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A damn fine day in the Cairngorms

A damn fine day in the Cairngorms


Postby allyanddave » Fri Aug 26, 2022 10:05 pm

Route description: Cairn Toul - Braeriach traverse

Munros included on this walk: Braeriach, Cairn Toul, Sgòr an Lochain Uaine, The Devil's Point

Date walked: 25/08/2022

Time taken: 9 hours

Distance: 37.6 km

Ascent: 2160m

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I left the car at Sugar Bowl at 8am and headed off with an open mind about a clockwise or anticlockwise route choice. By the time I'd fought my way past the boulders of the Chalamain Gap, the early morning cloud had gone so I opted to make the most of the conditions and start the day with the ascent of Braeriach and the traverse, leaving a long but flatter return along the Lairig Ghru. I think this turned out to be a good choice.

The cloud rolled in and out from time to time as I climbed Braeriach, which made the views even more special when they appeared. A first sight of Lochan Uaine:
PXL_20220825_094008272~2.jpg

As I followed the edge of the plateau, I looked back to see the Falls of Dee and was pleased to see the last remnants of snow in Garbh Choire Mòr:
PXL_20220825_104902947.MP~2.jpg

More intermittent cloud on Sgòr an Lochain Uaine's airy summit:
PXL_20220825_105822283~2.jpg

I picked my way carefully over the boulder fields to the summit of Cairn Toul and as I was descending equally gingerly, a young chap strode past as if he was walking on carpet, seemingly untroubled by the perilous terrain. I've never had a good sense of balance, so I ambled on with care, before eventually catching up on Devil's Point where he posed unwittingly to add a sense of scale to the picture!
PXL_20220825_123012195~2.jpg

Back to the bealach and then the zig zag descent with Corrour Bothy looking like a toy house down below:
PXL_20220825_130040018~2.jpg

A simple task to navigate back along the Lairig Ghru. Less easy to avoid the midges or make any sort of speed over the often rocky ground.
PXL_20220825_140418092.MP~2.jpg

It was a grand day out, and one that even a return trip through the Chalamain Gap couldn't detract from.
allyanddave
Mountain Walker
 
Posts: 5
Munros:96   Corbetts:8
Fionas:5   Donalds:1
Sub 2000:13   
Joined: Mar 12, 2021

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