Cairngorms: Loch Avon & Northern Corries

[HighlandSC]

Date - Sat 31/10/2009
Title - Cairngorms: Loch Avon & Northern Corries
Route - Through Coire an t-Sneachda. Descend Coire Raibert to Loch Avon. Walk SW along Loch Avon to Shelterstone Crag/Hells Lum. Ascend NW from Loch Avon up Coire Domhain, continuing N to top of Coire an t-Sneachda. Walk W along top of corries, passing Cairn Lochan and take path N along W ridge of Coire an Lochain, continuing N back to car park.
Weather - Windy in parts. Cloud base above me all day (just!) 5 mins of HEAVY rain. Otherwise good.
People - Me
Time - 6.5 Hours
Distance - 16km
Ascent - 1278 m
Max Altitude - 1215 m


Bit of a grey day but a great walk! Going by some other reports it seems I was lucky to avoid (much) rain!. Actually I don't know if it was luck - I'll give credit to MWIS for me avoiding rain! I was planning on walking anywhere, and as seems to be the norm the forecast in the East seemed to provide some hope!

20091031lochavonnortherncorries.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts

I take the path from the ski centre cark into Coire an t'Sneachda


2 people going up Fiacaill Coire an t-Sneachda (looks like quite a good scramble a bit further up)


Coire an t'Sneachda


You can just make out the steep path in centre ascending out the corrie


The scrambly bit awaiting the 2 people going up via Fiacaill Coire an t-Sneachda


The 2 scramblers


Looking W ascending the path up Coire an t'Sneachda


Top of Sneachda looking S toward Shelterstone/Hells Lum crags (I'd be down there soon). Cloud getting close - but it'd remain above me!


I take the path E toward Cairn Gorm and then cut across to pick up the path going S - descending Coire Raibert to Loch Avon


The clouds continued to tease me with such openings...


Starting to descend Coire Raibert - Loch Avon begins to appear


Looking back


Loch Avon


Loch Avon & Shelterstone Crag




Stacan Dubha


Looking toward Hells Lum Crag (right of centre). My exit route ascends just to the right of it up Coire Domhain.


A little hideaway en route to the crags. NOT the actual Shelter Stone - I never went across to it (but a random pic of it is here on Flickr


Hells Lum


There's a bit more info specifically on the crags/climbing here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/greatclimb/sec1_pg5.shtml

Ascent up Coire Domhain


Looking back across Loch Avon






Looking back down toward Shelterstone


I continued up Coire Domhain and eventually picked up the path back toward the top of Coire an t'Sneachda


At the top of Coire an t-Sneachda it POURED DOWN - but just for 5 mins - and was rewarded with the sun making an appearance and a nice rainbow over the corrie


Looking NE across Coire an t-Sneachda. Cairn Gorm in background


Looking S toward Ben Macdui


Looking N toward Loch Morlich


RAF Mountain Rescue training in Coire an Lochain


Coire an Lochain


Over the edge of Coire an Lochain




Coire an Lochain


From the pic above at Coire an Lochain it's about a 3km walk down the well maintained path to the car park. Seemed further on my tired legs, but eventually you get there....


Another great day in the Cairngorms.

[sloosh]

(right sloosh )

Yep.

Great report HSC! Love the photies and I'm truly jealous of that rainbow pic -- it's a cracker.

[benno]

Great route, superb pics. Looks like you were lucky not to get completely drenched by the colour of the sky!

[kevsbald]

An early contender for report of the month, I'm sure. Jealous of those views.

[monty]

Oooooch. Its no fair. How am a meant tay compete wi that

Great picture fest H. Lucky bugger geting good weather

[Paul Webster]

That is a cracker HighlandSC - some great colours in those pics. You've started on the 'eccentric' route choices nice and early in your walking too

[HighlandSC]

Thanks for the comments guys.

‘eccentric’ routes Hadn’t thought of it as that – but maybe it was a little! There'll be more like that to come yet....

I like my pics (but not a serious photographer), and end up taking loads when I’m out on my own. Try not to let it slow me down too much though – am learning fast lots of little stops really do add up over a long day.

Oh and I did this one with the big heavy pack on again – felt it climbing out of the Loch Avon basin! Otherwise all good. These self-beastings are worth it! That’s me ready to carry sacks of coal to bothys and the like

I’d have liked to spend a little more time around Loch Avon but was conscious of the time/getting dark early. Still, that’s the Cairngorms opened up a little more for me…and I like it

[John Burgess]

‘eccentric’ routes Hadn’t thought of it as that – but maybe it was a little! There'll be more like that to come yet....

Nothing eccentric about it looks an excellent way to explore a great bit of country!

Shame you didn't have time for a sunbathe on the beaches of the Costa del Loch A'an

Great report

All the best,

John

[HighlandSC]

Shame you didn't have time for a sunbathe on the beaches of the Costa del Loch A'an

Fear not, it's labelled as a future wild camp/sunbathing location!