Glen Geldie, Glen Feshie and Lairig Ghru circular

[Scottk]

This was my first camping outing of the year and I used it as a gear shakedown prior to the TGO challenge. I planned a route to allow 2 nights camping but managed to do it with an just overnight.
I took everything I might use on the challenge which is more than I would take normally but it needed to be a true test. The tent is a Tarptent Scarp 1 rather than my Nordisk Telemark 1. A bit heavier but so much more space.
After a leisurely big breakfast at home, I jumped in the car and headed for Linn of Dee. Arrived just after noon, got my gear together and set off. Although the car park was reasonably busy I didn't see many people all day. My route started off towards the White Bridge and through Glen Geldie[img][img]https://farm1.staticflickr.com/935/40727776965_3a6d794b21_z.jpg[/img]2. Glen Geldie looking to Glen Feshie [/url], on Flickr[/img]. Glen Geldie looking to Glen Feshie[/url] [/url], on Flickr[/img][img][img]https://farm1.staticflickr.com/794/39811712540_847b9fc81d_z.jpg[/img]4. White Bridge towards Lairig Ghru by Scott Kinghorn, on Flickr[/img][img][img]https://farm1.staticflickr.com/897/27750206198_320f6178b9_z.jpg[/img]CIMG2576 by Scott Kinghorn, on Flickr[/img]The forecast was good but there was a cool wind with moisture on the air. This turned to drizzle and occasional heavy showers throughout the afternoon! [img][img]https://farm1.staticflickr.com/834/39811710120_8523a73d63_z.jpg[/img]CIMG2577 by Scott Kinghorn, on Flickr[/img][img][img]https://farm1.staticflickr.com/843/26751118027_58fbe514d3_z.jpg[/img]CIMG2582 by Scott Kinghorn, on Flickr[/img][img][img]https://farm1.staticflickr.com/858/26751116267_b6485128c7_z.jpg[/img]CIMG2585 by Scott Kinghorn, on Flickr[/img]
In between showers it was brilliant in the sun but it was annoying afternoon of waterproofs on and off. I eventually just left my waterproof trousers on and unzipped the vents.
Some of the burns were quite swollen probably due to the showers and snow melt. This meant I had some interesting crossings and a couple of detours to save getting my feet wet.
The waterfalls were quite imposing and very picturesque.[img][img]https://farm1.staticflickr.com/849/40727759535_3440b84f4f_z.jpg[/img]CIMG2588 by Scott Kinghorn, on Flickr[/img][img][img]https://farm1.staticflickr.com/869/27750204098_86136b8166_z.jpg[/img]CIMG2580 by Scott Kinghorn, on Flickr[/img][imgCIMG2583 by Scott Kinghorn, on Flickr][/img][img][img]https://farm1.staticflickr.com/849/40727759535_3440b84f4f_z.jpg[/img]CIMG2588 by Scott Kinghorn, on Flickr[/img][imgCIMG2589 by Scott Kinghorn, on Flickr][/img][imgCIMG2591 by Scott Kinghorn, on Flickr][/img]
Up to this point I had not seen another person but although the Bothy looked quiet it was actually busy. There were guys cooking in both of the downstairs rooms and another 4 upstairs getting their beds ready. The stoves were going and it was lovely and warm but too early to stop for me. The toilet blocks looked good too. There isn't much left to do-there is a door frame ready to be fitted and some hooks to hang but should be finished soon. I did wonder where these guys had co e from but when I passed the car park at Auchlean there were 5 cars there so that must have been some if them. Sorry, no pictures of the Bothy but it is something special and hopefully will be appreciated and looked after.
Further walking took me past a number of lovely camp spots but I kept going until I was out of Feshie estate and on a road. Now struggling for a decent spot I was getting aware of the time and needed to find somewhere. I was passing through a birch wood and spotted a likely area so jumped the fence. It was too soggy but after walking a little further found an ideal spot quite close to the river and not visible from the road.[imgCIMG2593 by Scott Kinghorn, on Flickr][/img] Set up camp and got dinner on. Had a good nights sleep but woken at 4:20 by a bloody bird!! Managed to nod off again until 7.
When I went to fill my water, the level had dropped about a foot overnight.
Quite a boring walk along a tarred road in the morning. Got to the Cairngorm gliding club and my route went over the cattle grid continuing on the road. I decided that there was a good forestry track which would save me some time. I followed this until it ended. On the map it looked like it was quite close to Inshriach Bothy and it probably was as the crow flies!! Spent about an hour going through trees and heather and boggy ground. Very glad to hit the trail at the bridge beside the bothy!

