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Western Cairngorm, 4 night backpacking trip.Auchlean – Corrour Bothy – Derry lodge (Bob Scott’s Bothy) – Geldie lodge (Camp) - Ruidh Atechain Bothy – Auchlean. Having done several trips from the north (Glenmore lodge) and the south (Linn of Dee) and although I had spent a night in Ruidh Atechain Bothy on a one nighter before, I had not done a multi day backpacking trip from this direction before, so after a bit of map studying, this route was looking good for a start at Auchlean.
Having seen the weather forecast for the week ahead, the first few days were very good, but the last couple were more unsettled, so my plan of doing a anti-clockwise route were out, unfortunately this meant the first day was the hardest (longest and highest) and all with a heavy pack with food etc. for 4 days, but I didn’t want to do the high route over the Cairngorm plateaux in poor weather.
So after travelling up from Wales on Monday and stopping in Newtonmore hostel for the night, I was ready for an early start the next day.
Tuesday 9th March 2010.
Auchlean – Corrour Bothy via Ruidh Atechain Bothy and the Moine Mhor plateaux. Approx 15 miles.
Weather. Brilliant
- Sunny, cloudless and calm, visibility- perfect.Up at 6-30am, the drive to Auchlean was interesting with 2 to 3 foot of snow drifts at the side of the road in parts. As I started walking at 9.45am thankfully the snow wasn’t too deep, making the going fairly easy up Glen Freshie.
- Glen Freshie
- Glen Freshie
To make the going easier, I crossed the 1st bridge to walk along the road on the west side of the river Freshie, although knowing the 2nd bridge 3 miles further up the glen, had been swept away recently,
- Glen Freshie, ex-bridge
but as the river was low, I took the chance that I could cross. I crossed where the vehicles cross just before the ex-bridge, and was no more than ankle deep.
I popped into Ruidh Atechain Bothy to drop off a food parcel for my return in 4 days time; it was good to see the usual supply of wood stocked inside.
- Ruidh Atechain Bothy
- Ruidh Atechain Bothy
Now the hard work began a climb up to 970 meters, up the excellent but snowy track.
- The start of the climb out of Glen Freshie
Nearing the top I had some great views across the corrie towards Carn Ban Mhor and back looking to multi snow clad mountains to the west.
- West from the upper track
- Carn Ban Mhor
By the time I reached 970 meters the track that leads across the Moine Mhor had disappeared under the snow, so the 4 miles across this high plateaux in poor weather would have been a navigational nightmare, I was pleased that I had done this part today. Although it was still hard work walking across this amazing landscape (my feet were intermittently going through the upper snow crust) with total snow cover, it looked like I was walking across a white dessert of dunes, surrounded by White Mountains.
- Moine Mhor plateaux
- Sgor Gaoith from the Moine Mhor plateaux
I found no foot prints on my route, only ski tracks criss crossing…the way to get about in these conditions.
Although normally crossing many burns and 2 lochs, today there was no sign of any water; in fact I could have crossed the Lochs without even knowing. As I started to drop from the 899 meter point down Glen Geusachan I was glad to find at last a hole in the snow to refill my water bottle which was by now empty.
- Glen Geusachan
As I reached the lower glen I passed Avalanche debris which had fallen from high up The Devils Point. Once I had turned to the North to walk the last mile op by the River Dee I left the warm sun for the freezing Corrour Bothy at last ahead.
- Corrour Bothy
I reached the the lonely Bothy at 5.05 pm, knackered but fully rewarded after an amazing day.
- Corrour Bothy, sunset
Even getting water wasn’t easy, the usual burn by the Bothy was totally covered in snow, and the river by the bridge only just had a few small holes showing running water.
It was a cold night in the Bothy, so after a meal and a dram it was in the sleeping bag for an early night at 9 pm.
Wed 10th March.
The Devils Point, Approx 2.5 miles (return). Then walk to Bob Scott’s Bothy. Approx 5 miles.
Weather. Brilliant- Sunny, cloudless and calm, visibility- perfect.Out of my warm sleeping bag at 6.45 am, and after some breakfast and packing my rucksack ready for the off later, I left the cold sunless Bothy at 8am for the steep climb up the Corrie, after a couple of hundred meters I was in the warm sunshine again.
- Ben Macdui
- Cairn toul
Again it was an amazing day, as I climbed I had great views of Ben Macdui and Cairn Toul bathed in early morning sunshine. As I neared the summit I passed some lovely cornices and once on the top the views were breathtaking.
- The Devils Point, looking south
- The Devils point
- The Devils point, looking to Ben Macdui
- The Devils point, looking to Bheinn Bhrotain & Monadh Mor
- Devils point, looking to Cairn Toul
- The Devils Point, looking up the Lairig Ghru
It took me an hour to get up and another 45 mins later I was back in the Bothy, by now itself bathed in the sun.
- Corrour bothy, in winter sun
- The Devils point from Corrour
- Carn Toul from Corrour Bothy
Left the Bothy at 10.10am, no need to cross the bridge today!
- No Bridge required!
......to be continued