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So the bug has set in. It was only two days after bagging Bynack More and we were already sitting here on WH looking at what Munro we could conquer next. Mount Keen was being mooted as our second Munro, but we thought we would like to challenge ourselves for the second Munro, so we settled on Sgor Gaoith in beautiful Glen Feshie. Getting all excited about doubling our tally, we kept one eye on the weather forecast and felt our hearts drop when Saturday in Aviemore was showing as wet. Come Friday though, the forecast improved to a delighful 23C and we were packed and out the door heading for our now traditional McDonalds breakfast before the long drive to Aviemore. For the third time in a row, we arrived at our destination at 9am.
We parked up at the car park on the Auchlean road just before we reached a bridge. There is an information board welcoming you to the Invereshie and Inshriach NNR. Passing alongside a green gate, the well made track leads you through some magnificent trees before reaching a boulder that indicates that we were now in the Cairngorms. A little information notice informed us that 24 hour CCTV is being used in this section of the NNR as there are nesting birds and wildlife being monitored. Immediately we see what looks like an Ospreys nest, high in the trees with a camera box next to it.
The track starts to climb, although it is not very steep though and before too long you are above the tree line and the views start to become breathtaking.
A fork in the path is reached and we followed the path to the left. This led to a small water crossing. Kamila crossed it fine, but Rick as usual, slipped and put his foot right into the water. One day Rick will master the art of walking on water...
The path is still climbing, but at a gentle rate as the views of the nearby Monadhliath's improve. We get our first glimpse of the Gael Charn ridge that will be our return route.
Glen Feshie 1 by
CullenEllermanPhotography, on Flickr
Glen Feshie 2 by
CullenEllermanPhotography, on Flickr
A cool breeze starts to blow as we carry on this gentle climb towards Sgor Gaoith. The track makes its way around the edge of a small hill as we make our way to the Allt a'Chrom Alltain. The path comes close in by the stream and we find some lovely little waterfalls which make a great spot to take a breather.
Feshie Falls 1 by
CullenEllermanPhotography, on Flickr
Feshie Falls 3 by
CullenEllermanPhotography, on Flickr
We reach the end of the path as it crosses the Allt a'Chrom Alltain and we stop to take in the massive grassy hill that we now need to climb to reach the summit. The walk report says that the best way to go is just south of east, so we get the compass out and take our bearings and find some rocks that are visible on the side of the hill are roughly that direction, so we use them as our visual point. Rick put his camera away and we started climbing.
About a third of the way up, Rick found a path heading south. We contemplated taking it, but couldn't be sure that it went the way we wanted. Kamila was keen just to climb straight up, which was a challenge in itself as we have never climbed a hill in this way before. A quick drink of water and the chance for Rick to take a couple of photos and we set off up the hill again.
Sgor Gaoith 1 by
CullenEllermanPhotography, on Flickr
About halfway up we could see a trio at the bottom of the hill. They eventually reached the path that Rick found and then instead of climbing as we were, they took the path. Still enjoying the views, but finding the hill getting steeper, we carried on at a reasonable speed, but with regular stops to get our breath back. The clouds were rolling in, some looking menacing, which spurred us on to reach the summit before the heavens opened. We didn't fancy climbing up this slope in the wet.
After what seemed like forever, the hill started to flatten our and we could see the tip of the summit. We put our fleeces on as the sun had gone behind the clouds and the breeze was quite cold at this height. The views back down Glen Feshie were amazing.
Sgor Gaoith 2 by
CullenEllermanPhotography, on Flickr
As we carried on towards the ridge, the mighty Braeriach loomed large in the background.
Sgor Gaoith 3 by
CullenEllermanPhotography, on Flickr
As Rick started to take photos, the sun re-appeared from behind the clouds and then as we crossed the path on the ridge that leads to the summit, we were greeted by one of the most spectacular views we have ever seen in this country, Loch Einich from above.
Loch Einich 1 by
CullenEllermanPhotography, on Flickr
We just couldn't believe how beautiful it was. The sun and clouds were changing the look of the landscape every few seconds. Kamila wanted to make for the summit a short distance away, but Rick with his camera just couldn't drag himself away from this view.
Loch Einich 2 by
CullenEllermanPhotography, on Flickr
Loch Einich 3 by
CullenEllermanPhotography, on Flickr
Loch Einich Panorama by
CullenEllermanPhotography, on Flickr
Eventually we started to head towards the summit, but Rick couldn't resist stopping every few seconds to take a photo.
Loch Einich 4 by
CullenEllermanPhotography, on Flickr
Loch Einich 7 by
CullenEllermanPhotography, on Flickr
Loch Einich 9 by
CullenEllermanPhotography, on Flickr
Loch Einich in Black and White by
CullenEllermanPhotography, on Flickr
Finally we reached the summit. Sgor Gaoith, 1118m. Our second Munro in a week.
