free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
Easy walk up to Chalamain Gap then a bit of a struggle through the boulders which made me decide on a bypass to the north for the return. Once beyond CG though plain sailing the whole way apart from a surprisingly cold spell for an hour below the top. Still, it felt very easy to get there and the cool/cold wind was quite uplifting. Enjoyed looking down into the Lairig Ghru over the crags that line the lower slopes of Sron na Lairige.
A bit disappointed not to get a clear summit but still plenty of views just below and quite atmospheric having the mist and gusty wind there. Brief stop at the top then straight back down but feeling less energetic and creeking around the knees a bit.
Managed a comical fall just before CG on the way back. Not exactly sure what I did but have taken to keeping my trousers loose around my ankles and seemed to catch one trouser leg with the opposite foot and that was me falling like a log. Managed to stick my right knee out as a "cushion" at the last moment and this seemed to help distribute the impact. Anyway, got up slowly and no damage done. Then took a fairly easy bypass north of the CG and was very pleased with how much peril I avoided by doing this.
So what I thought could be an uncomfortably warm walk was nothing of the sort, on the way up at least.
view of Meall a' Bhuachaille from near the Sugar Bowl
the cloud that was forecast to lift -onwards!
first glimpse of the Chalamian Gap
final snaky section of path to CG
haha! this looks easy
oh
a bit of a struggle for me
at last, out into the surprisingly open land between CG and Lairig Ghru
route ahead plainly in sight
glimpse of the northern corries
crags looming over Lairig Ghru
view west to Sgor Gaoith
Ben Rinnes to the north east
Lurcher's Crag, Meall a' Bhuachaille, Ben Rinnes and co
March Burn
Devil's Point
River Dee
Lochan Uaine
misty at the top
back down out of the cloud
and the view north
cloud off Sgor Gaoith so probably off Braeriach by now
Lurcher's Crag
bypassing Chalamain Gap to the north -a really easy alternative