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Studied the options for tackling the 3 Munros taking note that it can be considered a 'strenuous' hike taking in all three. Forecast was pretty good with a light NE wind so decided to avoid the conventional climb up the Carn Laith staircase in favour of taking the long counter-clockwise route to Carn nan Gabhar instead while benefiting from the cooling breeze. But mostly due to my dislike of long slog home at the end of a climb.
My thoughts were to maintain height until later in the evening so that I could descend with a lower sun creating longer shadows across the hills and corries so set off a fair bit later in the day too arriving at the Loch Moraig car park just after mid-day. It seems to be a long drive cross country from any par of the country to reach these Perthshire hills and Archie the westie was quite fed up by the time we arrived. The car park was full but plenty room off the verge of the road to lay up.
- Carn Liath
- spot the lamb
- eastern route
set off with some pace to avoid the midge which were beginning to arrive even though Archie thought he deserved some sniff time after his long drive. Quickly come across come runners that had already completed the route and then a few groups of hikers that were wearily walking past the east side of Carn Laith and had some initial doubts that maybe my tactics weren't the best, this doubt was raised again when a hiker at the bottom of Beinn Bheag quizzed me on my choice of route and said the would be interested to see my report back (I assume she meant on here!!)
had a bite to eat and some carbs before starting the real ascent between Braigh Coire Chruinn Bhalgain and Aigoid Bheinn, taking in the elevation I still had to make was a bit daunting especially having drained some energy walking through the permanent bog in the sides of All Bealach an Fhionda (this was after a particularly dry spell so must be bad after a period of raining)
the push to the top of the glen seemed harder than the contours showed and still had the push up to my first Munro - Carn nan Gabhar - to go. A group coming down pointed out that the true summit was the 3rd cairn which is not usually something you want to hear and I had no pleasure in sharing the same message to 2 groups that were celebrating reaching the first cairn!
- view south to Braigh Coire Chruinn Bhalgain and Carn Liath from Carn nan Gabhar
At this point the views were great and had full view of the remaining 2 Munros albeit still quite daunting as normally I am home or near the car park by now. The push west up Braigh Coire Chruinn bhalgain looked harder than reality and probably got to the summit in less than an hour.
- view west from Braigh Coire Chruinn Bhalgain
- great view to the south of Carn Liath from Braigh Coire Chruinn Bhalgain
didn't hang about too Long before making my way towards the impressive Behind Mhaol ridge, was a bit concerned at the amount of elevation I was losing and it was at this point that it did cross my mind to bail out and take the track back down the north of Beinn Bheag to the easier option back to the car park. I'm glad that I persevered and pushed up the ridge to Carn Liath. The summit was the only time where the cloud dropped a bit and covered the cairn but soon disappeared to leave a fantastic view south and east where the sun was lowering int the horizon. note - need to take into account that this route offers limited opportunity for collecting water once up at height for last 3-4 hrs.
- view south before descent
Finally, the point my knees dread as I started making my way down the steep front of Carn Liath but was delighted to follow the very well made 'steps' that lead almost all the way down, this was a saviour as I hate descending steeply on loose ground and rocks.
all in all was the choice of time and route the correct one.........absolutely!!