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The one that got away...

PostPosted: Tue Jul 31, 2018 10:48 pm
by Alfachick
So as the weather was so spectacularly good the weekend following our wee camping adventure and learning curve, I decided that I should finally tick off the one that got away....

Regular readers (if I have any :? ) may remember my post of the Cairnwell 3.... Here it is if you havent had the delights of pictures of fog and rain...
https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=72309
So the little red pin in the walk highlands map of my munros was really starting to pee me off and I decided I would trick a mate into climbing it with me :D I am a good friend....

We set off rather late as it was a kind of last minute plan and a little persuasion and trickery had to take place, however we got to the cairn well pass around 11am.

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The road ahead, and the snow patch of dooooooooooom


The day was shaping up to be a scorcher! Gosh I wish it had been like this last year! Anyway, off we set straight up Glas Maol nae bother, this time I was treated to the views at the top and wow were they good today! I am pretty sure I could see almost all the way to the Crainlarich mountains it was that expansive!

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A different kind of summit selfie


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Looking North towards the Cairngorms


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Cream Leacach, our next target


A quick stop on the summit for photos and mountain spotting, as is tradition, and we were off over to Creag Leacach. This summit was reached without any drama and as we were a bit late in the day we managed to get it to ourselves, having passed several people on the way down already.

We lingered here for a while as it was so warm and balmy, a spot of sunbathing was even partaken in! Sunbathing on top of a munro in May! Amazing! It really was that hot though. Fabulous.

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The Cairnwell pass and munroes from Creag Leacach


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Looking West from Creag Leacach


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Glas Maol and the way back


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Summit(ish) selfie


We enjoyed soaking up the rays and views for a good half hour or so and then headed back down to the belach and aimed to cut the corner off and avoid the summit of Glas Maol, unfortunately there was a massive snow patch over the path that we had taken, we were so lost in conversation that we hadnt realised we were heading straight for it. Doh! So a small detour was taken to the uphill side of the snow patch where the ground was incredibly steep, it was starting to set off my vertigo. There were two walkers that we could see who had detoured to the downslope side of the snow patch and who were looking up at us occasionally. How I envied them! Still no incidents and we made it onto the path for Glas Maol with only slightly jellied legs!

Then straight back down to the car, a quick refreshment in the cafe and then home in time for tea. A lovely day out and one to remember.

Re: The one that got away...

PostPosted: Wed Aug 01, 2018 9:42 am
by HalfManHalfTitanium
Great photos with some stunning long-distance views!

I like the "different kind of summit selfie" too!

I think you did right to traverse back on Glas Maol, despite the snow patch. When I did this route we descended from Creag Leacach to the road. Then the slog back up to the Cairnwell car park was the toughest half-hour of the whole week! (which had included Ben Macdui and Lochnagar)

Some pics of our adventures in that area at
https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=77094
https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=77096
https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=77095

Tim

Re: The one that got away...

PostPosted: Wed Aug 01, 2018 2:50 pm
by Alfachick
Thank you for showing me the views that we missed out on our trip up the cairn well 3! Those walk reports of yours are excellent. The Lochnagar one really made me want to head up there as soon as possible, I have been kind of saving it for a bit to take the Yorkshire man out again. :lol: