Lochnagar and more, from Auchallater, What a day!
Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2015 8:37 pmAnother Argyll Mountaineering Club's weekends landed us in the Braemar area and it was the to be a small but select party to converge to meet in 'The Bothy' a fairly new Coffee shop in Braemar as the Fife Arms Hotel had the decidedly Closed look, maybe it opens at Easter? The Big Three of us discussed, plans A, B, and C and finally a plan of action was hatched over fabulous bacon rolls and coffee. Plan A Two Munros, Plan B three Munros and Plan C Five Munros, no contest really, plan C it was as the MWIS forecast was looking good for Saturday in particular for the whole day. The time now was about 1300hrs and the decided to drive back down A93 to Auchallater also one of the starts of Jock's Road, walk in with big packs to Loch Callater where two were to find accommodation at the MBA Bothy 'The Stables' and I was to pitch my tent overlooking the loch. The walk to Loch Callater took us our heavy packs just over an hour, after pitching the tent and getting our tea at the bothy it was an early night to get us prepared for the Big day ahead (Saturday). One of the group had been struggling with blisters with his 4 season boots so the approach from this side meant that after scaling Lochnagar we could just return and leave Cairn Bannoch and Broad Cairn for another day, if we needed to.
- The Bothy in Braemar where a warm welcome awaits with a huge selection of food and drinks. This is where the weekend plans were hatched over a few spread out OS Maps
- After leaving the carpark at Auchallater, large size will take probably more than a dozen cars £2.50 pay at machine. There is a good track all the way to Callater Lodge and Loch and Bothy, there is a bridge crossing of the Callater Burn approximately at half distance (just over 5k to Loch etc)
- Group photograph just outside the Bothy. After a freezing night in the tent I was glad to get moving. The route starts just at a boundary fence to the North of the Bothy, the path is generally well constructed and the gradient makes for easy walking. Left Bothy at 0845hrs
- Looking back to the Lodge, Loch and Bothy from the path above
- Gradual climbing on the East side of Loch Callater
- In all my hill walking years I have never seen so much wildlife, Mountain Hares with their winter coats, hundreds of Red Grouse, Ptarmagan and Deer
- Told you it was a frosty night, Brrrrrrrrrr, nice shapes!
- After leaving the path which goes to the South of Carn an t-Sagairt Mor we headed directly up to the summit and found a piece of a wrecked aircraft, a wheel. Summit time 1 3/4hrs from the bothy
- There are two summit cairns we went to both as both looked nearly the same height. Next was to head over to the summit of the Munro Top Carn an t-Sagairt Beag
- This was the one time we took it very steady and probably we should have fitted crampons but in the end the micro spikes were fine
- Looking over to Broad Cairn and Cairn Bannoch with the Dubh Loch in between
- Looking North West where even bigger hills were looking very inviting
- Summit cairn on Carn an t- Saigairt Beag looking towards The Stuic, Lochnagar and Carn a' Choire Bhoidheach on the right
- Thought it was cold in the tent last night Loch nan Eun just North of The Stuic
- The cliffs and Snow Cornice at The Stuic
- The cairn of Carn a' Choire Bhoidheach on the horizon with some icy parts to negotiate
- Another climber from Aberdeen with his dog from Aberdeen who had an early start from Loch Muick took this for us, thanks again if your reading. Time from bothy to this summit 2h 20mins
- The Summit of Lochnagar looking pretty busy as we were expecting on such a glorious day
- Two of the gang with two others from Forfar and District Hill Walking Club, Hi again, nice to have met you all, hope you enjoyed the day as much as we did! We left the summit at 1400hrs
- Heading off Lochnagar to the South
- Traversing the SE slopes of Carn an t-Sagairt Mor heading for Cairn Bannoch
- Looking towards Cairn Bannoch
- Summit cairn of Cairn Bannoch looking towards our last Munro targer Broad Cairn the Munro I have climbed the most times always from Glen Doll
especially with that loaded rucksack...great trip in great area...all 5 hills = good effort...Well done ! 
