Travel and Coronavirus

[kevsbald]

I was blessed over the weekend. In fact, it would be fair to say that my Cairngorm experience could not have been more magical. I had not had the best of weeks off up in Torridon as my wife who was with me had fallen ill and I was not able to get on to the hills at all. I had come back to Glasgow frustrated and pent up and my wife realised as such. "You should do an overnight trek on Friday as I'm working." Hello there Jose!!! The forecast was good and I had the sole intention of both taking in some fantastic hills in the Cairngorms and hoping to perhaps find the reindeer, which were wild. I was rather excited about the latter actually. This was evident in my stallion-esque approach to the long walk in from Linn of Dee as I roared past Carn a Mhaim and on to new territory. One often reads the accounts of others and the SMC Munro book but there is something special about heading into the wild places to take in new experiences. I was also doing a high Kinley (c) camp near the summit of Devil's Point so the night was all MINE!! Can you tell I was excited? Like an elephant in musht, I blazed past some Corrour campers and trumpeted good evening before mounting the excellent path up to the bealach. I was reminded of my maths teacher from school, Mrs Harden, first name Tina. I was at my campsite for 1930. I placed my beer in a small stream, erected my tent (the prose is rather indicative of my excitement on straddling Bod an Deamhain) and arrived at the summit. The views across the open landscape below and into Glen Geusachan were extraordinary and I was stunned. I savoured the moment. I headed back to camp and tucked into my M&S dinner of pasta and chorizo with chicken - this wasn't just a Munro experience, this was S&M - but where was the pain??? I scoffed down dinner just as the insectidae detected my skin and began the process of ramming their probosci into my veins. I didn't dwell as it was 2015 and so I thought I would do a recce and see where Cairn Toul lay. I ascended one of several paths and looked back to see my tent and Devil's Point below. Then, I could see 2 white goats stealthily approaching. This was strange....or could it be.....yes, it looked like it. Hee hee - you beauty!! I got my iPhone out and began videoing these 2 creatures which approached with curiousity - it was a mother reindeer and her wee baba - they approached to within 10 feet and I didn't have any food but they stood and looked at me before moving off. I have since found out that these were Blondie (one long antler, one stump) and Lego, her new calf. Click here for video - View My Video . Only 2 of 4 white reindeer out of the entire 140-strong herd. I phoned my wife to tell her about my cervine experience and then my mum who asked with what sounded like a heavy heart "Can ye nae jist ging tae the pub like normal fowk?" Mither P just doesn't get it. I headed back down to my tent after spying Cairn Toul and watching the sun go down, whereupon I opened the coldest and tastiest beer I've had in a while. I sat for half an hour contemplating the effects of the 'black dog' and hoped that things would pick up. I then had a real sense of elation at this point and felt an extraordinary sense of how great it is to be alive and in good health. I slept. When I arose at 0445, the sun was just rising over Ben Macdui and I ate a leisurely breakfast, refreshened both by the cold morning and my experience from the night before. I took a light pack, left my tent and re-traced my steps before heading up on to the Saighdleir plateau before looking across to Cairn Toul. As I looked back to my tent, I realised I was looking at a rather fine cloud inversion. Devil's Point looked like a submarine thrusting out of the sea - the innuendo in this account really is astonishing me. I began the lovely walk round the high coire of Cairn Toul and took in the fine views over to Angel's Peak and Braeriach, where Winter (October-June) snow still remained. The descent and ascent of Sgor nan Lochain Uaine was plain in comparison that all had gone before but the view from the edge of the summit of the latter was awesome. I sat on the edge of the corrie and looked out over the vast space below me. Braeriach could easily have been taken in as it was only 0830 but I wanted to savour that Cairngorm experience for another time. I was more than satiated and what with a 19km walk back out in what would be stifling conditions, I knew it had been a beautiful trip. I'm just sorry you weren't there to share it with me!

Bod an Deamhain

Looking up towards the Lairig Ghru

Summit of Devil's Point - amazing vista

Looking over to Macdui

Just below summit of Devil's Point

Sundown from the bealach

Close encounters of the cervine kind

Sunrise over Macdui

Cairn Toul

Looking over Carn a Mhaim

View from Cairn Toul to Devil's Point and beyond

Braeriach the behemoth

The Devil's Point thrusts from the clouds

Final snap before home

[gammy leg walker]

Awrite Kev,was not sure how to reply to this post so just going to play safe,great report again,great set of piccies,brill vid,off to have a cold shower.

[CurlyWurly]

Amazing stuff fella, you deserved an epic trip like that. Wild camp, the full sunset and sunrise experience and a cloud inversion chucked in as well for good measure. Hope you bring the good weather omens on our next trip!!

[pollyh33]

Beautiful narrative and magical photos. You have me completely intoxicated Kev. Didn't want your report to end. If this doesn't win Walk report of the month nothing will!!!

[davetherave]

Love your style Kev!
Another super report.
Highcamp,cold beer, cloud inversion and a tip to the Cairngorms.
Lucky bugger.

We are hoping to get up there next weekend,plan coming in from Glen feshie side.

[kinley]

That's what it's about

Although it's one of the down sides of this internet malarky that you get to see what you missed so graphically

Trust Mrs P is on the mend - and ta for the memories

[nathan79]

Fantastic.

I've had some great weather up the Cairngorms this year but i still haven't managed a wild camp and awoken to a morning like that.

[kevsbald]

Cheers Polly, Nathan, Kinley, Dave, GLW and CW.

Dave, I just need a dog like Wilson to make these kind of trips whole - where can I get one?

[dooterbang]

Great read and what a fantastic trip.

Loved the video - im sure you couldnt wipe the smile from your face.

Makes me want to wild camp.

Thanks for posting.

[old danensian]

Thanks for this one - you've confirmed it as a trip that needs to be on my own list of high camps.

There's nothing like wandering up higher and looking down in the evening on that little blob of green (or orange / red delete as appropriate) while clutching a mug of tea or something stronger and enjoying the scale and the solitude.

Late evenings: early mornings - nothing beats 'em.

OD

[kevsbald]

Dooter, let's get one organised then.
Pick some hills and we'll blast up the road from G-land.

OD - I cannot recommend this particular area highly enough. A beautiful place.

[monty]

Tremendous views Kev. Great report. I wondered if Lego and Blondie were a whisky induced mirage but nope, they were real Does that mean you have to add these three to your total making 187 and forcing me to go out again this weekend instead of having a rest

[neilfowlie]

Aright Kev, Outstanding report pal, again. I've been in this area really only once and that was when I did the Lairig Ghru and that was awesome from the ground so I can only imagine how it looks from above. Sunset, sunrise, wild camp, cloud inversion, reindeer, the list goes on. Your outing had the works. Thanks for the read. Superb.
ps. I like GLW comment. Think I need a cold shower too.

[ndhudson]

Makes me very thankful to be able to read!!! Great report, Kev!

The reindeer welcoming party was especially grand! That's a prize only given to the walker who can really appreciate it...and that you are. Good times!!!

[Paul Webster]

Lovely report Kev, glad it isn't just me that talks to animals like that

Hope Mrs Bald is feeling better.