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Carn Dearg - a Culra quickie

Carn Dearg - a Culra quickie


Postby mmm_biscuit » Tue Jun 04, 2013 10:27 pm

Munros included on this walk: Càrn Dearg (Loch Pattack)

Date walked: 25/05/2013

Time taken: 3 hours

Distance: 5.6 km

Ascent: 580m

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The day after our Seana Bhraigh epic - when we should have been recovering / seeking counselling - found us instead heading off to Ben Alder with some friends on a two night camping trip. The weather prediction was for a good day, a middling day, and then a rather bleugh day, in that order. Enthused by such a positive forecast we packed up our stuff, leaving our holiday cottage in Ullapool behind and scooted off down the A9. We had arranged to meet at 11:15. We got there at 11:14!! And we were first! :D This was already A Good Trip!


2013 05 25 Dalwhinnie to Culra Bothy.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts

After some time spent twanging bunjee cords we had everything strapped on to the bikes (tents, check; lashings of custard, check), and set off at around 12:20.

P1040304.jpg
Railway underpass at Dalwhinnie
The track down Loch Ericht is very well looked after so, despite a bit of a headwind, and one or two slightly challenging climbs (all that custard) it was pretty easy going.

P1040307.jpg
Track climbing above Loch Ericht
Leaving the Disney styled gatehouses behind, the track climbs gradually to the W.

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Cycling on towards Loch Pattack
From just beyond the track's summit we picked up the path heading off to the left (we didn't fancy the suspension bridge with our laden bikes). The path is also in excellent condition - clearly looked after by someone (who?) and was pretty easy to cycle along. Passing Culra Bothy there were already a few tents dotted around. After some dithering we eventually picked a spot on the North bank just upstream of the bothy, and set about erecting our mini-tent-village.

Tents up, but no rest for us - the early evening sky was crystal clear, and Carn Dearg was beckoning.


2013 05 25 Carn Dearg.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts


Setting off at 4:20pm, we headed straight up the heathery SE slopes of Carn Dearg (passing, I think, John928 on his way down after doing all 6! http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=32132).

P1040313.jpg
K above Loch Pattack
From there it didn't seem long until we were at the summit cairn - was this the easiest Munro ever?

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Summit!

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Ben Alder

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S enjoying the summit
Headed briefly to the S top to look down into Loch an Sgoir.

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End of the ridge (N's photo)

P1040318.jpg
Looking down from the south top
After a celebratory (but barely earned) dram we trotted back down by the same route to the tents, dinner, and John928's evening burlesque show.
mmm_biscuit
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Re: Carn Dearg - a Culra quickie

Postby skuk007 » Wed Jun 05, 2013 10:08 pm

Nice looking photos there, looks like a good time was had.
You need to work on the nutrition, lashings of custard? :lol:
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skuk007
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Re: Carn Dearg - a Culra quickie

Postby mmm_biscuit » Thu Jun 06, 2013 1:27 pm

You need to work on the nutrition, lashings of custard? :lol:

There really should have been 5 of us - then the custard and ginger beer would have made perfect sense!
mmm_biscuit
Mountain Walker
 
Posts: 23
Munros:275   Corbetts:8
Fionas:6   Donalds:1
Sub 2000:6   
Joined: May 26, 2012

Re: Carn Dearg - a Culra quickie

Postby john928 » Wed Jun 12, 2013 6:55 pm

mmm_biscuit wrote:Setting off at 4:20pm, we headed straight up the heathery SE slopes of Carn Dearg (passing, I think, John928 on his way down after doing all 6! http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=32132)


Yep I remember you guys - it was a cracking weekend and you certainly had a busy one!

and John928's evening burlesque show


Again...soooo sorry bout that :oops:
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