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Monday 7 April 2014

Angus glen runs, Kirrie and Ben Lui

Spring 2014 has arrived and with it a book covering hill walks in the local Angus glens:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Walking-Angus-Glens-Cicerone-Guide/dp/1852846984/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1396902444&sr=8-1&keywords=angus+glens
I was quite excited about it as I love the Angus glens and any literature related to it is very welcome. There is no conflict of interest as none of my photos are in the guide nor do I know the author nor do I get any royalty for praising the book! Anyway, the guide is perfect for walks and hill runs in my backyard. My favourite so far is Cat Law which can be seen from the coast. Here I am on the ascent via Long Goat.

Here a bit higher up with he North sea coast in the far distance.












The following weekend Robbie and I went to Kirrie. It was 7 degrees Celsius according to the thermometer but Kirrie is surely the warmest place in Scotland. Here is Al 'tops off' working the 7a next to us.

















And here is the crag in glorious mid march sunshine.












Robbie and I needed some fitness after a poor winter so afterwards we ran up Cat Law from Glen Uig. Great views of snow capped hills.












A return over lush meadows...












... and past character trees...












... and some daffodils.












The following weekend Mike and Nic from Oxford came to do Ben Lui and some of the Knoydart Murnos from Inverie. I met them for Ben Lui. Here they are on the long approach...












... and here on the grassy slopes...












... and then on the not so grassy slopes. We had followed the snow slope in the clag in the hope that we would reach the Northern ridge but instead ended up below the crags to the right of Central gully.












Thus some good crampon skill training...












... and we managed to find an easier gully towards the easier snow slopes near the top...












... which are actually not that easy if you are the first time on crampons.












After  plenty of action we finally reached the summit.












Here is Nic reaching his first gully in winter conditions.












We worked on our bum glissading skills and saved the old knees...












... did the adjacent Munro and then a long traverse to the bealach between Ben Lui and Ben Oss followed by a long walkout.












My rat is not as hungry as the rat of other people but it has been fed once again.
HW



1 comment:

Sophie Grace said...
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