Geal Charn (Loch Laggan)

[Cairngorm creeper]

Geal Charn was on the unfinished business list for us as we had failed to do it with Creag Pitridh last December and we thought we might make it a double with Beinn a' Chlachair, but after sleeping in and making a late start we thought tackling the two mountains was pushing our luck.
Although the human factor was lacking in drive, the weather, mountains and snow were all in fine form.

The route and data

We started walking at 10:10 and by 11:00 we reached beautiful Lochan Na-H Earba. This beautiful Lochan is worth walking to even if you go no further, although there was a lot less water about then when we came this way in December after the torrential rain.

Bridge across the Lochan

Lochan na H-Earba

The snow line was at 500m where the path crosses Allt Corrie Pitridh.

11:30 crossing Allt Corrie Pitridh

The track made for quite easy walking even under the snow (not sure what it would be like if it wasn't frozen) and the looking back there were snow covered mountains stretching in all directions.

Looking down the track to the west

The snow formations in Allt Corrie Pitridh were impressive.
A guy who had biked up to the end of the track overtook us, kindly creating tracks in the snow and the blue sky just kept beckoning us forward.

A beckoning horizon

We cut off left before we reached the end of the track to follow the broad ridge up towards Geal Charn. A bit of a lumpy walk with patches of slightly deeper wet snow but no deep drifts (I was thankful for this as our trail breaker had taken a different line). The snow soon became firm enough for crampons to be useful.

Beinn a Chlachair in background

Up the ridge

Looking out to the northwest

Oh those lovely snowy tops

The OH was still recovering from a nasty bug but progressing manfully upwards when we were overtaken by a couple of guys on holiday from Glouceter who were impressed by the weather this week.

Great snow feilds, must be nearly there.

Geal Charn Summit ahead

Looking back from the summit

The trig point and beyond

14:20 time for the summit photo

Geal Charn

Sustenance at last

Beautiful snow

Such a beautiful day we had to drag ourselves away from the summit at 15:00, but it was an easy and enjoyable descent.

Heading down

16:42 A brew by the Allt Corrie Pitridh

Sun reflected in small Lochan

Beinn a' Chlachair

The sun setting over Beinn Chlachair as a reminder that we need to come back.

Sun Setting over Craig Megaidh

18:30 and back to the car after another day spent basking in the winter sun.