Sgor Gaoith's Summit by
CullenEllermanPhotography, on Flickr
We looked to the south and could see the three people we saw earlier appear, so assumed that path does lead to the summit or takes you to an easier part of the ridge to climb. To the north we could see the cairn on the summit of Sgoran Dubh Mor, a former Munro (1111m). We decided to head there for our lunch. We crossed the bealach and noted our return route across the Gael Charn ridge and began the climb to the cairn. The views opened up and we could see Meall a' Buachaille that we climbed three weeks earlier, Loch Morlich and Aviemore.
Sgoran Dubh Mor 1 by
CullenEllermanPhotography, on Flickr
After a few minutes of walking from Sgor Gaoith, we reached the summit of Sgoran Dubh Mor.
Sgoran Dubh Mor 2 by
CullenEllermanPhotography, on Flickr
This was our lunch time view.
Sgoran Dubh Mor 3 by
CullenEllermanPhotography, on Flickr
Roast Chicken sandwiches always taste better when you have an amazing view in front of you. We sat here for ages. In the distance we could see the Moray Firth and the hills of the Black Isle. The southern Highland's were visible too. Rick went for a wander around the summit with his camera as Kamila relaxed in the sun.
Sgoran Dubh Mor 4 by
CullenEllermanPhotography, on Flickr
Cairngorm Mountains by
CullenEllermanPhotography, on Flickr
Loch Mich Ghille-choile by
CullenEllermanPhotography, on Flickr
Sgoran Dubh Mor Panorama by
CullenEllermanPhotography, on Flickr
Sgoran Dubh Mor 8 by
CullenEllermanPhotography, on Flickr
Braeriach Panorama by
CullenEllermanPhotography, on Flickr
Rick got back to where Kamila was resting. "Might change the rules of the photo competition to 10 entries per person" he laughed. We saw the three people heading down Sgor Gaoith and decided we would start to make our return too. Rick couldn't resist more photos though.
Braeriach Looms by
CullenEllermanPhotography, on Flickr
Sgor Gaoith 4 by
CullenEllermanPhotography, on Flickr
We passed the trio as they started to climb Sgoran Dubh Mor and said a quick hello to them as we reached the our turn off point and made our way to the Gael Charn ridge for our descent.
Geal Charn Ridge 1 by
CullenEllermanPhotography, on Flickr
It was easy going to start with as we went down the grassy side of the hill to reach the first of four hills. The climb up the first hill took hardly any time at all and as we got to the top, we could see a path that led around the second hill, so headed for that to save us having to climb this one. We are glad we chose this route. As we came towards some rocks, a Ptamigan female and her chick appeared. Rick managed to get in quite close to the female to take a photo before we left them alone and carried on to hill number three.
Ptarmigan On The Geal Charn Ridge by
CullenEllermanPhotography, on Flickr
Some gliders appeared from the nearby Cairngorm Gliding Club and kept circling us and showing off. Rick waved at one and it dipped its wings.
Glider 1 by
CullenEllermanPhotography, on Flickr
Glider 2 by
CullenEllermanPhotography, on Flickr
We reached the next hill and saw it was full of rocks and boulders. There was a path up it, but to get to it was a short descent down a slippery gravel path. We gingerly made our way down it, not wanting to slip over in full view of the gliders above.
Geal Charn Ridge 3 by
CullenEllermanPhotography, on Flickr
We found a great spot to return to the path below, but could see a cairn in the distance, so decided to head as far along the ridge as we could whilst we were up here, before backtracking and making our way downhill. The trio had followed us as far as the second hill and were halfway through making their descent as we got back to the bit we had chosen for our return earlier.
Geal Charn Ridge 4 by
CullenEllermanPhotography, on Flickr
This bit was the hardest bit of the whole walk. We were zig-zagging and side-stepping the whole way down. It was soft heather in most places, but there were some hidden rocks too as Rick found out when he grazzed his ankle against one. We used some trees in the distance as a marker and stopped for a drink once we reached them, still a good 100m up from the track. At this point, Rick noticed a cloud that looked like a Camel lying down, so just had to take a photo of it.
Camel Cloud by
CullenEllermanPhotography, on Flickr
Eventually we reached the original path and it felt so good to be back on terra firma. We looked up at what we had just climbed down.
Geal Charn Ridge 5 by
CullenEllermanPhotography, on Flickr
The sun came out and it was time for our fleeces to come off again. We still had another half an hour back to the car. More gliders appeared from the nearby aerodrome. The Aeroplane pilot was having a busy day today.
Gliders 4 by
CullenEllermanPhotography, on Flickr
We reached the stream that Rick got wet in on the way up, but this time he managed to cross it no bother. The views in this region are amazing.
We passed by the large nest once more, but couldn't see any signs of life and after 7 hours arrived back at our baking hot car. The drive to Nethy Bridge was an interesting one. We saw horse riders, cross country roller bladers, skate boarders, cyclists and a bloke on a pogo stick. Ah, Aviemore...
A quick stop in Nethy Bridge for an ice-cream and we set off back to the east coast very satisfied with what we had just achieved. We were happy that we chose a challenging Munro for our second one after the easy Bynack More with its paths all the way. Thank goodness there is no cure for this Munro bagging bug. We only wish we had started climbing Munro's a couple of years earlier.