Beinn Mhanach - Beinn a' Chreachain route, 24 February 95 (1 of 5)
Looking back to the Black Mount hills during the climb from Achallader to the Beinn an Dothaidh - Beinn Achaladair col. The object today was to bag my 2 remaining Bridge of Orchy Munros. This would involve a convoluted 20 km route with 1400 m of climbing, and would present a real challenge under winter conditions.
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Hillwalking journal entry for the day:
Friday 24/2/95
Beinn Mhanach - Beinn a’ Chreachain
20 km, 1350 m: 9.7 hrs
Conditions: Generally dry with the cloud base down to about 700 m. Relatively mild with little or no wind!
Base: The Shieling, Killin
Map and starting point: OS Sheet 50, GR 322443
<<<<>>>>
I played the tourist the previous day and so I was well rested for what was supposed to be the last day of my holiday. Thus as the forecast was quite promising I decided to take on the longest of the planned routes, ie the completion of the Bridge of Orchy Munros.
I had intended to get up at 06:00 hours in order to maximise the length of the day but overslept slightly and eventually rolled into the Achallader Farm car park - just under the tower - at about 08:30 hours.
I set off along the sign-posted farm track, over the railway bridge, around the deer fence - not mentioned in even the most up-to-date of guidebooks - and then back to the west bank of the Allt Coire Achaladair. There was no evidence of a path and I initially walked along the lower reaches of the west bank and then crossed the allt and then worked my way up to the higher slopes on the east side. I was disappointed to find that the snow had not frozen over the previous night despite the forecast sub-zero temperatures. So again I found myself trudging through deep soft snow.
I stopped along the way to take a few photos of the Beinn an Dothaidh crags with the upper reaches of the hill still under mist. I had not been paying much attention to the map and was disappointed to find that I still had over 100 m more to climb after reaching a false horizon at 650 m. After an energy-sapping and dispiriting trudge over the final kilometre I eventually gained the col and reset my altimeter at 755 m.
The intention had been to traverse the slopes of Beinn Achaladair in a NE direction so as to gain the 638 m col at the head of Gleann Cailliche without further climbing. However, the snow covered slope was frighteningly steep and convex and I had to stop numerous times to put on/take off crampons due to frequent changes in ground conditions from sheet ice to wet, crampon balling, snow. So I reluctantly abandoned this scheme and instead made my way slowly but safely down to the lower slopes of the hill meeting the track from Auch at the 550 m contour.
This was a very disheartening divergence from the planned route and I was anxious regarding the lost time coupled with the late start, tedious snow conditions, and poor visibility. I more or less conceded at this point that this was not going to be a 2 Munro day, and I started to run through the possible options as I made my way up to the col, with visibility deteriorating with every step. I decided to at least climb Beinn Mhanach which would then allow a safe but very long escape route along the track to Auch - although this would still leave a 12 km walk along tracks and road back to the car.
I checked my altimeter at the 638 m col - spot on - and the followed the dog-legged fence to the Beinn Mhanach - Beinn a’ Chuirn col, now under mist. Thence after setting a bearing and doing a quick Naismith I set off for the summit, easily gained in the estimated 15 minutes. Despite my serious position I felt a frisson of elation at having bagged this fairly remote Munro in the depths of winter.
Easily back to the 638 m col with the snow now beginning to fall. However, still feeling buoyed up, I ruled out the retreat to Auch as too defeatist, and decided to at least go as far as Meall Buidhe, from where a NW descent towards the railway line - and hence safety - should be possible, despite the likely cornicing on the summit ridge.
The first stage of the climb was to reach the Beinn Achaladair - Beinn a’ Chreachain col: a 1.5 km/175 m climb virtually due north. I rechecked my altimeter, took a careful compass bearing, did a rough Naismith and then set off in thick mist. A very difficult pitch as the mist was so thick and the snow cover so extensive that it was not possible to identify any aim points, and so I had to keep one eye on the compass virtually all the way up. I was extremely relieved to hit the col spot on and even more pleased to find a few footsteps in the snow heading along the ridge - the first signs of life since setting off from the car park!
