Anyway the wind blows, it doesn't really matter!
Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2013 9:57 pmI have had a fancy for this walk for a while and was high on my to do list for this year. My August hill day seemed to be the likely time. Shout out to the Munro Meanderers numbers went up and down and as the day approached we were three. Quoman, Scottish leaf and I. So we meet at the Little Chuf on the A9 since you can no longer park at our preferred meeting point, know to all as 'the dogers' lay by. 7am suited and booted at the Sugerbowl car park, the wind is howling but the sky is clear and it is dry. Crossed the road dropped down to the bridge and up the path out of the ravine. Even on the good path from there we where battered all the way to the Charlamagne Gap were the wind seemed to intensify to ensure hopping over the boulders was not easy. It's a weirdly eerie place, as others have mentioned, and there is a wee shrine to the recently departed which just makes it worse. A place we all felt we did not want to hang about in and would not like to go through in winter conditions. Once through we pressed on over a couple more boulder fields before the pools of dee and the better path. The weather had closed in and as wellas being wind swept we were getting fairly wet. The devils point, well some of it, came into view, but it was still ages before we saw the bothy. By the time we went in for a wee seat 5 hours had passed. We ended up stopping for 45 mins, too long given the length of walk. As we headed up to the bealach Bryan was clearly feeling the strain. After a quick chat he said he would make the Devils Point, but probably no more, although turning back would still mean a total day of about 32K. We were going to leave our packs at the bealach but the wind was too strong, we feared they would not be there on our return. The cloud level rose and we had great views from the summit with Mham, Mcdui and Cairn Toulall looking good. Another chat and bid fair well to Bryan at the bealach and as he dropped down Wullie and I pushed on. It was now 3pm. We headed up the shoulder of the top and crossed the boulder field before dropping slightly and heading for Cairn Toul summit. Found this really tough over the boulders and against the wind. Not much view from the summit, just a quick photo and off we go. Once off the boulders it's a pleasant walk to Sgor an Lochain Uaine. We had occasional views of the Lochain, but we dared not go any where near the corrie edge for fear of being blown off. A great shame because there was excellent rimming opportunities to be had. From Sgor to Braeriach is an easy but long way. Although the wind still blew the skies cleared and we had grand views again. We had made it from Devils point to Braeriach in three and a half hours, not bad given the battering we where taking. Just the small matter of the walk out which like the walk in seemed to go on forever, with a couple more boulder fields thrown in just to break the spirit. We manged to get back and through the Charlamagne Gap before the dark closed in. Donning our head torches for the path back to the ravine. Total time of 15 hours all in, knackered but elated, but a no Bryan? Then we heard him coming out of a camper van bidding fair well to his new friends who had given him coffee and wine. Not our usual day of fun and frolics but more of a head down and get on with it type of day, but a good day. I wish Bryan like when he returns to finish them off. Apologies for the lack of pictures but my laptop is not working. Quoman and Bryan will add some, as will I when I sort the laptop.
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