February 2022 Activity: XC Skiing, snow and ice action

General activity for FVMC members in February was suppressed by storms and wet weather…even our monthly Day walk had to be cancelled twice! However, late in the month there was XC Skiing to be had and some snow and ice action too, so at least we can say we did something!

On 25/02/22 BR & MM headed to the car park at the top of Glen Ogle, NN 55870 28393, and donned the XC Skis for a trip north east along Rob Roy Way to the dam at Lochan Breaclaich NN 61935 31960. Starting at 10:35 the snow in the track was surprisingly deep, not too soft and at just above 1 degC we expected it to remain good for the day despite a predicted temperature rise.

At one of the track junctions, NN 58699 30524, looking north down a track to Killin where it would almost certainly been filled with snow right down to the village.

We reached the dam. Although the snow cover looks marginal it would have still been navigable off the tracks. On the return we skied along the dam’s parapet and re-joined the outbound route.

What it looked like last year on 18/04/21.

We arrived back at the car at 16:15hr. The snow managed to sustain itself despite the thaw and we were both very pleased to have captured the conditions that day; overall distance 17.9km and 611m of ascent.

An example of the XC Poles and Skis that BR & MM were using that day are shown here on the left, compared with the short and wide ‘all mountain’ Ski Mountaineering Ski and Pole on the right...such equipment would be used on a different type of tour. Horses for courses.

Similarly with the boots; XC on the left and Ski Mountaineering on the right.

The following day on 26/02/22 some ‘unfinished business’ was attended to when DY & pals headed up to Beinn an Dothaidh to climb Stairway to Heaven, grade III, which had been retreated from in December 2021.

When they arrived in the Coire, the weather was bright and calm, but they weren't alone for long. There were two guys ahead of them and a further 18 or so appearing behind, including two guided groups who went on to form a queue up Taxus. With the three of them on a rope everything took more time and the climb was completed a little later than planned.

Somewhat later, at the top of the climb, it was blowing a hoolie with a blizzard thrown in. DY’s two pals can be seen displaying some grit! Finding the way off required careful navigation, successfully achieved.