A tour of 4 munros, from Glenshee as an “active rest” day ahead of the upcoming Swiss Alps climbing trip.
Munro’s “bagged” Carn an Tuirc, Cairn of Claise, Glas Maol & Creag Leacach
Total Distance 19.2Km
With 2 weeks to go until we head off to Grindlewald and alpine adventure around the Eiger and Monch range I took up the offer of a cottage rented out by a friend just south of Glenshee, on the edge of the Cairngorms.
A chance to get away from the city, have some us time and also get in some new hills was just too good to pass up – so after work we jumped in the car and headed north from Glasgow, to the very small village of Enochdhu about 2 hours north (unless of course.. like us, you miss a turning and end up in the Spittal of Glenshee lol and then it’s more like 3 hours..).
We arrive, just as the light starts to fade, that beautiful low lying, clean spring sun cutting through the trees now blooming along the winding roads , already feeling the release that only the mountains and wilderness can give you.
We drop our bags and bones into comfy seats and grab a glass of wine.
McLovinMountains.com regular guest mountain guide, Andy Mallinson, and his better half Liz were our very welcoming hosts and as we planned the next day we had a great nattter about anything and everything . For Andy it was a rare weekend off and a chance just to get out on the hills with friends and enjoy a walk.
The cottage itself (River Cottage) is beautiful and I highly recommend a stay if you can get a booking , a full review will be on the blog ASAP.
Anyway after a nice relaxing night, the shackles of the city well and truly shuffled off we hit the hay planning a nice civilised 9am kickoff.
That morning we headed into Glenshee, dropped Andy;s car off, drive mine a couple of miles further and started to head up the hill. Our plan was the 4 munro’s of Carn an Tuirc, Cairn of Claise, Glas Maol & Creag Leacach all linked with a fairly easy undulating plateau taking the full round back to Andy’s car to 12 miles/19km.
I’ll let the pictures do the talking but its a beautiful walk, amazing views and frankly a pretty easy way to bag 4 Munros’ (it felt like cheating). Although relatively long its not steep at any point and with the 3 of us cheating away and setting a fair pace we were done and back to the car in a little over 6 and half hours, including stops for a bite to eat out the biting arctic wind in the shelter cairns on 2 of the summits.
It was a great way to get out, see the hills , get great exercise but still somehow felt rested and recovered after a week of work and heavy gym training.
Arriving back at the car we had a sneak look at the newly under development interpretation area being installed including a beautifully designed arching wooden bench that seems to mimic the line of the mountains, contour lined designed walkway and plinths ready to take viewing information. Looking down Glenshee it will be stunning once finished.
From there it was as top at the local community shop for coffee and cake , and to pick up a nice whisky and local gin for that evening spent in the company of Liz and her other guest Ben, a walker from Germany who was doing the Cateran trail.
Thanks again to Andy and Liz and as I sit here with 1 week to go to the alps I thank you , dear reader for staying with me on the journey and I look forward to sharing our Alpine Exploits to come!
Sitting in the sun – still in big boots, climbing gear and shades, sipping coffee at a cafe in the main street among the tourist is something you only really get to enjoy in Chamonix
After a superb week recently in Chamonix Les Houches “perfecting” our new ski skills (see Les Houches. – A beginners. guide to skiing in the Alps) we had returned to work and the house renovations back in Scotland with a serious pang of sadness which of course is not unusual when leaving an incredible and exciting place like the Alps.
Within 2 weeks I was back on line and we had booked a long weekend to return this time to continue our skiing improvement but also, importantly for me to try and get a climb in with my planned partner for the Mitellegi Ridge, Steve Wakeford.
Steve had, I’m very glad to say, agreed to join us to form 2 teams of 2 for the route on the Eiger meaning Steve Dunne and Davy could be more flexible on their route plans as they have another objective in mind (more of that to come) and that I had a strong climbing partner, who is also someone I could enjoy the time with as well (not always an easy combination to find).
You may recognise Steve’s name if you are aware (and if not, why the hell not??) of the upcoming film Magnetic Mountains which at the same time manages to centre around Steve’s climbing accident in the alps his road to recovery, the subject of risk and the questions of why we do it and is also – beautifully – shot/ produced by Steve and his partner and producer/film maker/climber and super mum Menna Pritchard.
Steve and Menna are quite simply an awesome duo! Lovely, friendly, driven, considered and just downright good fun (as well as incredible parents to the mighty little pocket rocket Fi!) and with them having just returned from a business trip to Oz we were keen to hook up, go climbing and just hang out. You may also remember from previous blogs that it was Steve and Menna who first got Sam and I onto ski’s and they made sure to check on our progress and give us some more valuable “coaching” – spending a day in Contamines showing us some more fun and challenging Blue runs and getting our skills up even more!
Anyway enough of all that , onto the climbing!
The first snow ramp
Cosmiques Aréte is a classic alpine route, rated at a relatively easy AD grade its a must for all budding alpinists and a route that had so far escaped me so when Steve suggested it I was in! Conscious that Steve would naturally want to find out if I knew one end of a crampon from another I will admit i was keen to impress. I needn’t have worried.
Are there any better views?
