particularly prominent. The winter walking again felt slightly beyond my experience, but I followed the footsteps of the others on the snowy sections. We then descended N and crossed to a neighbouring peak, Mullach na Dheiragain (3,222') lower so less snowy. Finally, we cut across the corrie below Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan, and climbed An Socach (3,018') reaching the top after 8pm. A mug of tea at the youth hostel was gratefully accepted before cycling back to the vehicle by the light of our headtorches. We arrived back in Cannich 15h after setting out, after midnight ! 3 Munros, total 73.

Carn nan Gobhar, Sgurr na Lapaich and An Riabhachan 30 April 2012

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.

Meall Corranaich and Meall a Choire Leith 5 November 2011

Thanks to Air Miles and a free ticket, I was able to take advantage of the first fine weather in Scotland for quite a few weeks. Due to reduced daylight hours in November, a fairly short route in the Ben Lawers range in Perthshire. After a drive past Ben Lomond at dawn, from the summit of the road through the range (at 1,900') I ascended south east through boggy terrain to reach the SW ridge and then the summit of Meall Corranaich, an excellent viewpoint at 3,507'. The glens were filled with fog with only the mountains protruding - an amazing sight, a form of cloud inversion I have never seen before. Panorama from the southern peaks beyond Loch Tay, round to Glen Lyon and then towards Rannoch Moor and Glencoe, with more cloud in the west. There were several walkers on the mountains enjoying the conditions, and the ridge north then led to the lower peak of Meall a Choire Leith (3,038'), and then back to the road via an extremely boggy descent.
Munros completed now 67, or almost a quarter of the total....

Waun Fach and Pen y Manllwyn (Black Mountains) 28 October 2011

Superb weather for an afternoon walk up to the highest peak of the Black Mountains in South Wales, Waun Fach (2,660'), a boggy whaleback on the Gadair ridge, reached via a fine ascent of the spur of Y Grib to the northwest, with excellent views to Pen y Fan and the Brecon Beacons, and then over the slightly lower summit of Pen y Manllwyn (2,500'). As I didn't start until 1pm, I did not have time to include the top of Pen y Gader Fawr at the southern end of the ridge, but the circular walk was very scenic in sunshine and light winds.

This walk is dedicated to the memory of my dear friend Carol, from Wales, who passed away on 17 September aged just 42.