The Snows of Spring..... March and April in the Highlands 2012
After a comfy night at the often-useful GrandTully (bunkhouse with pub attached) the mid-March weather looked decent enough for a trip up the great Craig Megaidth - a long-held objective for Paul who wanted good views from this major mountain.
With Frank and Matt Diggle, Paul and I set off via Coire Ardair to see the huge cliffs.
The ascent ramp to the big notch called The Window was still hard old snow, and crampons were useful despite the easy angle.
Although some freezing mist robbed us of summit views, a grand day followed.
Back across the Window gap, we romped along the ridge over the two more Munros of Stob Poite Coire Ardair and Carn Liath.
It would have been rude afterwards, not to have called to sleep at General Wade's Meall Garbh bothy, close nearby. Here we found two dogs, a large quantity of alcohol, the most enormous fire, and three greatly-guttural WeeGees. Frank was able to demonstrate his skill next morning, at throwing a ball one way and tricking the dog to run the opposite way.
Munros above Newtonmore followed. Paul and myself made a fine circuit of Carn Dhearg whilst Frank and Matt pursued nearby interests.
The same team re-assembled 4 weeks later in mid-April, objective Ullapool.
From Inverlael, we clambered up Eidiht Clach nan Geala and over Maol nan Caprician.
At this point Frank and I were thinking of how to cook venison steaks in Ullapool Youth Hostel, so we left to get the kettle on, whilst Matt & Paul continued over Cona Meall and Bein Dhearg to make a classic long day.
Sunday dawned bright but was soon hit by strings of mist and showers. The Munro team drove off to tick Ben Wyvis. Feeling only cool about a third or fourth ascent, the Over-Sixties Sunday Morning Club went up Beinn Enaiglair. Only just below Munro height at 889 metres, this interesting and steep Corbett stands at the corner of the Ullapool hills and the route back east. It commands superb views into Torridon, the Fannaichs, and all 360 degrees round.