Not only was the climbing well within my capability, the situation and exposure stunning but Steve was the coolest guy on a route ever. Recognising I was yet to acclimatize he didn’t rush but we moved efficiently him leading the route he had climbed once before, overtaking 1 team and catching a second (who seemed to be climbing, pitch style with two ropes.. hence taking an age 😦 )
At no point did i feel anything but enjoyment , no pressure and hopefully showed that I could at least be trusted to belay safely 😀
The crux slab, its a lot easier that it looks
After leaving the midi station via the steep snow aréte (overtaking the skiers heading down to Vallee Blanche ) and around the base of the aguille on your right hand, the route starts with a scramble up some snow and broken ground before the first of 2 abseils. After dropping down and moving around the side of the ridge on the right , great exposure here, you reach the first steep gully before continuing to overcome some slabby rocks, another drop down and narrow exposed snow traverse brings you to the 8m crux slab before a turn on the left to finally at the slightly awkward exit chimney (some clever axe positioning means solid movement to get you started left ) – up and it leads to the final narrow snow ridge and off up the ladder to the midi terrace.
All in all the route offers a great mix of climbing and some incredible situations.
After a few short hours of breathtaking views and good fun climbing we popped out of the last chimney and onto the exit ridge to see Sam and Menna waiting for us at the Midi terrace, together with some surprised looking tourists, amazed and slightly bemused to see these two guys climbing up the rickety steel ladder and over the barrier, off the mountain. No autograph requests but certainly a few snaps being taken 😉
The iconic pillar on the Cosmiques ridgeStandard “summit” pose , taken by Sam on the terrace
Here’s a short vid of the first sections, coming down the Midi snow aréte and onto the start of the route
Now it was down to Cham and for a coffee (ok ….and some cake) and to meet up with another friend based there, Charley Radcliffe who had just returned from what looked like an incredible off piste ski trip to Bulgaria.
Steve taking it all in on the final ridge
Sitting in the sun – still in big boots, climbing gear and shades, sipping coffee at a cafe in the main street among the tourist is something you only really get to enjoy in Chamonix – truly the home of all thing mountain sports. We caught up, hearing stories of deep powder and cool fun, discussing a new coffee brewing team who had set up in Cham (it needs a good coffee place!) and peoples plans for the year before parting ways (me heading off to buy new gloves after losing one en route) agreeing to see Steve and Menna for dinner later that evening.
Be the end of the night we were all talking ten to the dozen, beer and curry going down well and plans well under way for the route in May. Steve inquisitive as always, taking a real interest in everyone and continuing to impress in me just how solid a guy he is, and positive climbing partner he will be.
An incredible day, with incredible people who get to live high in the mountains while we have to wrap up our transient days in the alps , jump back on a plane and head back to the 9 to 5 – but having friends in high places helps me feel constantly connected to the mountains and having such good friends in high places leaves me feeling very blessed indeed. The pendulum is in a good place.
And yes Steve, I am hitting the gym and working on my crevasse rescue skills dude 😉 Don’t worry!
Magnetic Mountains will preview later this year and I encourage everyone of you get on board, it will be a truly unique film in many ways. I personally can’t wait to see it!
For more information on Cosmiques Aréte and other classic alpine routes i recommend you check out Rockfax (you may even see a pic of Sam and I in it, not to mention Steve on the front cover on the Cosmiques)
And finally, just for a little fun, see if you can spot me on this last section of the climb, just before the exit Chimney, let me know in the comments box if you find wally 😉
Here at Mclovinmountains.com we love to share news and information about other awesome people creating content, running small business or just doing cool things that celebrate our love of the outdoor world – so today we wanted to highlight our good buddies over on Facebook , Scottish Outdoors.
We will have more from the Editor Lorn Stevenson soon but head over and take a look at the beautiful photos and posts from around our amazing wee country .
recognise the corner I’ve turned, from being an amplifier for the negativity through Facebook posts, shares, tweets and commentary to being a mirror on what’s good around us instead.
With the news and media across all platforms again consumed by the terrible pictures of pain and fear in Europe, the US and across the Middle East & Africa I wanted to post something more to recognise the corner I’ve turned, from being an amplifier for the negativity through Facebook posts, shares, tweets and commentary to being a mirror on what’s good around us instead.
It’s not always easy to remember there are 7 billion people (7,000,000,000) on Earth – even when there are “many” bad ones they are astronomically outweighed by the good – turn the camera 180 degrees from the shooter and see people helping one another and protecting loved ones in larger numbers – we just don’t have a media that likes good new stories !
My thoughts to all in pain and fear (in Nice but also the other places less well represented) but don’t allow yourself to be cowed into fear and depression – never lose the bigger world picture.
Think about all those amazing people in your family and circle of friends, even the ones you’ve lost touch with or only see once a year, the ones you climb mountains with, go kayaking with, adventuring with, sitting by the fire with, smile at on a train, chat with at work, meet in a bar.
That’s the real world.
Count all those people – the ones you see as a positive or happy part of your life, even a neutral one. Count them, go on do it now.
Got it?
Now add up all the individuals who have directly impacted your life in a really , tangibly negative way.
Individually they may seem bigger scarier or more permanent a stain on your consciousness but they are a tiny fraction of the precious, positive loved one’s around us.
Visualise both groups as standing in a field – which is bigger?
