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Mount Keen
Sunday 19 March 06
Another Stocket walk, another uninspiring weather forecast. Some things
never change! Once again the bus headed off down to Glen Esk and the
combination of too many twisty bends on the road, too much porridge and a
rather strong smell of burning oil inside the bus meant that we were all
glad to get off at our starting point at Auchronie. The weather looked far
better than that predicted, apart from the wind that was picking up and
heading straight down the path we were about to take. In hindsight, it may
have been better to do the walk the opposite way around but we were
committed and so set off and I tried (and failed) to remember the last
time I had started a Stocket walk on snow.
The first section of the walk was fairly flat but the snow underfoot was
slowing us up more than expected. We had a quick stop at the Queen’s Wells
(where a small monument, to commemorate, appropriately
 enough,
a visit by the Queen to the well, had been erected) before a most welcome
stop at the bothy at Glenmark to fuel up for the climb ahead. Mindful of
the last walk, where lunch was impossible until after 2 o’clock, and of
the ominously strengthening wind, most of us took the opportunity to have
an extra sandwich just in case.
The climb up to the summit of Mount Keen was a steady plod made harder by
the snow on the ground and the wind that was hitting us pretty much head
on, however visibility was generally good with some outstanding views,
particularly back towards the south. The summit itself was shrouded in
mist but we stopped to admire (and in some cases
 vandalize!)
the interesting shapes the wind had created on the snow on the rocks and
to let the tail enders catch up. It was bitterly cold so we didn’t linger
there long and headed down the path where the cloud soon cleared to give
spectacular views all around. For some reason, there was far less snow on
the northern side of the hill except, inevitably, on the path itself. It
was a relief to be going downhill after the long climb up and the wind had
abated somewhat but progress was slowed by the old problem of the snow
holding your weight for four or five steps before collapsing on the next
one! Much cursing was heard on the way down but thankfully no serious
injuries were reported as we steadily made our way down out of the snow
and on to the end of the walk at Ballater.
As we sat in the Prince of Wales enjoying our well-earned (and much
needed) refreshments, it was noticed that there were some very pink faces
in the pub. It seems that the combination of winter white faces, a wee bit
sun and blanket snow coverage had left us all with sunburn! The forecast
had warned of “extensive low cloud” with “rain likely”, particularly in
the east, but there had been no warning of the one weather hazard that did
actually affect us. Proof that the forecast isn’t always right and the
one thing you can expect on the Scottish hills is the unexpected. It made
for an enjoyable (if demanding) day out and five days later my legs have
recovered - but my nose is still peeling!
Derek Johnstone
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26/01/2008
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