Slip,Sliding…away

Up early today, to try and climb up (and down) before forecasted bad weather later in the day..

I was climbing the big beast of Liatach http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/torridon/Liathach.shtml  from the west end, and so filled up on a big Breakfast and set off as it was only just becoming daylight

I was soon down the bottom of the Glen, found the start point, and set off straight upwards towards the steep cliffs above, hoping that I would be able to work my way through the cliffs, to the top of Spidean a Choire Leath, 1020 mts http://www.munromagic.com/mountaininfo.cfm?mountain=75  Although steep and unremitting, I was able to follow the track upwards, and soon had in sight, the cleft that I would have to work my way through/around, so as to reach the ridge above… As I reached 500+ mts the lying snow became quite deep, and unconsolidated – it was soft,wet snow, blanketing the ground as I continued upwards, trying to pick out the safest route – the difficulty with wet snow, is that as it gets deeper, particularly on steep ground it could all slide beneath me – Avalanche… not what I wanted to experience today !

I continued up to 750 mts, and as I got higher the lying snow was deeper,softer…and dangerous, no matter which way I tried (and I tried several different routes) up through the gully above I couldn’t make any progress, not far… but far enough !

Eventually I decided enough was enough, I wasn’t (or couldn’t)  going to find a safe route up and onto the ridge above, and called it a day …took in the views, and started the slog back down to the valley below – itself a tricky business !

As I got off the snow patches, I sat down and had an early lunch, looking down on the Glen below, an easier day than I had expected… this did allow me to take in my surroundings a bit more than normal, including ‘Wally’ in the vale below.. and lots of waterfalls as the streams tipped and tumbled all the way down the steep hillside …

As I arrived back at ‘Wally’ I realised my real good fortune… the rain started just as I got there, and I drove home,dry,content…to a nice hot bath, and afternoon snooze listening to the wind gathering force as the day went into night, with gusts of 100 mph forecast !

So, I’ll say a ‘windy’ Goodnight

and Happy Birthday Nicola…all the way over in the USA !