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A few years ago when very new to hill / mountain walking I tired to do Braeriach from Linn of Dee. I was quite fit at the time, so not such a daft idea. I started up towards Lairig Ghru on a really nice path and then turned into the Buidheanach Burn gulley and got as far as Sgòr an Lochain Uaine. It was an interesting walk and very scenic. At Sgòr an Lochain Uaine as time was getting on decided to just go back down the way I'd come more or less. It turned into an epic battle to gee myself along to get home. My knee had started to hurt and it was getting dark
Just another ten times the length of the 15th at Whitekirk and I'd be at the camp site and then only another ... come on only another to ... character building
I'd really like to go back and finish the job, but this time I will ride in and out on the bike and then go up to Cairn Toul from the bothy. Concerned snow would still be an issue I decided on these tamer couple of Munros.
Duly set out albeit very late around five in the afternoon and went down for a look at the iconic rush as the Dee forces it's way through the gap
before heading in along the track.
Reminisced my previous agony before crossing the bridge and making my way further in
What can only be Beinn a' Ghlò made its present very obvious as I neared the junction of the two Bynach and Geldie burns
Had a look at the foundation caissons of the long gone foot bridge next to the red roofed bothy and continued in along the Geldie burn which at this point is one of those Scottish rivers with big boulders in it
Looks like another bridge met it match many moons ago and was swept away
there's now a wooden footbridge a few metres upstream.
Forded the Allt Dhaidh Mor and carried on.
A view of the munros
as the Geldie burn turns into meander, but still fast flowing
Spotted Geldie Lodge ruins
not far to go now before I'm walking, but the Geldie Burn and the Allt Corie an t-Seilich need to be forded. Using the bike as a stability and crossing a few metres up form the main ford I made it across the Geldie dry and the Seilich is now where near as deep or intimidating.
Other reports which suggest if the Geldie is in spat that this crossing would be a show stopper aren't exaggerated
Had a quick look around the ruins of Geldie lodge and then took up the stalkers path
towards the junction to leave the bike. It's a good path and easily cycled, although I did get off at each culvert and walk across,
http://www.dannymacaskill.co.uk/ would have hopped over them with ease.
Chained up the bike, not really much need as I was the only one here
This is drumlin country
Made my way down to the Allt a Chaorainn
which is easily crossed, but don't expect much of a path on the other side
I haulded myself up over the drumlins. Met a few frogs on the way
Saving grace is that summit isn't that far away and the going gets easy after about four hundred metres.
Even on the ridge up there were some nice views, the sunlight glinting off the burn and the pools surrounding it
Looks like it is going to be a fabulous sunset
Got to the summit
but aware of the time wasn't hanging around and quickly made my way down to the first bealach. Some very pregnant deer
there are certainly a lot of them around this year
It's a long descent into the gulley which is a boggy peat hag
but it doesn't last long and it's soon up some reasonable going although quite steep terrain to the summit, taking in a quick look at the shelter on the way
but no lingering, the sun is going down
Not really a shock, and I'm pretty sure that on a bright night this far North at this time of year it will only be twilight and not full darkness.
The summit of An Sgarsoch
and it is an fabulous sunset
Got down to a snow field and thought what a good opportunity to save time
Checked out the snow and it is soft and I will easily control my descent so on my bum and slide down
Noticed a drop off and bailed out to the side, just as well as it was a fifteen to twenty feet drop
Phew
It was pretty gloomy now, so its head for the bike get the head torch on and head back, scaring a few grouse on the way.
A couple of final shots of Fhidhleir and Sgarsoch in the twilight.
My only issue now would be getting across the burns again
Gradually made my way along and past the Geldie ruins and before I knew it cycled straight through the Seilich
Tried to do the same with the Geldie crossing and to be fair I made it three quarters of the way across before having to put my feet down, up to the knees, boots full of water sais la vie
Walked out, squelch squelch, could have been a lot worse.
I'm on my way home now and on a good track, so it won't take long. Got to the next ford and no decision this time, got off the bike and walked straight through.
Took longer in the dark than in the daylight and I was taking it easy to be safe and sure. Got back to the car about one thirty am with feet like blocks of ice and boots that weight five kilos each
Still a much more pleasant dark ending than the last time
