Great day out with Kate Gilbert, Rachel Bott, Jamie Ledingham and Declan.
Left CP at 0845.
Dug 2m40cm snow pit on way up Carn Liath and used snow analysis kit for first time:
- very shallow temp gradient (-2 at surface/-1 at base) Need to get lolly sticks to mark layers.
- good eg of spacial variation - my pit had quite a different icier layer to Jamie`s which was only a few metres away
- not possible to anaylse top layer under microscope as it melter too fast
- icier layer looked like rounds (?)
Cloud/mist came over us and persisted until near to the Window, when we cleared the inversion and all became quite magical.
The others donned crampons for ascent out of a notch. I did not and pushed ahead and enjoyed hot water and cake.
Having climbed out of the window we decided to go to the Creag Meagaidh summit. Good decision!
Left summit approx 1530.
Donned crampons for one section of descent and had to cross one slope which was a little avalanche twitchy: could have chosen a better route - the problem of going out with a group of all fairly compey
Area :
Creag Meagaidh Loch Lochy To Loch Laggan)
This area includes the famous Creag Meagaidh Range and surrounding peaks of at least 600m. It stretches east of the A82 between Spean Bridge and Invergarry, and north of the A86 as far east as Stob Coire Dubh. There are a large number of impressive winter climbs in Coire Ardair and endless navigation opportunities on and around the high central plateau of Creag Meagaidh itself. The mountains to the north and east of this range are under East Highlands, Monaliadth Mountains.
