Sgor Gaoith in mixed weather

[Alcorf]

A good day's walking, started at 9.30am at the car park at Achlean in beautiful sunshine (something of a surprise after the previous day's gloom). We followed the good path as per WH walk description, but never saw the boulder that names the Cairngorm National Park. We then went slightly wrong just before the first ford, by staying on the main path that goes up to the left, but Paul got us back on track fairly quickly. Stopped for a coffee next to the second ford and then headed across the flank of the hill and then started the fairly steep ascent to the Sgor Gaoith ridge, skirting the snow where possible. By now the weather was changing, and dark rain clouds could be seen approaching from the SW. On the ridge, the views into the Loch Einich corries were dramatic as there was still a lot of snow hanging in the face opposite us; the snow cornice on the ridge all the way to Sgor Gaioth was also dramatic. Having visited the summit cairn, we decided to take the circlar route back and headed for Geal Charn, stopping for lunch en-route. By now it was raining, however not heavily and was not much of a problem. We went to the far cairn on Geal Charn, thinking it was higher, only to find it was below the true top we had just left. We then headed down the west flank toward Coir na Cloiche, however when about half a mile away, changed route and headed for the path now clearly visible to the west, which we had partly ascended earlier in error. This worked out well, and having avoided sprained ankles on the boulders we had to negotiate, we made it to the path without incident and then headed south and back down the beautiful path through the native woodland to the car park. A fairly straight forward walk, with dramatic views at the summit. I can recommend this circular route, although the boulder fields, that are farly numerous on the return leg, do make for heavy going.

[denfinella]

Nice report we did a similar route to you for Sgor Gaoith - the sudden views over the loch are amazing. If I recall correctly, we managed to spot the Cairngorm sign rock, but for some strange reason it had been pushed to the side, damaged and was leaning at an angle (or something) - surely not vandalism? Shame the weather didn't last - it's been beautiful blue skies in Aberdeen for the past couple of days, and hot too, but seems it didn't get across to the western 'gorms.

Any photos?

[gaffr]

Are you sure that you started the walk from Achlean The map shown seems to show a start being made at the park at the allt Ruadh. The boulders, when descending from Geal Charn, can be avoided by descending from the main summit of Geal Charn rather than continueing out to the top with the best viewpoint....I remember that there was a very large cairn here thirty years ago....no longer....someone must have kicked it down.

[gaffr]

I missed the first reply to this report. The rock sign thing for the 'cairngorms park' I think that it must have been moved by the folks extracting the trees a couple of years ago and never got round to putting it back up again.....maybe the SNH folks would know more about this?