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Devils and Angels

Devils and Angels


Postby incompleat » Sun Sep 11, 2011 2:01 pm

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

Date walked: 04/09/2011

Time taken: 10.5 hours

Distance: 38 km

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Date:Sunday 04/09/2011
Time: 10hrs 29m
Distance: 38km (bike 14km, foot 24km)
Weather: Sunny with a change of midges
Participants: Me, Mike, Brian


Lots of photos for this. More available here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chimpaction/sets/72157627608608310/


This was a trip a long time coming. We had been waiting for the availability of all involved to align with the required weather window for all of the summer. Now it was on. This was to be the trip which completed the Cairngorms for me, as well as all Munros east of the A9. Well, apart from one which I have potentially earmarked for my final Munro in a few years time...

It would also be the first hill trip for my new camera - an upgrade from a Nikon D50 to a D90.

We set off from the Linn of Dee just after 8am. It had been a chilly clear night and gloves were required on the bikes. We scooted up to Derry Lodge and then cycled/slid across the Derry flats (last time at Easter, this section had been bone dry - today it was a bog) We dumped the bikes about halfway between Derry Lodge and the Luibeg crossing. The day was warming up so the zip-off trouser legs were removed and we set off on foot.

We crossed the Luibeg via the bridge, more because we had never done it before, rather than due to the water levels and then made our way round Carn a' Mhaim into the Lairig Ghru.

Image
Luibeg Bridge by chimpaction, on Flickr

Image
Glimpse into Glen Geusachan by chimpaction, on Flickr

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Sentinels II by chimpaction, on Flickr

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The Lairig Ghru by chimpaction, on Flickr

Cross the Dee by the bridge, and stop at the empty(!) bothy for a coffee break..

Image
Corrour Bridge by chimpaction, on Flickr

Image
Corrour Bothy by chimpaction, on Flickr

After our coffee break, we hauled ourself up into Coire Odhar at a steady pace, following the path as it steepens and zigzags up the headwall to the 900m bealach between The Devil's Point and Cairn Toul. Here we dumped our packs and headed for the short climb to the summit of The Devil's Point. I'll let the photos speak for themselves..

Image
Glen Dee and Glen Geusachan by chimpaction, on Flickr

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The Devil's Point Summit I by chimpaction, on Flickr

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The Devil's Point Summit II by chimpaction, on Flickr

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The Devil's Point Summit III by chimpaction, on Flickr

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The Devil's Panorama by chimpaction, on Flickr
(Go on, click this one for larger views....)

Image
Cairn Toul from The Devil's Point by chimpaction, on Flickr

After soaking up the views here, it was back to the bealach and onto Cairn Toul. We hugged the edge to the 1213m top and then followed a bouldery route to the summit of Cairn Toul..

Image
Cairn Toul by chimpaction, on Flickr

Image
Cairn Toul Viewpoint. by chimpaction, on Flickr

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Bear-riach II by chimpaction, on Flickr

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Falls of Dee by chimpaction, on Flickr

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Brian and Braeriach by chimpaction, on Flickr

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Cairn Toul Summit Cairn IV by chimpaction, on Flickr

The summit of Cairn Toul was a little chilly, so after abite to eat and some of Mikes homemade ginger beer (with a kick!) it was onwards to the last hill of the day..

Image
Cairn Toul North Panorama by chimpaction, on Flickr
(Go on, click this one for larger views....)

Image
Sgor an Lochain Uaine (The Angel's Peak) Summit Cairn II by chimpaction, on Flickr

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Cairn Toul from Sgor an Lochain Uaine (The Angel's Peak by chimpaction, on Flickr

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Lochain Uaine II by chimpaction, on Flickr

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Cairngorm Explorer by chimpaction, on Flickr

We met a few folk on the summit here and hung around for a good while gawping at the views. My new camera also proved its worth here with my favourite shot of the day, this panorama...

Image
The Angel's Panorama by chimpaction, on Flickr
(Click the photo for larger views)

Eventually, time was wearing on, so we started back. We polished off the 2nd bottle of Ginger Beer and then contoured round Cairn Toul. On the descent of Cairn Toul, we picked up a path which has been hidden on the ascent but was prefectly visible on the descent. It proved a speedy way off the hill, avoiding the boulders and we made it from Sgor an Lochain Uaine summit to Corrour Bothy in 90 minutes.

Image
Cairn Toul Descent by chimpaction, on Flickr

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Descent to the Lairig Ghru by chimpaction, on Flickr

Image
Bothy Days by chimpaction, on Flickr

After another break in the sunshine and a chat to a couple of German hikers, we set off back around Carn a' Mhaim. This leg felt much longer than it did on the walk in. At the Luibeg, we crossed by the stones (nearly managed to lose a pole in the river here) and then got back to the bikes.

On the cycled back from Derry Lodge we began to pass more and more people wearing midge nets. Looking down, our legs were crawling with the winged devils. Fearful for our skin, we never stopped until we reached the Linn of Dee carpark. The midges here were as bad as I have seen them anywhere on the west coast and it was an epic struggle to get th ebikes onto the bike rack. We were stratching ourselves all the way to the Inver Hotel.
incompleat
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Re: Devils and Angels

Postby Stretch » Sun Sep 11, 2011 2:15 pm

Fantastic! Looks like the D90 works a treat - and that's coming from a Canon man. These 4 are at the very top of my 'to-do' list - hope I get similar conditions as you guys had. Thanks for sharing!
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Re: Devils and Angels

Postby kev_russ » Sun Sep 11, 2011 2:44 pm

Stunning :)
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Re: Devils and Angels

Postby Alastair S » Sun Sep 11, 2011 4:28 pm

Fabulous report for a really great route. A great set of photos. The Devil's Point is a real gem & the views from the other two aren't bad either.

Looks like I was lucky with the midges as I was across the way on Braeriach - only had a handful at the Whitewell car park & just got a single wee bite.
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Re: Devils and Angels

Postby skuk007 » Sun Sep 11, 2011 5:33 pm

Wow, fab report, pictures are stunning. I really should upgrade to a D-SLR proper. "Dear Santa..."
Good time too over that distance.
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Re: Devils and Angels

Postby PhilTurner » Mon Sep 12, 2011 9:17 pm

I've put the DSLR Transportation Solutions posts into a new topic here - I'd hate for those top tips to get lost :D

Phil
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Re: Devils and Angels

Postby Alastair S » Mon Sep 12, 2011 9:45 pm

Good thinking Phil - for you next trick you could tell us how you did that :lol: :lol:
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Re: Devils and Angels

Postby HighlandSC » Mon Sep 12, 2011 9:51 pm

Alastair S wrote:Good thinking Phil - for you next trick you could tell us how you did that :lol: :lol:


Special powers ;)
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