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Beinn a' Ghlo aglow

Beinn a' Ghlo aglow


Postby litljortindan » Sat Jun 08, 2024 8:38 pm

Route description: Beinn a' Ghlò

Munros included on this walk: Bràigh Coire Chruinn-bhalgain, Càrn Liath (Beinn a' Ghlò), Càrn nan Gabhar

Date walked: 01/06/2024

Time taken: 8.5 hours

Distance: 22 km

Ascent: 1239m

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In an ideal world I would have got to Carn Liath summit for sunrise (or sunset) and been able to legitimately title my report Beinn a' Ghlo aglow. However, it is not an ideal world so I've had to make do with an early start and not really having an obvious link between the report title and actual experience. That said, there was some nice sunrise colour in the sky on the way there and after the Blair Atholl turn off the early morning cloud over Beinn a' Ghlo was kind of aglow with early morning light so the title stays.
Not much to say about the walk itself other than it was a surprise to meet someone ascending Carn Liath from the north just as I started descending but it turned out they had cycled in and, I think followed the path up before Beinn Bheag. It was also a surprise how easily I made it across the three Munro summits, even with energy to spare for a quick detour to catch a glimpse of the imaginatively named Loch Loch and Glen Loch. This I put down mainly to the decent paths and the steady breeze that kept me cool for the first half of the walk. However, once I started descending it was a different matter as the wind disappeared and I wilted a bit in the warming stillness.

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A fine dawn sky on the way there.

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The early morning cloud over Carn Liath not quite aglow but still eye catching.

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First clear view of the path up.

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Nice lighting of a jumble of hills to the west.

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So far it has been quite cool, if not cold. But that is forecast to change.

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Nicely done.

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That will be Ben Vrackie I suppose.

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Like me, in no hurry.

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A hilly skyline to the west.

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Ben Lawers I guess.

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A little bit of mist rising up the hillside.

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At the trig point and feeling ok bit the plan is to take it a bit at a time and abandon the walk after the first or second Munro if I have to.

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The ridge ahead.

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With a pretty good path to follow most of the way along. Not so good for part of the descent but still easy enough.

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Looking back at Carn Liath from beyond the first bealach.

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And I'm soon descending from Braigh Coire Chruinn bhalgain.

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Looking back.

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Descent to the second bealach a little steeper than it appears in this photo. The way ahead to the third Munro quite clear to see.

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Still feeling fine at the bealach so I continue.

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Not far to go but I do envy the hill runner who jogs past.

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A bit stony higher up but most of this can be avoided apart from on parts of the summit area.

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View from first cairn. It is stony but not too treacherous.

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At the trig point.

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At the summit.

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View including Loch Loch, Glen Loch and Creag Loch.

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View south east.

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The long, warm, still and sometimes boggy descent.

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Keeping cool.

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Overall a good walk but probably at the limit of what I could manage on a warm day. Just as well there was a breeze on the ridges and summits to keep me cool.
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litljortindan
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