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Fogbows on Macdui - Times like these!

Fogbows on Macdui - Times like these!


Postby Sunset tripper » Wed Oct 28, 2020 10:13 am

Route description: Ben Macdui and Cairngorm

Munros included on this walk: Ben Macdui, Cairn Gorm

Date walked: 17/10/2020

Time taken: 5.5 hours

Distance: 17.5 km

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Only 4 hours after going out my front door this was the scene laid out in front of me.
Ben Macdui - 17th of October 2020
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There was a bit of luck involved here. The night before I came across some info that the highest hills in Scotland might be above the clouds in bright sunshine. I previously had no intention of going out at all! Unfortunately I wouldn't be able to leave Inverness until after 9 which ruled out Ben Nevis which was fine as I have been up there twice this year already. :roll: Cairngorm the 6th highest mountain in Britain became the original plan. Here is the eventual route that I took.


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Roughly forty five minutes gets me to the ski car park, not the prettiest mountain scenery in the world but a starting point which lets the car climb the first 600m. :D
Another 1 hour and 15 mins and I'm on the summit of Cairngorm. It's a fine path all the way up with a few ptarmigan to add some interest. It was a cracking day and I hung about for a while but Cairngorm never got properly above the clouds. It was time to head for Macdui.
I've been up here a few times and as soon as you leave Cairngorm things improve big time as all the ski junk is left behind.
I have seen fogbows on only very few occasions before but today, just about all the way from Cairngorm to Macdui they were truly spectacular.

Looking into the northern corries lightshow - Fogbows and Brocken spectres
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It was mesmerising and I was tempted to stay here until it all ended and then head home via the goat track. Instead I opted to go for Macdui and come back this way later - good choice. :D

I exchanged waves and greetings with a famous mountain man on my way across the plateau and then on the gradual climb up to Ben Macdui I fully cleared the clouds but the fogbow was still following me and the clearest ever.
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It didn't leave all the way to the top
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By this point I knew there was an Inversion waiting for me from the summit spreading south, east and west. It didn't disappoint, the only hills visible were the nearby 4000ers, Ben Nevis and possibly Aonach Beag briefly.

Above the clouds :D
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For the 2nd time today I dragged myself away, then reversed my route to the top of the corrie, descended the goat track in the rain smiling all the way back to the car park. :D
Coire an t-Sneachda and the goat track
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It's not been easy the last while but - it's times like these you learn to live again...............

:D :D :D
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Re: Fogbows on Macdui - Times like these!

Postby Low Level Walker » Wed Oct 28, 2020 1:56 pm

Wow, just wow :clap: :clap:

What absolutely stunning pictures.

And anyone who can quote Foo Fighters is all good in my book :D
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Re: Fogbows on Macdui - Times like these!

Postby BlackPanther » Wed Oct 28, 2020 3:35 pm

Beautiful, love the early snow pictures :D So different from our last visit to Macdui in August. Winter is coming, yea-haaa!

Did you see any signs of the Big Gray Man? :wink:
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Re: Fogbows on Macdui - Times like these!

Postby rockhopper » Wed Oct 28, 2020 7:00 pm

:mrgreen: :mrgreen: Well, I've seen a few fog bows in my time on the hills but none as good as yours - superb - cheers :)
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Re: Fogbows on Macdui - Times like these!

Postby Jaxter » Wed Oct 28, 2020 7:28 pm

Ooooft fantastic :clap: :clap: Sometimes you just get a day where it all comes together 8)
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Re: Fogbows on Macdui - Times like these!

Postby litljortindan » Wed Oct 28, 2020 9:39 pm

Amazing! A special day.
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Re: Fogbows on Macdui - Times like these!

Postby Sunset tripper » Fri Oct 30, 2020 8:03 pm

Low Level Walker wrote:Wow, just wow :clap: :clap:

What absolutely stunning pictures.

And anyone who can quote Foo Fighters is all good in my book :D


Ha ha, cheers - the lyrics just seemed to fit. :D
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Re: Fogbows on Macdui - Times like these!

Postby Sunset tripper » Fri Oct 30, 2020 8:08 pm

BlackPanther wrote:Beautiful, love the early snow pictures :D So different from our last visit to Macdui in August. Winter is coming, yea-haaa!

Did you see any signs of the Big Gray Man? :wink:


cheers BP - regarding the Big Gray Man - I'm not sure, does he look anything like this? :shock:
20201030_185732.jpg
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Re: Fogbows on Macdui - Times like these!

Postby Sunset tripper » Fri Oct 30, 2020 8:12 pm

rockhopper wrote: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: Well, I've seen a few fog bows in my time on the hills but none as good as yours - superb - cheers :)

Cheers, I've only seen fogbows on the hills 2 or 3 times before but never with such clarity. 8)
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Re: Fogbows on Macdui - Times like these!

Postby Sunset tripper » Fri Oct 30, 2020 8:16 pm

Jaxter wrote:Ooooft fantastic :clap: :clap: Sometimes you just get a day where it all comes together 8)

Cheers Jaxter, indeed & may there be many more - "Times like these". 8)
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Re: Fogbows on Macdui - Times like these!

Postby Sunset tripper » Fri Oct 30, 2020 8:19 pm

*
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Re: Fogbows on Macdui - Times like these!

Postby Sunset tripper » Fri Oct 30, 2020 8:21 pm

litljortindan wrote:Amazing! A special day.


Thanks for your comments Lj. :D
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Re: Fogbows on Macdui - Times like these!

Postby Huff_n_Puff » Sun Nov 01, 2020 7:48 pm

Beautiful photos - I've only once seen a fog bow and didn't have a camera with me - but it was nothing in comparison with your sights from a height :clap: :clap: :clap:
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Re: Fogbows on Macdui - Times like these!

Postby Knuttus » Sun Nov 01, 2020 7:58 pm

Wow so amazing in the snow well done :clap:
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Re: Fogbows on Macdui - Times like these!

Postby Sunset tripper » Tue Nov 03, 2020 1:41 am

Huff_n_Puff wrote:Beautiful photos - I've only once seen a fog bow and didn't have a camera with me - but it was nothing in comparison with your sights from a height :clap: :clap: :clap:


Thanks H & P. Fogbows are fairly rare as far as I know but Macdui is a popular place for Brocken Spectres and many think the origins of the big grey man legend. :D
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