Fabian Seymour - 143967

logs 642

Awards Completed

MLW RCI ML
Member Of

Winter Walking Record

Details

Date : 02/02/2019

Duration : 8+ hours

Style : Leader / Supervisor

Type : Quality Mountain Day (QMD)

Weather : Clear - sunny - good visibility

Wind : Gentle breeze

Camping Type : N/A

Nights Camping : 0

Mountains : Carn Dearg Meadhonach Carn Mor Dearg

Flagged :

Description

An early start for the climbers gondola on Aonach Mor. Very cold morning but crystal clear skies. Deep powder snow but ground beneath was a bit squishy.
A lot of climbers heading to the west face but we crossed over the burn and staggered (literally) through the boulders and powder to meet the East Ridge of Carn Dearg Mheadonach. Technically a grade II and I'd love to climb this in grade II conditions.
Roped up but moved alpine style. Small rack but it wasn't used.
No purchase with the axe on the snow but some opportunity for torquing and hooking. But also some basic rock climbing techniques. A few trickier sections requiring some spikes for the rope but we basically walked up with me at the front.
At Carn Dearg Meadhonach we de-geared and then plodded up to Carn Mor Dearg. Flag appearing over the Ben. Back down from where we came along the CMD ridge toward the North Face car park and then cut through the forest along a good track to the Ski Centre car park.
•It is most likely that the ascent of a significant mountain is included in the day. Carn Mor Dearg and Carn Dearg Meadhonach.
•The individual takes part in the planning and leadership. And indeed running the whole day.
•Navigation skills are required. More toward the end of the day when tiredness could have resulted in a wrong turn. Otherwise one of those crystal clear days.
•Knowledge is increased and skills practised. Practiced certainly!
•Attention is paid to safety. At all times - especially on the climb and tricky descent (deep powder, boulders, then vegetation covered in snow etc).
•Adverse weather and underfoot conditions may be encountered. Very rough going underfoot. On the climb powder made for some tricky sections and route finding over slabs.
•Five hours or more journey time - nearly 9
•Conditions encountered should be in terrain and weather comparable to that found in the UK in true winter conditions. A proper winter day in the Nevis range minus gale force winds and horizontal rain.
•An ice axe and crampons were required and used. I had to assist my companion adjust his crampon bar to increase the boot fit. Something he'd assured me he'd already done.

Area : Ben Nevis & Aonach Mor (Fort William To Loch Leven)

This area covers the mountains between Fort William, Loch Leven (to the south) and Loch Treig (to the east). The area includes Ben Nevis and Carn Mor Dearg, The Mamores, The Aonachs and The Grey Corries. An impressive 20 Munros are split equally by Glen Nevis and the waters of Abhainn Rath. Relatively accessible from the A82, these mountains hold some classic walking and climbing routes such as The Ring of Steall in the Mamores and Point Five Gully on Ben Nevis. Includes all major peaks above 600m.

Location

Marker
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