Man versus Midge

[pigeon]

This was it,first wild camp ,first visit to the Cairngorms and first battle with the midge.Set of on friday night for linn o dee and headed for the corrour bothy at 7 pm,this was a bit late as the walk in took 3 hours and we had to pitch the tents in the dark the wind and the rain(bothy heaving) Never mind and after getting aboot 3 hours kip it was up early to get walking,set off up the devil's point at about half 7 not hanging about at the tents for long as the midges were attacking us big time. The big plan was to tackle the devil's point,cairn toul ,angel's peak and braeriach on saturday and carn a mhaim ,macdui and derry cairngorm on sunday ,this plan was soon binned after we realised how long the walk out was going to be

first look at the devil point

ian heading up the path to devil's point

good views at this point

Got to the top quite quickly and the views at the top were great ,this would soon change

first summit of the day

We could see over to ben macdui and the path we would take up cairn toul was also clear but this wouldn't last and we spent most of the day in clag.

A bit miffed on cairn toul

Clambered our way up to cairn toul got the summit pics taken (2 cairns here is the highest the one that is built like shelter?)and didn't hang around long before heading to the angel's peak

lochan uaine

angel's peak summit

Again never hung around long and headed to braeriach,enjoyed this part of the walk the cloud would break now and again and we could make out the sheer drops and buttreses on our way round the coire

still a bit snow hanging on

scary

miserable on braeriach

a couple of guys who were doing the same route in reverse took our picture on braeriach and we would meet them later in the bothy ,then it was time to find a way back down to the lairig ghru and back to basecamp,found quite a few bits of aircraft wreckage on the hillside

jake investigates the crash scene

It cleared up a bit on the way down the pass and we got some decent views of where we had just been

ian and jake with braeriach in the background

Back to the bothy at half 3 and had a blether with the folks who came and went ,drank all our beer and whiskey and slept much better than the night before Sunday and we woke early and began to get packed up.I used to think people made midges out to be worse than the really are but now i ken better likes,trying to pack the tent up was a nightmare ,swarming all over us driving us mad we legged it quick as we could and began the 8 mile hike back to linn o dee.We we were just on our way when someone came up with the bright idea of shooting up carn a mhaim ,no sure ian was to keen on this but we dumped our bags behind some rocks and made our way up the steep heather then clambered up the rocks and were soon at the top

carn a mhaim summit

The bit extra effort was worth it as the views from here were great

views from carn a mhaim

All that left now was the wee hike back to the car park ,never quite managed our target of 7 hills but enjoyed most of the whole camping out in the wilds thing except the evil that is the midge,i am now off for a good scratch and to order one off them head net things from the interweb

[gedme]

Wow great report some fantastic photos the Scary one well that's just cool. looks like weather was bit poor but cheers for sharing.

[pigeon]

Wow great report some fantastic photos the Scary one well that's just cool. looks like weather was bit poor but cheers for sharing.

Cheers gedme ,hadn't quite finished the report when you replied and managed another hill on sunday,looks like it was going to be a better day than saturday ,typical or whit

[rockhopper]

Pity about the weather pigeon but you still had a good trip - now I can see what the view is like from Carn a'Mhaim

I used to think people made midges out to be worse than the really are but now i ken better likes,trying to pack the tent up was a nightmare ,swarming all over us driving us mad

you have my sympathies why does the wind always die down when you don't want it to ?

[Jabber]

All still looks fantastic even if the weather wasn't in your favour.. Hate the midge.

[Huck Finn]

Cracking report Pigeon, photos look great even if the weather was not the best. I still think the Mozzi stuff we bought in Cuba is worth a try, no harm in trying !!!

[pollyh33]

Another great report Pigeon, you managed to fit in an awful lot of big hills in. What are you complaining about???

Don't fancy that wild camping malarkey, does anyone ever get more than a few hours decent sleep???


Went up Ben Challum today. No dramas, all very straightforward and enjoyable. Weather wasn't great but at least we had nothing to complain about unlike you and your poor mates!!!!


PS still scratching my head 10 minutes after reading about your midge debacle

[munrotop]

Hi there! Met you today at the Luibeg Bridge as we were walking in to head up to Coylumbridge up the Larig Ghru. Enjoyed your report and some great pictures. cheers, Dave & Morag

[Ian Bayne]

Ginger Git Good report Pity the weather was against us and the midge the weekend was worth all that you were quick in putting the report in I was still dead later

[pigeon]

Pity about the weather pigeon but you still had a good trip - now I can see what the view is like from Carn a'Mhaim

I used to think people made midges out to be worse than the really are but now i ken better likes,trying to pack the tent up was a nightmare ,swarming all over us driving us mad

you have my sympathies why does the wind always die down when you don't want it to ?

Cheers RH ,may well return soon to climb macdui

Cracking report Pigeon, photos look great even if the weather was not the best. I still think the Mozzi stuff we bought in Cuba is worth a try, no harm in trying !!!

It will be in the bag next time Huck,got some mighty big hills planned for your return

Another great report Pigeon, you managed to fit in an awful lot of big hills in. What are you complaining about???

Don't fancy that wild camping malarkey, does anyone ever get more than a few hours decent sleep???


Went up Ben Challum today. No dramas, all very straightforward and enjoyable. Weather wasn't great but at least we had nothing to complain about unlike you and your poor mates!!!!


PS still scratching my head 10 minutes after reading about your midge debacle

No photies from ben challum polly?

Hi there! Met you today at the Luibeg Bridge as we were walking in to head up to Coylumbridge up the Larig Ghru. Enjoyed your report and some great pictures. cheers, Dave & Morag

Good speaking to you guys ,did you complete your hike without getting wet?

Ginger Git Good report Pity the weather was against us and the midge the weekend was worth all that you were quick in putting the report in I was still dead later

Done the report when i got home and went straight to bed Ian,been scrathing like mad all week

[pollyh33]

Another great report Pigeon, you managed to fit in an awful lot of big hills in. What are you complaining about???

Don't fancy that wild camping malarkey, does anyone ever get more than a few hours decent sleep???


Went up Ben Challum today. No dramas, all very straightforward and enjoyable. Weather wasn't great but at least we had nothing to complain about unlike you and your poor mates!!!!


PS still scratching my head 10 minutes after reading about your midge debacle

No photies from ben challum polly?[quote="munrotop"]

Didn't take too many photos because of the weather but here's me the summit!

[Huck Finn]

Big Hills for my return, great, can't wait
Oh mind me to tell your sister where my life insurance police is

[gedme]

Wow great report some fantastic photos the Scary one well that's just cool. looks like weather was bit poor but cheers for sharing.

Cheers gedme ,hadn't quite finished the report when you replied and managed another hill on sunday,looks like it was going to be a better day than saturday ,typical or whit

Oh sorry but yeah typical. Some really great photos pleasure to read and see. Thanks