I had run out of fruit juice some time ago and had foolishly assumed that I would be able to fill my water bottle from one of the many burns crossed on the climb up to the col; however, they were all either frozen over or under deep snow cover as I’d heard not the slightest trickle of running water during the climb. Thus in order to quench my raging thirst I had to resort to eating snow.
I gained the Meall Buidhe SW top without too much difficulty and then took a bearing and made my way easily to the NE top. I was too close to that elusive second Munro to give up now, and so I decided to go for it! Thankfully the mist was now clearing intermittently and the final top of the day was occasionally in view: a very encouraging prospect and I more or less kept going till reaching the summit. With no time to rest I set off immediately towards the NE ridge - the last barrier to a safe descent off the hill. Luckily it stayed clear for long enough for me to find the take off point, which could have been very difficult to locate with confidence under cover of mist. The ridge was steep and intimidating in places with steeply banked snow on both sides. Nevertheless I made a safe descent to the col below the 959 m top. I had originally intended to go beyond this point to allow a gentle descent towards Crannock; however, the direct route seemed to be feasible and so I just headed off down the slope in a SW direction.
I gained the upper reaches of the scattered remnants of Crannock Wood just as dusk was falling: a very photogenic setting and I regretted not having the time to take some decent photos. I had no clear plan in mind for the rest of the route, and so I just kept going in a generally westerly direction and I fortuitously reached the railway line at a convenient underpass. Thence to Tulla water and along the line of the river - very difficult going in places over pathless terrain - to the track to Achallader, arriving back at the car just as darkness was falling. Needless to say I had seen no one all day.
On reflection it was a much too ambitious route to take on in February. However, I was extremely proud to have safely negotiated my way around such a complex route in conditions of poor visibility, under full snow cover, and under extreme time pressure. It had certainly boosted confidence in my navigational skills!
However, if the wind had picked up, or if the mist had not lifted for long enough for me to find my way off Beinn a’ Chreachain, it might have been a different story!
Beinn Mhanach - Beinn a' Chreachain route, 24 February 95 (1 of 5)
Looking back to the Black Mount hills during the climb from Achallader to the Beinn an Dothaidh - Beinn Achaladair col. The object today was to bag my 2 remaining Bridge of Orchy Munros. This would involve a convoluted 20 km route with 1400 m of climbing, and would present a real challenge under winter conditions.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hillwalking journal entry for the day:
Friday 24/2/95
Beinn Mhanach - Beinn a’ Chreachain
20 km, 1350 m: 9.7 hrs
Conditions: Generally dry with the cloud base down to about 700 m. Relatively mild with little or no wind!
Base: The Shieling, Killin
Map and starting point: OS Sheet 50, GR 322443
<<<<>>>>
I played the tourist the previous day and so I was well rested for what was supposed to be the last day of my holiday. Thus as the forecast was quite promising I decided to take on the longest of the planned routes, ie the completion of the Bridge of Orchy Munros.
I had intended to get up at 06:00 hours in order to maximise the length of the day but overslept slightly and eventually rolled into the Achallader Farm car park - just under the tower - at about 08:30 hours.
I set off along the sign-posted farm track, over the railway bridge, around the deer fence - not mentioned in even the most up-to-date of guidebooks - and then back to the west bank of the Allt Coire Achaladair. There was no evidence of a path and I initially walked along the lower reaches of the west bank and then crossed the allt and then worked my way up to the higher slopes on the east side. I was disappointed to find that the snow had not frozen over the previous night despite the forecast sub-zero temperatures. So again I found myself trudging through deep soft snow.
I stopped along the way to take a few photos of the Beinn an Dothaidh crags with the upper reaches of the hill still under mist. I had not been paying much attention to the map and was disappointed to find that I still had over 100 m more to climb after reaching a false horizon at 650 m. After an energy-sapping and dispiriting trudge over the final kilometre I eventually gained the col and reset my altimeter at 755 m.
