Joanna Chitty - 171898

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Winter Walking Record

My DLOG

Details

Date : 14/02/2017

Duration : 5-8 hours

Style : Leader / Supervisor

Type : Quality Mountain Day (QMD)

Weather : Light snow - poor visibility

Wind : Strong wind

Camping Type : N/A

Nights Camping : 0

Mountains : Sgairneach Mhor

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Description

This was a day where winds reached the level of 'genuinely challenging', we found ourselves bracing ourselves and putting on our googles as we got out of the car on the Drumochter Pass. Myself, a novice friend and a friend with similar experience to myself had teamed up to make the best of an unpromising day, and had as a priority to not overstretch ourselves on a plan that we might well have to abandon.
We were staying at time time with around 20 other friends, including some Winter MLs and others with more experience than ourselves, some of whom dismissed my plan for the day as insufficiently ambitious. I defended the plan on the grounds that it kept us largely shelter from the prevailing wind in what was likely to be slushy then heavily drifted ascent.
I've included this as a QMD as the day did indeed present all the challenges of wind, snow, drifts and slush but most critically because my team was the only of 5 small groups that left our accommodation that morning that actually reached a summit, including the WMLS and other supposedly 'stronger' teams. Because it was an appropriate plan to the day, the team and the ambition of getting further good days that week.

Area : Loch Rannoch to Newtonmore (Beinn Udlamain)

This area is listed in the SMC Munros Guide as ‘The Drumochter Hills) and covers the hills and mountains between Loch Rannoch and Newtonmore. Loch Ericht forms the western boundary and Glen Tromie the eastern boundary, with the Pass of Drumochter (the A9 and the Highland Main Line) dividing the area in two. Among the seven Munros in this area, only one is over 1000m (Beinn Udlamain is 1011m).

Location