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4 days off work. Plan was to see where the forecast was looking good and have some outdoor fun. Reports were looking good for a fair few areas but i decided on the Cairngorms. Aside from being only ~100miles away it's one of my favourite areas.
I'd initially intended on just hostelling, but after seeing yet another sickening series of wild camp pics from Mountainstar i decided i'd spend the first night camping. Also a perfect opportunity to test out a new sleeping bag.
Bynack More was to be my target. Looking at previous reports and the map it seemed like a perfect option. A fairly long slog to the summit, but not too much steep ascent to add to a heavy load carry.
Parked up by the road in Glenmore and headed into the forest at 2pm aiming to hit the summit at 6pm. Started off well with a right when i should have gone left, but i soon realised my error and tracked back to where i should have been heading.
The weather up high rather than being the beautiful blew sky I'd been expecting was looking more
"That weathergirl promised it'd lift late afternoon, and she sounds trustworthy" I told myself.
The path along to green lochan and Ryvoan bothy was a familiar one to me, a few other walkers out enjoying the delights to be had here, including this little guy
- Nathan meets Newt
Harrassed him for a few minutes, in a gentle way of course before powering on past green lochan. No desire to stop there this time, I had a summit to be on.
The backup plan comes in to view. Good to know it’s there should the night turn to hell
- The hopefully unecessary back-up option
Time to turn of the Ryvoan path. Almost immediately as I start up my new direction I move aside for a 4x4 coming down which just about hits me with the splach from some water-filled treadmarks.
I was surprised how easy the going was. Even with a loaded pack I didn’t feel myself toiling too much. Likely in part to the fairly gentle incline, a couple of kilo’s shed and some time spent on the stepper in the gym. I was getting some pain in my hips that’d been bothering me recently, but nothing too troublesome.
Still a looong way to go, the path clearly visible in this somewhat blurry shot.
Reached the bridge over the Allt a' Garbh-coire and stopped for couple of snaps. A lot of chopper activity at this section. Not Mountain Rescue thankfully, I think it related to some path repair going on.
Stays breezy as the altitude increases, but it almost looks like it’s ready to lift.
- Bynack's More and Beg
Still looking promising as I reach the final steep pull up to the summit
Dam and blast. Crossed fingers clearly count for nothing here. Mist shrouded summit.
One of these rocky mounds just has to be the ruddy summit, surely!
FOUND IT! And the sun almost wants to show itself but not quite. It seems like everytime I put my camera away it peeks out, course by the time I’ve unholstered and switched on it’s gone again. We do this merry dance 3 or 4 times before I give up.
6:05, 5minutes after my intended time. I can live with that.
- Another summit conquered
Summit made and objective number 1 met, it was time to find the Barns, a nice sheltered spot and pitch the tent. Easier said than done amid the cloud and slowly fading light.
Can this be them? Seem a bit small but I investigate for a suitably sheltered pitch.
- These must be the Barns, right?
No decent pitches so getting grumpier by the minute with hands chilled by the icy northern breeze I settle on a spot that looks good enough to bivvy on, glad I brought my bivvy bag as a backup.
The cloud decides to blow away all of a sudden so I grab a couple of shots of the setting sun.
- Not Bellis-ian, but it'll do for now.
Turning around to face east I’m met with a very welcome sight. THERE THEY ARE!
- A-ha! There be the big Barns
Phew. Totter down to find the most sheltered spot I can and find what seems to be the perfect pitch so it’s bag off, and tent up. Almost nightfall so I break out the headtorch for this. Camping altitude 3200ft, that’ll do me nicely.
By 8pm the tent’s pitched, the gear unpacked and dinner’s on the go. A pint to anyone who can tell me what I’m cooking.
At last. Snug as a bug in a large down sleeping bag. Dinner eagerly consumed, followed of course by a wee bit of whisky and chocolates for dessert.
- Cocooned
8:15 was far too early for sleep so I entertained myself with a mix of my Kindle App and some podcasts until the eyes got heavy. Peeked out of the tent to see clear skies and sparkly stars, definitely a cold night coming. With sub-zero temperatures forecast, I wonder how the night’ll go.
Aside from a couple of brief awakenings I slept soundly as if I was at home in my bed. Still a little discomfort in the hips but not enough to keep me awake and easily vanquished by shifting to my side.
Next thing I knew it was 6am and I was feeling refreshed and cosy. No point looking outside yet as I knew the sun wouldn’t be showing yet. Finally did at 10 to 7 to see my tent, rucksack and surroundings covered by frost. Found it hard to fathom given how comfortable I was. Sleeping bag was definitely a good buy.
That band of cloud better shift! Retreated back into the tent for the moment, but keeping my eye on what was going on outside.
So snug I dozed off again! Hadn’t missed much though. The sun was up but that band of cloud was still hanging low.
A friendly pilot buzzed by with my requested wake up call at 9:30 but I was fully awake now and enjoying a mocha and breakfast.