The intention had been to traverse the slopes of Beinn Achaladair in a NE direction so as to gain the 638 m col at the head of Gleann Cailliche without further climbing. However, the snow covered slope was frighteningly steep and convex and I had to stop numerous times to put on/take off crampons due to frequent changes in ground conditions from sheet ice to wet, crampon balling, snow. So I reluctantly abandoned this scheme and instead made my way slowly but safely down to the lower slopes of the hill meeting the track from Auch at the 550 m contour.
This was a very disheartening divergence from the planned route and I was anxious regarding the lost time coupled with the late start, tedious snow conditions, and poor visibility. I more or less conceded at this point that this was not going to be a 2 Munro day, and I started to run through the possible options as I made my way up to the col, with visibility deteriorating with every step. I decided to at least climb Beinn Mhanach which would then allow a safe but very long escape route along the track to Auch - although this would still leave a 12 km walk along tracks and road back to the car.
I checked my altimeter at the 638 m col - spot on - and the followed the dog-legged fence to the Beinn Mhanach - Beinn a’ Chuirn col, now under mist. Thence after setting a bearing and doing a quick Naismith I set off for the summit, easily gained in the estimated 15 minutes. Despite my serious position I felt a frisson of elation at having bagged this fairly remote Munro in the depths of winter.
Easily back to the 638 m col with the snow now beginning to fall. However, still feeling buoyed up, I ruled out the retreat to Auch as too defeatist, and decided to at least go as far as Meall Buidhe, from where a NW descent towards the railway line - and hence safety - should be possible, despite the likely cornicing on the summit ridge.
The first stage of the climb was to reach the Beinn Achaladair - Beinn a’ Chreachain col: a 1.5 km/175 m climb virtually due north. I rechecked my altimeter, took a careful compass bearing, did a rough Naismith and then set off in thick mist. A very difficult pitch as the mist was so thick and the snow cover so extensive that it was not possible to identify any aim points, and so I had to keep one eye on the compass virtually all the way up. I was extremely relieved to hit the col spot on and even more pleased to find a few footsteps in the snow heading along the ridge - the first signs of life since setting off from the car park!
I had run out of fruit juice some time ago and had foolishly assumed that I would be able to fill my water bottle from one of the many burns crossed on the climb up to the col; however, they were all either frozen over or under deep snow cover as I’d heard not the slightest trickle of running water during the climb. Thus in order to quench my raging thirst I had to resort to eating snow.
I gained the Meall Buidhe SW top without too much difficulty and then took a bearing and made my way easily to the NE top. I was too close to that elusive second Munro to give up now, and so I decided to go for it! Thankfully the mist was now clearing intermittently and the final top of the day was occasionally in view: a very encouraging prospect and I more or less kept going till reaching the summit. With no time to rest I set off immediately towards the NE ridge - the last barrier to a safe descent off the hill. Luckily it stayed clear for long enough for me to find the take off point, which could have been very difficult to locate with confidence under cover of mist. The ridge was steep and intimidating in places with steeply banked snow on both sides. Nevertheless I made a safe descent to the col below the 959 m top. I had originally intended to go beyond this point to allow a gentle descent towards Crannock; however, the direct route seemed to be feasible and so I just headed off down the slope in a SW direction.
I gained the upper reaches of the scattered remnants of Crannock Wood just as dusk was falling: a very photogenic setting and I regretted not having the time to take some decent photos. I had no clear plan in mind for the rest of the route, and so I just kept going in a generally westerly direction and I fortuitously reached the railway line at a convenient underpass. Thence to Tulla water and along the line of the river - very difficult going in places over pathless terrain - to the track to Achallader, arriving back at the car just as darkness was falling. Needless to say I had seen no one all day.
On reflection it was a much too ambitious route to take on in February. However, I was extremely proud to have safely negotiated my way around such a complex route in conditions of poor visibility, under full snow cover, and under extreme time pressure. It had certainly boosted confidence in my navigational skills!
However, if the wind had picked up, or if the mist had not lifted for long enough for me to find my way off Beinn a’ Chreachain, it might have been a different story!