No dragons slain but we DID kick a Munro's butt
Posted: Sun May 04, 2014 8:49 pmOk we didn't actually kick this Munro's butt on this St George's Day walk.
A more realistic telling would be along the lines of we "plodded our way up to the summit and scuttled back down again". Not as dramatic as the title, granted.
However, this was going to be quite a day with a few "firsts".
1. First Munro since having spinal surgery.
2. First bike ride since 2008 that caused the injury that led to spinal surgery 5 years later.
3. First time we've used mountain bikes to aid us in bagging a Munro.
An ominous start which nearly led to the whole attempt being aborted when a retinal migraine hit me hard
. NOT happy at all and I staggered around the house crashing into things in a pretty grim temper given that this was our first chance for a Munro since Sept last year. The lovely sunny weather (perfect for a good long walk) did little to help my bleak mood.
Decided that two Paracetamol and a 2mile walk with the dog would send me one way or the other. By the time I'd finished the walk, my missing vision had all but returned. Had to wait another 10mins for some pretty trippy zig-zags to disappear...and that was it.
No crashing headache.
Cool. Derry Cairngorm it is then.
Two bikes loaded into the car. Ruckies packed and dog settled nicely in his basket at home.
Arrived at Linn of Dee carpark at 11:30am and soon we were on our way.
Any guilt about the use of mountain bikes being a "cheat" dissipated in the first five minutes where red faced, puffing like the little engine that could, we realised that we were somewhat "out of condition" re: biking.
Grimacing through the thigh burn we pedalled on, getting off to walk at the merest hint of an incline. It was in this fashion that we reached Derry Lodge. We were so grateful not to have met any "proper cyclists" as the pair of us really looked pathetic with our matching red cheeks (face cheeks not bum cheeks; although that came later).
Crossed the Derry Burn and found somewhere to rest our bikes. Now for the walking....and all of it a steady
uphill.
Did not expect the ascent to be quite so difficult but our thighs had taken quite a hammering on the bikes and we plodded up the clear path (not on the OS map) at a pace that would have given any watching octagenarian a jolly old laugh at our "patheticness"
Over Carn Crom we spotted an eagle. We have seen eagles here before but this one only put in a brief appearance before drifting off higher and higher into the light cloud above.
Pockets of thick snow banks on the east side of Carn Crom crossed the path in several places with snowy overhangs on the sheer sides. We wisely opted for the higher path and had no problems.
Good views of Derry Cairngorm ahead with its pointy peak and views of Ben Macdui, Carn a Mhaim and a cloud topped Beinn Mheadhoin (all of which we have climbed) spurred us on.
Came across several mountain hares with their coats on the turn as well as some incredibly bold ptarmigan (again with their plumage on the turn) who weren't in the least bit bothered by two puffing red faced creatures walking through their neighbourhood.
Further on I spotted a leveret.
Truth be told I nearly stepped on it as it sleepily hopped out from under the rocks. So eager was I to see it, that I quite forgot to concentrate on where to put my feet on the "shin-breaker" rocks that I ended up wedging my foot at a horrid angle and falling backwards. Luckily for me, it would seem that I have quite bendy ankles. With the leveret long gone and my camera hanging hopelessly around my neck I picked myself up and resumed the walk, albeit with a slightly sore ankle.
Stopped for some lunch and suffered the humiliation of watching an Olympic athelete run by in a blur of "go-faster" black and lime green lycra.
As Mr Olympics pinged past us, all defined muscles, not a bead of sweat and a rather satisfied little grin, we gave him our best smiles through mouthfuls of sausage rolls. Just hope that he didn't witness my ungainly stumble earlier on.
Lunch eaten. The walk became more of a scramble as we picked our way through the perilous rocks and on to the summit. Mr Olympics was by now halfway to Braemar having reached the summit and springbok-ed his way back down again.
The two summit cairns were close together and we posed at the furthest slightly higher cairn
before making our descent.
Within no time we found the bikes and pretty much rode all the way (predominantly downhill) back to the Linn of Dee.
Great walk/ride and the use of bikes certainly opens up more remote Munros in future. Just need to work on those thigh muscles.
Walked by Sarah (51st) and David (51st)
A more realistic telling would be along the lines of we "plodded our way up to the summit and scuttled back down again". Not as dramatic as the title, granted.
However, this was going to be quite a day with a few "firsts".
