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So glad we went on Wednesday rather than the next day and we thought we had wind on the ascent. Originally was working on a rtn trip to Drumochter with Tomsie having been bitten the previous week while out with Hill Loving Lady, beaten by wind that day too and whilst deciding, Rocket Ron also was off same day and had yet to do this one along with the 'Corbett' Creag Ruadh, so the plan was set, pick up Ron from Tesco's and meet with Tomsie at Aviemore for 0800.
Fair bit of snow lying en route down the A9 but arrived at Layby 94...
The walk in was fairly easy given that the local gamekeepers had already been busy up and down in the 4wd and made good progress along the aqueduct to the power stn and bothy.
The Munro above Tomsie and Rocket Ron with the 'Corbett' on the left !
After leaving the bothy behind the path takes a subtle left towards a small bridge to pick up a track (which was barely visible through the snow) as it ascended up the flank.
View back to the bothy before the ascent....
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- View back to the bothy before ascent
Having been hit by some snow showers/blizzards on the walk in when it wasn't looking like the weather would be on our side, it was a pleasant suprise for the clouds to lift as we ascended and apart from the wind which was a bit heavy on the up, resulting in my stopping for balaclava, mittens and snow goggles, slow progress was made.
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- Looking back over the route in from about athird of the way up
And some indication of the wind looking south as we ascended.
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- wind !
The ascent was sufficient for me to realise that I was never going to match Rocket Ron's stride as my repeated futile attempts to follow in his footsteps through the deep stuff continually failed, next time I'll tie his legs together to shorten it a bit !!
Summit reached and still the weather held giving some impressive views all around, apologies but I didn't make a mental note of which way was which so I'll leave you to sort yourselves, suffice to say it was still windy but eased somewhat from the ascent, thankfully.
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- Summit Meall Chuaich
and the views....
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- west ish !
The descent down north from the summit proved interesting ! having struggled to fit into Rocket Rons footprints on the way up I decided to follow both RR and Tomsie as they broke ground on the descent, before we'd gone too far we hit the first scramble. Now anyone who has done this walk or read the WH description is probably thinking 'scrambling' must have missed something, these hills are pretty tame. Well given hands and knees were used on several occasions to extricate ourselves from the deep stuff I'm gong with Tomsies view " does this count as scrambling " ...it was the only way to make progress
I didn't catch a photo of the technique in action but Rocket Ron demonstrates the reasons behind it here ...
and a close up...was hoping to get a shot of RR's Paramo all singing all dancing trousers but not a lot showing here...I could have waited and got the arse end as he crawled out on all fours !
Them poles ain't gonna help either !
After some fun and fairly steep stuff and deep stuff coming down a welcome reprieve at the end of the loch with the 'corbett' looming behind. Originally studying map I'd thought about a diagonal ascent to take the pressure off but in the end we opted to follow the fence straight up the side to get it out the way quick and onto the ridge, especially as the weather had been kind, hence the views would still be there.
However, it was some pull and the deep snow made it slower. Tomsie resorted to plan B and went for the diagonal approach as Rocket Ron and Berghaus Boy carried on up.
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- Break time at the lochan
and the reascent ...nearly there I can see the posts disappearing !! By this point Tomsies Plan B had resulted in difficulty due to some bouldery slopes and he'd messaged to Rocket Ron he was dropping down to the lochside track and out !
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- reascent nearly there !
Topping out to the ridge Phew...
Don't look down...I did think to myself maybe the ice axe should be out but a combination of thinking the snow being fairly soft and hence I should grind to a halt plus my readiness to make a grasp for the fence should the worst happen, it stayed on the pack and the pole sufficed.
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- Don't look !
Once on the ridge it was fairly straightforward along to the summit, initial view back down where we saw Tomsie in the distance just pass the bothy.
Rocket Ron breaking ground and approaching the last bit of deep stuff requiring the new aforementioned scrambling technique again !
The summit was reached at whch point Rocket Ron decided to come clean and tell me that this Corbett was in fact a Graham !!! Wots a few hundred feet between mates ! So now I've started my Graham count as this was the first !! Can't believe I've only hit 3 or 4 Corbetts and 1 Graham in all my trips !!
From the summit the route out was clear, we decided to follow the path of least resistance, snow wise, and rejoined the route in to then follow the track back out, rather than head straight to the layby,,wise move methinks.
And as the sun set.....
the moon rose !
All in all a cracking day despite doubts with the weather as we set off and thanks to Rocket Ron for starting my Graham count !
Once we'd changed down back at the car I was aware of a strange smell....it was me...in fact all of us, amazing how damp you get under that clobber !! No photos of the offending bits !
Swiftly off back to Aviemore where we parted from Tomsie hoping his route home would be open !!!
