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Over Night Camp
Date. Friday 14th and Saturday 15th May 2010
Completed by. Dave, Julie and Wilson
Weather. Clear with mainly blue skies
Time. 11.5 hrs
Distance 30.5 km
Ascent. 1600 m
Hills. Munro’s x 5
Corbett’s x 1
Lochnagar,Carn a Choire Bhoidheach,CarnAn Sagairt Mor, Cairn Bannoch and Broad Cairn
Conachcraig
Starting from. Loch Muick visitor ctr
This was it, the start of our heavy pack training, and with several big routes planned for the near future we decided on doing the lochnagar circular route to include the above 5 munros and catching the Corbett Conachcraig on route.
Arrived at the visitor ctr on Friday afternoon and set off at 4pm for the Corbett Conachcraig. After heading n/w for about 1km we entered the woods at Allot Na Giubhsaich once through the forest we took a direct route up the steep heathery slopes and soon reached the the 850 top then promptly headed for Caisteal na calico at 862m, this top was a rather rocky affair with nice views to the cliffs of Lochnagar. From here we headed for the true summit of Conachcraig.
Our plan was to catch Lochnagar and set up camp between Lochnagar and Carn a Choire Bhoidheach………….. Never quite worked out that way.
Soon we had descended the Corbett and were heading towards Meikle Pap passing a memorial on the way.
This was where the dark cliffs of Lochnagar first came into view, still looking rather wintry from a distance with the last of the snow still clearly visible. Heading S/W we soon gained height up the steep face and started to creep our way round the cliffs heading for the summit.. It was around this point we came across at least 15/20 mini cairns ( can I assume this is to assist in bad weather ). Anyhow time was getting on and it was nearing 8pm. Was getting rather windy and visibility had dropped so we decided to set camp on what must have been the only descent pitch around.
Soon it was morning and we awoke to freezing temperatures, the ground was rock hard and visibility was very poor (if only we went for the summit last night) By 6.45 am we were on the summit and for 5 mins the sun burned through giving us some nice views after all.
Back to the tent we headed had some breakfast, packed the gear and were on our way soon after 8am and come 10.15 we had reached Carn a Choire Bhoidheach and CarnAn Sagairt Mor .
From here looking S/E, Cairn Bannoch and Broad Cairn are easily noticeable in the distance and with negligible height to be climbed this should be a nice run in.
From the stable hut at the foot of Broad Cairn near Corrie Chash we decided to take the lower footpath along Loch Muick before joining the 4 x 4 track about halfway along the Loch and finally heading back for the visitor centre to end a super 1 ½ days walk.