1. First Munro since having spinal surgery.
2. First bike ride since 2008 that caused the injury that led to spinal surgery 5 years later.
3. First time we've used mountain bikes to aid us in bagging a Munro.
An ominous start which nearly led to the whole attempt being aborted when a retinal migraine hit me hard
. NOT happy at all and I staggered around the house crashing into things in a pretty grim temper given that this was our first chance for a Munro since Sept last year. The lovely sunny weather (perfect for a good long walk) did little to help my bleak mood.Decided that two Paracetamol and a 2mile walk with the dog would send me one way or the other. By the time I'd finished the walk, my missing vision had all but returned. Had to wait another 10mins for some pretty trippy zig-zags to disappear...and that was it.
No crashing headache.
Cool. Derry Cairngorm it is then.
Two bikes loaded into the car. Ruckies packed and dog settled nicely in his basket at home.
Arrived at Linn of Dee carpark at 11:30am and soon we were on our way.
Any guilt about the use of mountain bikes being a "cheat" dissipated in the first five minutes where red faced, puffing like the little engine that could, we realised that we were somewhat "out of condition" re: biking.
Grimacing through the thigh burn we pedalled on, getting off to walk at the merest hint of an incline. It was in this fashion that we reached Derry Lodge. We were so grateful not to have met any "proper cyclists" as the pair of us really looked pathetic with our matching red cheeks (face cheeks not bum cheeks; although that came later).
Crossed the Derry Burn and found somewhere to rest our bikes. Now for the walking....and all of it a steady
uphill.
- Behind the hair and smiles I'm rather red-faced and sweaty. Enjoying a respite on the ascent
Did not expect the ascent to be quite so difficult but our thighs had taken quite a hammering on the bikes and we plodded up the clear path (not on the OS map) at a pace that would have given any watching octagenarian a jolly old laugh at our "patheticness"
- Taking a breather at the start of the walk
Over Carn Crom we spotted an eagle. We have seen eagles here before but this one only put in a brief appearance before drifting off higher and higher into the light cloud above.
- Carn Crom. Breather break.
Pockets of thick snow banks on the east side of Carn Crom crossed the path in several places with snowy overhangs on the sheer sides. We wisely opted for the higher path and had no problems.
Good views of Derry Cairngorm ahead with its pointy peak and views of Ben Macdui, Carn a Mhaim and a cloud topped Beinn Mheadhoin (all of which we have climbed) spurred us on.
- The summit gets closer
- .....and closer!!!
Came across several mountain hares with their coats on the turn as well as some incredibly bold ptarmigan (again with their plumage on the turn) who weren't in the least bit bothered by two puffing red faced creatures walking through their neighbourhood.
Further on I spotted a leveret.
Truth be told I nearly stepped on it as it sleepily hopped out from under the rocks. So eager was I to see it, that I quite forgot to concentrate on where to put my feet on the "shin-breaker" rocks that I ended up wedging my foot at a horrid angle and falling backwards. Luckily for me, it would seem that I have quite bendy ankles. With the leveret long gone and my camera hanging hopelessly around my neck I picked myself up and resumed the walk, albeit with a slightly sore ankle.
Stopped for some lunch and suffered the humiliation of watching an Olympic athelete run by in a blur of "go-faster" black and lime green lycra.
As Mr Olympics pinged past us, all defined muscles, not a bead of sweat and a rather satisfied little grin, we gave him our best smiles through mouthfuls of sausage rolls. Just hope that he didn't witness my ungainly stumble earlier on.Lunch eaten. The walk became more of a scramble as we picked our way through the perilous rocks and on to the summit. Mr Olympics was by now halfway to Braemar having reached the summit and springbok-ed his way back down again.
The two summit cairns were close together and we posed at the furthest slightly higher cairn
- Hubs at the summit cairn.
- Me on the summit cairn. First time on a Munro since my back op. Felt amazing to be on top!!!
- Views towards Beinn Mheadhoin
- Feeling zingy and really, really glad that my back op was a success. Munro no 51 in the bag
Within no time we found the bikes and pretty much rode all the way (predominantly downhill) back to the Linn of Dee.
- Glen Lui and not far from the Linn of Dee.
Great walk/ride and the use of bikes certainly opens up more remote Munros in future. Just need to work on those thigh muscles.
- Haven't done this for five years. Top way to end the day. Lovin' my bike!!!
Walked by Sarah (51st) and David (51st)
Can definitely recommend bikes for those long walk ins. We were a bit worried that it would feel like cheating somewhat but given the amount of energy we expended on the bikes it was definitely not a cheat. As the walk ins tend to be on a gradual incline it is harder going and *hangs head in shame* we get off the bikes and walk for a bit too. However the return is MUCH easier and that's where you get the payoff.
) they're ok. The boulders are only on the final part of the ascent
As a horse-riding gal myself I can appreciate how precarious it can be in the saddle. I've been thrown a few times but thankfully no damage to my back. It was a bike