Day 2
Spent the night in my car in the upper car park of the Ski Resort - lessons learned - stay lower next time as the car was rocking throughout by the high winds from the West..!!! So I had quite a restless night although I was warm enough. In future, I need to prepare what I’m going to have for my breakfast better.
1 • Synopsis and Ascent of a significant mountain is included in the day;
Yes - 1176 M altitude of Stob Coire an t-Sneachda,
Synopsis -
Plan was to hike to Ben Macdui however weather conditions kept on deteriorating ascending the ridge of Miadan Creag an Lech-choin and across to Lochan Buidhe. It’s the first time I had experienced a complete white out and extreme care was needed. This was quite edgy, nervy and unsettling but I remained calm - I decided that turning around and heading back was the safest option. I have circled the attached map where I turned around. Using GPS I confirmed my position and then began counting out 100 yds and rechecking my position. The conditions were at a point that I could barely see my feet let alone any landscape features. These conditions came in very quickly! I could feel the ground so knew whether I was ascending or descending and so I continued checking my gps, to get a direction and then step out another 100yds. Eventually I got back to 1111 between Fiacall Buttress and Central Gully which was a satisfying feeling. This experience did take its toll on my energy and I felt drained. Visibility had improved slightly and I was able to see other climbers around the edges. From here I handrailed the coire edge to Stob Coire an t-Sneachda and on to 1141 and Fiacaill a’Choire Chais ridge to descend into the ski resort. On the descent I fitted my crampons as the top section was a thin layer of snow with ice underneath. I learned so much about myself and my strengths and weaknesses to enable me to improve from this journey.
2 • Individual takes part in the planning and leadership;
Planned the route using OS Maps online - and used OS-Map and compass on route. Needed to resort to GPS during white out. Life-line activated so family and friends could track me.
Solo hike so made all decisions, also gave details to family of all planned routes with the caveat if I changed any plans I would let them know. Called wife at the agreed return time after hike in the car park.
3 • navigation skills are required;
Yes - used OS map and gps positioning to calculate position and then had to step out 100yds and then recheck position course correct slightly and continue. I have only ever used this technique in training so this was a new experience for me.. I had to use the ground features under foot to know if I was ascending or descending to remain on my stepped direction comparing to OS-Map.
4 • knowledge is increased and skills practised;
Fitting Crampons with gloves due to the coldness prevented taking gloves off. Ice axes on bag but not required, walking poles with snow buckets were all that was needed. Stepping out in known NESW directions was a major lessons learnt and I felt confident using this technique. Ensuring I have sufficient fluids with electrolytes in for the whole journey. What I learned from this journey is how much extra energy you need for concentrating & I had sweated a lot of energy and electrolytes away. Keeping an eye on turn around times to ensure I come off the mountains at the planned time. Also to know turning back is never a bad thing - yes you haven’t accomplished the goal but you are doing it for the the right reasons.
5 • attention is paid to safety;
Checked weather forecast before heading out… Checked Avalanche reports for area. MWIS weather report. And Face Book ground conditions. Also checked Winter Climbing Forecast (app). First Aid Kit and 2 man Shelter. Gave a copy route map to family. And as already mentioned I had live-line on. I have already wrote about other safety measures I took in the other sections rather than rewrite here. However, I am still processing my lessons learnt a day later.
6 • adverse weather and underfoot conditions may be encountered;
Yes, it was BRUTAL..! Complete white out, high winds blasting across Lochan Buidhe. Snow spindrift. Snow / Ice throughout journey. It was excellent to experience these conditions and be confident in navigating my way across the plain to Fiacaill Buttress.
7 • Five hours or more journey time;
Yes, Moving time 7 1/2 hours.
Area :
The Cairngorms
The Cairngorms are ‘a little piece of the arctic in Scotland’ according to the SMC Munros Guide and the area contains many of the tallest peaks in the East Highlands. Ben Macdui (1309m), Cairn Gorm (1244m) and Braeriach (1296) are probably three of the better known and the whole area is full of steep corries and high plateaux. Access to the mountains is typically from Aviemore or Braemar.
