Into the Cairngorms...

[rvrscum]

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After a great week of kayaking with my new friends at Ace Adventures-UK, it was time to head towards Skye and link up with my American buddies. I had planned on two days of solo hill-walking. The first day would be in the Cairngorms, and then the next day in Ft. William, where I would rendevous with my mates after a walk. Drving up from Aviemore, the River Spey valley was cloaked in fog:



I stepped out at 7:45 promptly from the ski centre car park and set out. By 9AM I was on the summit and rewarded with great views for this, my first ever Munro:



A view many have seen before:



From Cairn Gorm it was down towards Coire Raibert, with the next objective, Beinn Mheadhoin in the background:



A peak at Loch Avon:



I really liked the reflections down here:





At times I thought I was back in Utah, USA:



On the SW shoulder of Beinn Mheadhoin, looking back at Loch Etchachan:



The sky and colors were in constant change:



A look S over to Derry Cairngorm, the next objective:



The Barns come into sight:



Close up of one of the Barns of Beinn Mheadhoin:



A wee, wee lochan on the highest Barn and summit of Beinn Mheadhoin, looking towards Ben Macdui:



Cairn Gorm gets a quick shower:



Looking up the approach to Derry Cairngorm:



Pano from Derry looking N:



Derry Ciarngorm was a quick, but punishing ascent. Luckily I brought plenty of food, water, and Vitamin I (ibuprofren):



I see this all the time along rivers, but didn't expect to see pot-holing occur way up in the Scottish Highlands. Geology is a cool thing:



The summit of Ben Macdui. The weather had cooled quite a bit, and I didn't linger here long:



A reindeer herd along the trail with distant Beinn Mheadhoin in the background:



By the time I got to the Northern Corries, the weather had turned warm and sunny again:



S views from Pt. 1141:



Looking up at Cairn Gorm one last time from Pt. 1141:



This was the view I enjoyed on the way back to the ski center and car:

[Ray Mackay]

Now that was a long walk...what an amazing mirror like reflection from Loch A'an, just beautiful

great photo's, makes me think of home....

[soulminer]

Thinking of something similar, but with a wild camp, in September- dogs in tow!
Nice report,cheers for posting

[rvrscum]

Thanks all. I had a pretty ambitious agenda, and the combination of an early start and good weather made me just go for it. I haven't moved that hard and fast since I was in the military.

[ndhudson]

Fantastic report, RV! That's quite a push for one day...great job!

[monty]

Great report rvrscum. Some excellent pictures. Thats the most scenic area in the Cairngorms, the rest is just Plateau with rolling hills. You had an excellent day, I take it there was no wind to get such still water on the Loch ? (I added Bynackmor to this round when I done it )

[pollyh33]

Amazing photos again! Brilliant report, Loved it!

[rvrscum]

Great report rvrscum. Some excellent pictures. Thats the most scenic area in the Cairngorms, the rest is just Plateau with rolling hills. You had an excellent day, I take it there was no wind to get such still water on the Loch ? (I added Bynackmor to this round when I done it )

Mostly light breezes, enough to keep cool but not to chill. On the leg from Derry to Ben Macdui, the weather shifted to a cold drizzle and increased wind. It gradually tapered off as I left the summit of Benmacdui, and by the time I was at the Northern Corries, it was sunny and warm again. The following day on Ben Nevis & CMD however, I was to experience proper, full-on clag conditions.

[HighlandSC]

Good stuff rvrscum, that's one big walk you managed there, and well worth it to take in some of the finest parts of the Cairngorms. You're fairly getting around on this trip to Scotland

Over in the states at the moment myself, no big adventure plans but we did go to Skyline Drive and took a short wander to one of the summits up there.

[rvrscum]

Good stuff rvrscum, that's one big walk you managed there, and well worth it to take in some of the finest parts of the Cairngorms. You're fairly getting around on this trip to Scotland

Over in the states at the moment myself, no big adventure plans but we did go to Skyline Drive and took a short wander to one of the summits up there.

Thanks HSC. I'm sure you're enjoying the visit with the wifey. I've actually never been to Shenandoah Nat'l Park and I've lived in Virginia my whole life. It looks a lot like where I live though! I had two years to plan this recent Scotland trip, and it exceeded my expectations yet again.