Training Log Archive: duncanarcher

Day 3. Great to be starting high, and an excellent walk over Geal Charn (munro), Aonach Beag (munro), Beinn Eibhinn (munro). A copule of nice snowy ridges up to the peaks, and some fun nav in whiteout conditions, just a bit of wind but mostly tailwind. Then we dropped to Corrour Shooting Lodge and a tedious walk back to the car, 15km and 3hrs along tracks (25km total for the day). All in all a good 3 days away, and although we didn't have views on half the tops I think we got pretty lucky with the weather and conditions.

Day 2. Earlyish start then up Sron Coire na h-lolaire, Beinn Bheoil (munro), Ben Alder (munro), Meall an t-Slugain, Sgor Iutharn, Diollaid a’Chairn, Carn Dearg (munro). A fine frosty start, then in the clouds from the first col onwards, just dropping back out once or twice, but most of the time <100m visibility. Weather mostly ok, not too much wind, except on Carn Dearg at the end. We eventually dropped to Loch Coire Cheap to camp at about 800m. It was getting dark by then (20km, relative slow going in the snow, mist and hills, and a long day!). Found what looked like a decent spot by the outflow from the loch, in what would probably be a bog in summer, but snow on frozen ground in the winter, and nestled the tent next to a big peat hag for some shelter. Overnight the snow drifted up around the tent to provide some insulation and stop it flapping in the wind, and a relatively comfortable night (as good as it gets at 800m in winter...).

Day 1 of 3 days winter walking with Shane in Scotland, partly so Shane could get some "quality mountain days" in his logbook for his winter mountain leader assessment. Drove up Thursday night and slept in Shane's van in Pitlochry. Then drove to park on the roadside a mile short of Rannoch station (track/road junction at N end of Loch Eigheagh). Walked over Sron Leachd a’Chaorainn, Carn Dearg (munro), Sgor Gaibhre (munro), Sgor Choinnich, Meall a’Bhealaich, Beinn a’Chumhainn, Ben Alder Cottage (bothy). About 22km. Clear skies and fine views all day, till it got dark on the final track (at which point I discovered my big headtorch had been on in my bag all day, so was just down to a tiny Petzl....). Perhaps unsurprisingly at this time of year we had the bothy to ourselves (apart from the ghost - it is haunted - which I'm sure I heard come in at about midnight). Managed to get a feeble fire going, still chilly in there, but got a decent night's sleep.

Sunderland Bridge and Croxdale Woods loop. River Wear was very high and the path was flooded in Low Burnhall so had slight detour. A brisk 3 minute effort up the hill in Croxdale Woods.