[img][img]https://farm1.staticflickr.com/933/40908579344_5141d7c544_z.jpg[/img]CIMG2595 by Scott Kinghorn, on Flickr[/img] Loch Gammha
[img][img]https://farm1.staticflickr.com/824/41579040052_253b4eb4de_z.jpg[/img]CIMG2598 by Scott Kinghorn, on Flickr[/img] Loch an Eileen
Walked on through the trees on good paths seeing plenty of folk. Many on mountain bikes-the numbers of which seem to have exploded in the last few years. Great to see so many people taking advantage of the great outdoors but certainly raises a question on how sustainable it is to have so many people and bikes in close proximity. Some serious investment in separate paths for bikes needs to be made.
Got onto the path to the Lairig Ghru - it's pretty well signposted and continued up the Rothiemurchus to the tree line where i stopped for some lunch.[img][img]https://farm1.staticflickr.com/917/41619039691_f64f90b65b_z.jpg[/img]CIMG2601 by Scott Kinghorn, on Flickr[/img] Vie down from the forest trail.
After a quick bite and a change of socks, I cracked on.
[img][img]https://farm1.staticflickr.com/929/40908571484_b060a93bb2_z.jpg[/img]CIMG2602 by Scott Kinghorn, on Flickr[/img] This is the path near the Sinclair memorial stone. The stone is about 20m further up so gives an idea of the snow cover. Bit nerve wracking walking over it.
[img][img]https://farm1.staticflickr.com/940/40727746985_b407314837_z.jpg[/img]CIMG2604 by Scott Kinghorn, on Flickr[/img] Looking back to Aviemore
The path was good until hitting the snow patches. This slowed me down a bit. I was pretty cautious as there was no way to know how much weight it would bear and it was a bit slippy.[img][img]https://farm1.staticflickr.com/830/41619033651_e3354a526c_z.jpg[/img]CIMG2607 by Scott Kinghorn, on Flickr[/img] Pools of Dee
[imgCIMG2609 by Scott Kinghorn, on Flickr][/img] Looking towards Devils Peak
[imgCIMG2613 by Scott Kinghorn, on Flickr][/img]More pools with cornices
[imgCIMG2615 by Scott Kinghorn, on Flickr][/img]Start of the River Dee
Eventually got past all the snow and picked the pace up. It was now a walk out to the Linn of Dee
[imgCIMG2616 by Scott Kinghorn, on Flickr][/img]Path towards the Linn of Dee
Got to Luibeg Burn and the normal crossing point was pretty swollen. Eventually waded across with the help of my walking poles.Nice walk out in the sun but it is still the most boring part. I usually take a bike but as I had left on a different route this wasn't possible.

[Scottk]

Can anyone tell me why some of the pictures are showing and some aren't. I'll try and sort them but will be away for a week or so.

[Guinessman]

Scott doing the same as you, warming up for the TGO. Did the WHW in March and did an 8 day backpack around the Cairngorms beginning of April.
In relation to your Flickr the only thing I can think is that the pastings are split. In relation to that just to clean it up a bit when you paste your BBcode remove the wording from the word "by" you will find when posted it will leave only image and number.
Might see you on the TGO!

[Scottk]

Thanks Guinessman, will try that.
I'm starting at Shiel Bridge and finishing at Dunnottar Castle. Be good to bump into a few people. Mine is mostly a low walk as its my first one so getting a feel for it.
Cheers, Scott