Hart Fell.Scottish Borders.

As I type this with winter gales and rain yet again lashing the side of the house Sunday the 18th of December 2011 seems a long time ago.Before my surprise Christmas present of a speeding van smashing into my legs and ribcage (thank you kind pedestrian hitter. Its the gift that keeps on giving with free drugs and hospital visits thrown in as extras)  and before all the snow melted and turned everything grey and sodden again Scott had the  idea of doing something interesting and adventurous now that the white mantle had arrived. Alex then had the perfect idea up his sleeve which would combine a Corbett and a Donald with a sporting day out.
At 808 metres( 2651 feet) Hart Fell is the highest point in a rugged area of hills with deep gullies and cliffs  not usually associated with the  rolling Scottish borders.Its more like a forgotten and special part of the Cairngorms.Moffat is the nearest town which we passed on a fine winters morning, sun sparkling on the heights around.It was a few degrees below zero but with little wind present, even high up, it was fun in the sun.

This was the first idea.A grade one gully only a little way up the scenic valley of Black Hope. There was not a lot of snow in it thankfully so it was given a miss.I for one was glad as it looked bloody hard work, steep ,knackering and in the shade coming only fifteen minutes from the car.Next up,,further up this valley, was a grade one ridge which looked  more promising, bright sunshine ,steep and plastered with snow between Upper Coomb Craig and Nether Coomb Craig.Now this was more like it.

The first section was surprisingly steep taken direct but with plenty of good holds.Alex led the way  climbing up with just boots and ski pole while Scott and I stopped to put on crampons.Sometimes when you have a choice of  using Ice axe or ski pole on a route they seem to get in the way of each other so I had as much of a tussle with them as with the climb,finishing that section with the ski pole relegated to a supporting role clamped between my teeth like a pirates sword as I pulled over steep boulders.

 Alex was storming ahead,keen to get bagging.This is the middle section of the ridge.Although fairly short it had good variety to it and was a cracking way up Hart Fell.

On the Arete section looking over towards Redgill Craig and Rotten Bottom.Quite airy in places.

A rare picture of me in action.Thanks to Scott for the photograph and for making me look good in it. Yes..New jacket folks! 

Scott and Alex nearing the top of the ridge.We all enjoyed this way up.It was just hard enough to be interesting without any real difficulty involved. Another reason  for climbing the ridge,if we needed one ,was the evidence of several small slab avalanches in the vicinity.Sometimes easy ground isn,t the best way up.

Above the ridge It came as a bit of a shock to realise we still had a good distance to ascend before we reached the summit.You tend to think of these hills as smaller somehow but this one was hard going in ankle deep snow.Luckily two folk had  been up early and left footsteps for us to follow. We spotted them in the distance eventually  several ups and downs later.Two dark specks in a white and blue world.

Snow makes all the difference to this landscape giving it a real epic scale. Some fantastic views from the summit.Alex then made a detour for his Donald.

We descended down hard snow slopes which we had to dig into with the edges of our boots to get any purchase.It was the way mountain winters used to be.Scott said later it was one of the best hill days he,d had all year.High praise indeed from someone still in the prime of his mountaineering life.
If all Corbetts were as good as this one I,d be a convert.Nuff said.
Thanks to Alex for his insider knowledge and spotting a great way up a hill.

Even met this fell runner out with his dogs.A fantastic day out.