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Following my mild route misadventure on A' Chailleach I returned to the same area to climb a near neighbour, Carn Dearg. I thought I'd once again been seduced by an errant atv track but in retrospect it looks like I was on the WH route.
On the way down I followed an intermittent and narrow path that follows the Allt Ballach. Might be differnt in wet weather but in the dry it was a good alternative to contouring back to the atv track.
Set off at 5.30am in a relatively cool 13 degrees Celsius with a thankfully cloudy sky.
An unusually extreme concession to the prevailing wind?
After a pleasant stroll across the grass I was onto the ascent track. Zoom ahead of Carn Dearg.
The bridge is easy to spot and it felt like an easy walk to this point. I debated about whether to take on more water but then found that my water filter was missing from my new rucksack. If I was stuck I'd just use running water without filtering but I decided I had enough with me, having drank an extra half litre before setting off, and carried on.
It has been relatively cool up to this point but the jumper is soon ditched.
There are nice patterns in the breaking/burning cloud but I am willing it to stick together, to be honest.
This was taken from near the point where I thought I had to correct course but, in fact, I had just reached the petering out point of the WH route atv track. Easy enough ground to descend in any case.
I ascend the "grassy ramp" and notice traces of path which make me think I definitely went wrong somewhere.
Good view down Gleann Ballach.
Zoom of the previous week's hill, A' Chailleach.
Hazy view west.
Giant people bog or should that be giant bog people?
Summit.
It is a very pleasant summit ridge both underfoot and in the breeze.
View of south east top.
It is a very pleasant stroll along the summit ridge with a decent breeze to go with the warming temperature. I was interested too to see the view south west over Loch Dubh and its surrounding corrie, albeit the foreground was a bit obscured by the convex slope.
Looking back at the summit from near the south east top.
Carn Macoul at the southern end of the ridge. I had originally pondered a loop walk starting from that end but I couldn't be bothered with the necessary attendant bog crossing.
Back near the summit, contemplating the descent.
I decide to try to follow the sketchy path. I ask someone ascending if the path is visible further down but they've only just found it themselves.
It turns out to be a decent path though I dare say it gets boggy in the wet. Nevertheless, a good alternative today to the atv track.
The last couple of kilometres is quite warm with the breeze dropping.
But not everyone is taking it easy in the sun.
Interesting looking 834m high hill to the west doesn't seem to have a name, at least on Bing maps OS view.
On the final stretch and baking under the sun. It is 27 degrees Celsius back at the car and then 30 at Dufftown on the way home.
