MULLACH CLACH A BHAIR

 

Snow only in sheltered hollows

Pamela was out with me on another guided Munro day here in the Cairngorms. The stagnant weather system is still with us. A cloudy day with less winds than on Saturday. The summit temperatures had dipped to just below freezing. Pamela hadn't been on Mullach Clach a Bhair above Glenfeshie so this was our Munro objective today. 

Beautiful Glenfeshie 

We set off at dawn from the beautiful Glenfeshie. This area is one of the biggest and most ambitious rewinding projects in Europe. If only the whole of Scotland had the same vision. But it is a start. A very welcome, forward thinking and enlightend estate.

The walk up to the plateau 

It's a beautiful path up to the high plateau from Achlean making quick progress to the tops. It was breezy but bearable. 

Lingering snow on NW aspects 

Cloud above 900m

Once we gained the plateau we were in cloud for the entire time on the long stretch to the summit of Mullach Clach a Bhair. 

Roads of ice

Easy walking on high altitude tracks

Stretches of hard snow 

The huge Moine Mor area is a unique place between Sgor Gaoithe and Mullach Clach a Bhair. In Spring and summer it is home to some wonderful wildlife. A great place for our ground nesting migratory birds. Today we saw a single snow Bunting near the summit and a solitary sheep! I think the sheep was lost? A strange place to see a wooly maggot, at over 1000m.

Snow bridges

Occasional patches of snow above 1000m

If it wasn't for the huge man made vehicle tracks that stretch for many kilometres, it would be a good navigation exercise to Mullach Clach a Bhair's unremarkable summit 'bump'. Then again, if it was 'normal' January snow cover then you would indeed be using your map and compass for much of the route on the high plateau.

A great couple of days with a regular client, maybe next time it will be proper winter conditions for Pamela.