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Beinn a Ghlo before the rain

PostPosted: Sun Aug 10, 2014 6:26 pm
by spiderwebb
As usual the weekend arrived and the forecast was not looking too good, but a forecast of heavy rain for later on Sunday was enough for me to set the alarm for 0430 :crazy: to get an early start down at Blair Atholl to walk over Beinn a Ghlo. Having spied these 3 from a walk a few weeks back this sort of completed another piece of the jigsaw.

On the way to Blair a fine view of the Cairngorms, with the unmistakable Lairig Ghru.

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I started walking by 0730 and to be honest it looked an ominous start, not just the cloud but the size of Carn Liath in the distance, I had read a few reports of this walk, the WH write up saying a strenuous day, 9 to 10 hours, bogfest, cripes what was I thinking !

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The base of Carn Liath was reached along a good track and a left turn towards an old wall. On route a couple of bogs to jump, I say jump as I couldn’t see anyway of bypassing these, so for the short of leg amongst you be warned, it was sssstretch :wink:

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The ascent passed without issues, steep in places, no navigational issues and it was dry, so far.

No views today but a short walk off the top and views began to appear. Looking back at the crest, the cloud boiling over and it was a tad windy along this stretch too.

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As I was getting blown about a wee bit it was time to get out the new gadget (how I wish I had this in Laggan when on all fours at a summit, I wont mention the name, makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up)….an Anenomnometereeeer, bugger anyway a wind device ! Recorded speed of 30mph, hmm seemed a lot worse.

Good pace along the crest and a slight descent and there in front stood Braigh Coire Chruinn-bhalgain, a mouthful if ever I saw ! :lol:

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The route up visible, but fortunately not too far down and a steady angle too, so before long I was at the bealach.

On ascent of this second of the day a view back to the descent of Carn Liath.

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Again the ascent was not as bad as it looked and after a swift stop, still breezy round these parts, off towards the last of the day, along a fine crest just out the clag too.

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Carn nan Gabhar was the longest ascent of the three, but a gentler slope but after the first two, this made it seem a long haul. But it wasn’t even 1100hrs yet so no worries.

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I didn’t check to see if this was higher than the first two, but the clag was certainly further down, maybe that forecast rain was closing in, but a view of the first two revealed itself following descent of the last and my route out down the left.

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Now the route out, and I had been briefed a couple of lads who had come in that way, it was a bit damp but ok. Hmm :?

Well before I get to that, the rain came in just after I had descended to slightly easier angled terrain. Having stripped off after the descent of Carn nan Gabhar, not 15 minutes before it was now real rain. So I had to pull up and redress. Then they hit, in force the wee midges. These girls were taking no prisoners. In an unprovoked and ferocious attack, I had no choice but to light up a Anti Midge Flare, a Windsor Blue one, but it failed, the slight breeze carrying away its effects. It isn’t easy lighting these when you have one leg in the waterproofs, waving arms about I can tell you. I persevered and repacked as I walked out, fast. Jeez !

Now that walk out, yes it was long and yes it would be a bogfest had we had more rain, but thankfully it wasn’t too bad, firm beneath the surface, but it seemed a long while before hitting the track coming in.

So yes the forecast was accurate, never thought I’d be saying that, but with an early start I had only endured an hour of it, back at the car by 1430hrs. Besides £300 of goretex, gotta get some use out of it :lol:

Re: Beinn a Ghlo before the rain

PostPosted: Sun Aug 10, 2014 7:34 pm
by Gordie12
Nothing quite like working to a tight timescale when you know the rain is on the way!!

Re: Beinn a Ghlo before the rain

PostPosted: Sun Aug 10, 2014 9:01 pm
by guspattullo
:clap: Well done battling through those midges. They are really bad right now. :shock:

Re: Beinn a Ghlo before the rain

PostPosted: Mon Aug 11, 2014 7:17 am
by spiderwebb
Gordie12 wrote:Nothing quite like working to a tight timescale when you know the rain is on the way!!


Best not to make your plans known, then no one knows if you miss them :wink:

guspattullo wrote::clap: Well done battling through those midges. They are really bad right now. :shock:


They were a bit fierce, but had escaped them so far :lol:

Re: Beinn a Ghlo before the rain

PostPosted: Mon Aug 11, 2014 1:32 pm
by dogplodder
Strong wind is notorious on that Carn Liath ridge. I was up there with a girl who was lifted off her feet and got so scared we had to walk her off the hill. Well done on beating the weather! :clap:

Re: Beinn a Ghlo before the rain

PostPosted: Tue Aug 12, 2014 8:40 pm
by spiderwebb
dogplodder wrote:Strong wind is notorious on that Carn Liath ridge. I was up there with a girl who was lifted off her feet and got so scared we had to walk her off the hill. Well done on beating the weather! :clap:


Cripes, best she doesn't walk with me often :lol: