White Mounth on a PERFECT day to reach 70

[jamesb63]

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Well I had looked at all the forecasts and all seemed to agree that for clear tops
I was best to head East,and so it was I set out at 4am to head to Braemar
and the White Mounth Munros,
As to be expected the roads were empty and I made good time,but heading over
through Glenshee I could hardly see 20ft in front of me
Once I had dropped down to Braemar it was a lot clearer and the sky had an orange glow
The satnav was sending me I a continuous circle in the Balmoral area
So I stopped in the dark at a small sort of booth with a light on ,approaching it a nice guy
carrying a Heckler and Kock MP5 gave me directions to Loch Muick and in 10 mins I was
at the car park ,so it was just a case of rucksack on and into the hills

First view up to Lochnagar

Arriving at the car park I paid my dues £3 and was on my way in no time
just on with shoes and rucksack and we were of toward the first goal of the day Lochnagar
everything was perfect for walking both the weather nice and cool though not cold
and the paths are in excellent condition ,so good that at the end of the day
my feet were dry and I never even had a bit of dirt on my Scarpa Zens
in what seemed like no time at all with no stops I was at Meikle Pap
so turning left I was making my way up but stopping for some pics of Lochnagar cliffs

Lochnagar Cliffs

Skirting around the top of the cliffs I was soon at the final pull to summit number 1
Lochnagar a boy was it worth it the views all around were breathtaking
and I was standing where Queen Victoria herself had stood but seemingly
she was not blessed with the weather I was having today

Jake on Lochnagar summit

View from top of Lochnagar cliffs

Miekle Pap

After a few snaps I was setting off toward Carn a' Choire Bhoidheach

Looking back towards Lochnagar

Loch Nan Eun and Stuic Buttress

With a good brisk pace and being in a world of my own next thing I knew
we were standing on the summit of Carn a' Choire Bhoidheach

Munro number 2 for the day with Lochnagar in the background

Looking around I did notice that Broad Cairn the final top seemed a long long way

I decided I would stop on top number 3 Carn a' t-sargait to feed Jake and myself
looking over I could see where I was only last week doing the Glas Maol 6

Tom Buidhe and Tolmount

Looking down over Dubh Loch ,Eagle rock on the left

All around the Autumn colours were so vivid even simple mosses and lichens
and grasses can look great in there own settings

Autumn in the White Mounth Stunning

Traversing around Carn a' t-Sargait I reached the the path turning right
to make the final ascent up to the summit
I also noticed on the way the wreckage scattered all around a wide area
of the Canberra jet that came down in 1956

Summit of number 3 Carn a' t-Sargait

Some pics of the wreckage of the Canberra jet

While looking at the wreckage a Hare run out from under it and stood about 50yds
away as if to say hurry up I want back under there

Hare I disturbed from his wreck of a home

With jake fed I decided I would not stop for my own lunch and instead eat on the move
as I had read the times wee between 8-11hrs for the walk and Broad Cairn did look so far away
I was now turning for home and heading on towards Cairn Bannoch
Over towards Eagle Rock one Stag seemed to be making more noise than all the others that were roaring
and looking over I soon spotted him with his Harem

The Stag and his ladies (not very good pic ) they were a long way off

Waterfall at Eagle Rock

It was just a slight rise and we were then on the top of number 4 Cairn Bannoch

Summit of Cairn Bannoch

With a drink of some fluids I was soon on the descent and on towards Broad Cairn
which even from here looked a good distance but again the paths were fantastic
and just being engrossed in everything all around I was on the final pull up Broad Cairn
before I knew it ,Standing on top I had now raised my total since starting in mid April
to 70 and my partner Jake is now on 65

Suumit shot on Broad Cairn looking down the Beautiful Loch Muick

Looking back at Eagle rock on the right and Creag an Dubh Loch on the left

The decent of Broad Cairn needs a bit of route picking through the boulderfield
but nothing to difficult just watching for loose boulders
Heading over to the right a little I was soon on the path and here I met the first
walkers I had seen all day saying some hellos they said they were just doing Broad Cairn
I reached some sort of shelter on the pathe with an army landrover parked at it but no signs
of anyone nearby ,I turned left here from the landrover track and on the decent down to the
Loch Muick Path, the path again as throughout the whole walk was perfect for walking

Looking back up Lock Muick and up Allt an Dubh Loch

Looking across to what was the Queen Mothers residence when she was at Balmoral

The Lock Muick footpath was VERY busy today with walkers going clockwise and anti clockwise
so I done a lot of overtaking round the lochside

I really liked these small falls on the Black Burn
where it drops just above the footbridge to Loch Muick

About 15 mins after the small falls on the Black Burn and we were back at the car
and boy did I enjoy my walk and a big thanks to all who look after the paths so well

[Petr Dakota]

Nice walk James
It brought a good memories from there despite the fact that I made the circle expanded ( unwanted ) in drizzly-fogy-snowy condition , but finally I got a clear views on the day
You will reach the 100 soon

[basscadet]

Looked Brilliant, and like Petr, it brought back brilliant memories.. It is easy to forget how magnificent Lochnagar is, and my first WH meet, we did the scramble up the Stuic..
You make it sound so easy, but its a bloomin long way, well done

[jamesb63]

Nice walk James
It brought a good memories from there despite the fact that I made the circle expanded ( unwanted ) in drizzly-fogy-snowy condition , but finally I got a clear views on the day
You will reach the 100 soon

I would like to do this walk in the snow it would be amazing I think
i will treat myself to a beer when i make it to 100

[jamesb63]

Looked Brilliant, and like Petr, it brought back brilliant memories.. It is easy to forget how magnificent Lochnagar is, and my first WH meet, we did the scramble up the Stuic..
You make it sound so easy, but its a bloomin long way, well done

Many thanks BC It was a case of everything on the day coming together nicely
and as i say i was so engrossed in the walk it just flew by
An it is a bloomin long way specially when you look from Carn a t-Sargait mor
towards Broadcairn and again from the top of the hill before dropping
onto the Loch Muick path that seems to go on a fair bit as well
But the paths do help

[BlackPanther]

What a lovely day for the round number! At that pace you will complete by the end of next year!

I actually never did the full round of Whitemouth, and that because we climbed Sagairt and Bhoidheach from Glen Callater side, Broad Cairn and Bannoch including return via Loch Dubh. Both walks over 25km but it's a superb area to explore.

I agree it would be great to visit these in full winter conditions. We climbed Conachcraig in deep snow and it was fantastic, that's just a mere outlier of the whole group... Getting through to Loch Muick car park in heavy snow is another matter though

[jamesb63]

What a lovely day for the round number! At that pace you will complete by the end of next year!

I actually never did the full round of Whitemouth, and that because we climbed Sagairt and Bhoidheach from Glen Callater side, Broad Cairn and Bannoch including return via Loch Dubh. Both walks over 25km but it's a superb area to explore.

I agree it would be great to visit these in full winter conditions. We climbed Conachcraig in deep snow and it was fantastic, that's just a mere outlier of the whole group... Getting through to Loch Muick car park in heavy snow is another matter though

Thankyou BP I have no doubts it would be a struggle just getting there in heavy snow
but it would be worth it,It is definetly an area I will return to