But leaving in the cool of what turned out to be a seriously hot day was the best thing we could have done - and there's something so alluring about the hills in the morning light that I owe soulminer et al big thanks.
Loch Morlich in the cool of the morning
Rob on path up the Fiacaill a' Coire Chais ridge
Northern corries with Cairn Toul and Braeriach peeking over
It's an excellent path and we reached the cairn at the top in good time and headed straight over to pick up the path to Coire Raibert.
Coire Raibert with Beinn Mheadhoin on left and Derry Cairngorm in centre of picture
For the past three years since Moira broke her ankle at the foot of Beinn Mheadhoin the 'middle hill' has hung over me like unfinished business - an unresolved challenge that wouldn't go away. I wanted to wait until Moira felt like doing it so we could do it together but every time I floated the idea she wasn't keen and recently she said she felt it highly unlikely she'd ever want to do it, which is understandable after what she's been through on account of it! So early on that morning when I set off to conquer the tors of Beinn Mheadhoin I donned the trousers Moira wore on the day she was airlifted to hospital (and which were very nearly cut off her). It somehow seemed appropriate if Moira couldn't go at least her breeks (which I've inherited) could go and finish the job!
Work is currently being done on the path down to Loch Avon. No-one was working on it when we went down but then it was only 7.30 in the morning. Care still has to be taken in a couple of places but it's an easier descent than it was when Moira and I did it three years ago.
Steep path down to the Loch Avon basin
Moira and I had kept to the east side of the stream right down to Loch Avon but this time we crossed and took the diagonal path towards the head of the loch.
Carn Etchachan and The Sticil (Shelter Stone crag)
Path we would follow up to Loch Etchachan in centre of picture
Water level of the Feith Buidh was low and we crossed easily by two sections of stepping stones and stopped on one of the beaches for breakfast. It felt surreal to be sitting in such a remote and idyllic location so early in the day.
Stepping stones and our descent path
After a leisurely seat in the sun we took a short cut up the grassy slope to join the path which climbs up towards Loch Etchachan. When the path levelled out we reached the wet area where Moira broke her ankle boulder-hopping.
This is about where it happened
Three years earlier
That time we never got a sight of Loch Etchachan but this time there was no problem as we followed the path with the loch on our right, looking for the path going up Beinn Mheadhoin on our left.
Loch Etchachan (largest body of water at this altitude)
From path up BM
Ben Macdui reflected in Loch Etchachan
Tor studded summit
Nearly there
It's an easy scramble up the grippy granite, with just one slightly awkward move coming down..
Mary and me on top
Braeriach and Shelter Stone crag from top
We spent a bit of time on the top, identifying surrounding peaks with Rob's road map and my pop up summit map, before dropping down into the cool shade of the tor for an early lunch at 11.30. It was by now very hot and we knew the hardest part of the day was still to come, climbing back over Cairngorm via the Saddle.
We took a north easterly line from the summit roughly in the direction of Bynack More, before dropping down to Loch Avon avoiding the crags on our left.
The Saddle path - our return route
Easy slopes down to east end of Loch Avon
This was the day for idyllic eating spots. After breakfast at the west end of the loch and lunch in the shade of the summit tor we stopped again for a break at its east end before wading across the outflow, which was bliss to the feet! We then followed the path on the north side of the loch leading up to the Saddle, which was bouldery in places requiring a bit of hands on just when you thought all that was over for the day.
Queen Victoria's classic view of the loch - but she came by pony
Looking back to Beinn Mheadhoin from Saddle
Toiling up the Saddle in the early afternoon sun made me thankful I'd not brought the dogs. The heat would have been too much for them. We refilled bottles from a burn and I soaked a spare tee shirt and draped it dripping over my head which might have looked odd as I passed a residual patch of Cairngorm snowfield - but that's how it was on this hot summer's day after the late snow we'd had.
Ben Avon in the east
As we reached the high point the Ptarmigan was a welcome sight. The train was in and we could have bought ourselves a ride down but, purists that we are, we walked down the Sron an Aonaich ridge, reaching the car by 4.30 which was fine time for me to be home to give my mum her meal at 6.00.
All in all a fantastic and very special day and thanks to Rob and Mary for their excellent company!
