Four Keen to Climb Mt. Keen Print
Written by Peter Burgess   
Friday, 30 December 2011

The Summit

Route Map from Auchronie
Route Map
Visiting my brother and family in Arbroath gave good opportunity at our mutual suggestion, to climb the most eastern Munro.  Mount Keen is the last bastion, a final rise in a high plateau land finally diminishing in altitude as the land falls in altitude to narrow coastal plains north of Dundee.  As part of the Angus Glens, Mount Keen is a popular summit (3081') and with ease of access from the beautiful Glen Esk, four of us set forth in the light of early dawn.

Lochnagar
Distant Peaks!
 

Further Information

On the ascent Driving to the road head of Glen Esk at Auchronie, my brother Paul his friend Jimmy and my niece's boyfriend Nick, yomped up the valley of Glen Mark.  Tantalising us in these early stages, the upper corries of Glen Lee were lined with snow cornices, whilst our intended summit looked devoid of any of the white stuff.  Marching past the Queen's Well , visited by Queen Victoria in 1861, we reached the bothy in Glen Mark, before fording a tributary in spate after the thaw from the recent melting snows and climbed the western flank of the Ladder Burn.  From here the route climbed carefully up the southern slope of the mountain, no doubt intended for Land Rover access after the 'Glorious 12th'.  Jimmy informed me the Black Grouse had been reintroduced of late and from our frequent encounters the bird is doing well, despite their double bore encounters!

L-R: Peter, Jimmy, Paul and Nick
Summiteers
From about the 2500' mark we began to encounter snow.  Hardened by overnight frost, the final climb of the walk, was a pleasurable crunch on snow and firm ground, which  might otherwise have proved more difficult.  A fine granite tor signalled our arrival at the summit, and after glimpses of arctic vistas to the north we finally got our just desserts with the peaks of Lochnagar and the South-Eastern Caringorms still veiled in snow.  In fact, the whole vista had been shielded by the southern slopes of Glen Esk, and not until we climbed above them could we see the snows of the high hills.  Incredibly we had climbed during one of the few clear weather windows and all around us there was cloud whilst we had the good fortune of clear blue skies, some sun and of course the fine views.

Peter stand at the summit, Cairngorms behind.
Peter at the summit
The views were lovely as we grabbed some refreshment, two Royal Marines (my brother and Nick) fired up their Jet Boils whilst Jimmy and I were content with lesser fare.  I lingered for a few minutes in the fury of an icey wind before we descended, content to have the vagueries of the weather blow those urban cobwebs from me.  Despite having done a number of walks this year, London is still a long way from the mountain scene, and to be able to linger on a mountain is mana from heaven.  Jimmy set off a little before us, keen to jump start his descent before the  two military trained picked up the pace.  The well set path makes a beeline for the valley and very soon we had picked up the main path to the bothy and had passed it, pausing this time right next to the stone crowned Queen's Well.  In fading light we made it back to Auchronie, diving back in the Land Rover before a post expedition pint in the Panmure Arms Hotel in Edzell.  I love such days and certainly the drive back helps you reflect on the magic of being out there.  Thanks to the merry triumvir who joined me - it was a great day!

On the descent
Nick and Peter
Honest guv, it was deep!
Knee deep!
Jimmy takes 5!
Phew!
Peter (l) and Paul (r)
Two Brothers



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"If you dear readers should get a bit of grit in your boots as you are crossing Hay Stacks in the years to come, please treat it with respect. It might be me." A Wainwright 1907-1991