We'd long planned to head up to Scotland for the last weekend in July but the weather forecast did not look at all promising in the lead up with the best of any weather suggesting East of the A9. No problem. Love the Cairngorms.
After arriving in Aviemore late on Thursday night/Friday morning, we pitched and got a few hours before an early start with the idea being to tackle the Cairn Toul - Braeriach traverse on Friday.
While the weather was clearly better where we were we had to be realistic and realise that we were climbing some of the biggest hills in the Country and clag along the plateau was very likely.
As it turned out we only really got clag along the plateau from Braeriach to Cairn Toul - meaning careful navigation was required which was made easier by keeping right to the edge of the cliffs on our left. Winds got lighter throughout the day and the clag lifted entirely after Cairn Toul to leave a good day on the whole with only passing showers afterwards.
The route itself is a demanding one with some rough boulder crossings. My mate slipped on the approach to the Chalamain Gap the second time round and cut his chin (I'll not post the pictures on here). Luckliy we were close to the car and he was able to quickly get to Aviemore for three stitches. But a reminder of the perils of this route, particularly during that second crossing so late in the day.
Despite this setback it was a day to remember.
Camera went funny early and phones also kept playing so pictures are a mixed bag to say the least.
- Good approach path from the Sugar Bowl car park
- Chalamain Gap ahead. Very scenic and the boulders are big enough to scramble but great care is needed as we found out later
- Looking back to Meall a' Bhuachaille
- The weather was ok till now but higher up it was clearly grimmer as we climbed up to the ridge
- Clarifying the route before heading into the clag
- Braeriach summit - the weather had been windy and wet on the ridge but the winds really dropped here and the rain stopped
- Sgor an Lochain Uaine summit - we stuck closely to the cliff edge from Braeriach to ease navigation
- Cairn Toul summit
- Everything started to clear as we descended Cairn Toul and we could see our next objectives
- Descending the boulders on Cairn Toul
- Looking back at Sgor an Lochain Uaine - very close together these two
- Some wild areas about in the Cairngorms
- Ben Macdui from the Devils Point
- Looking up the Lairig Ghru - we've got a long way to go
- Dan and Will in front of shapely Cairn Toul
- Devils Point from below
- Devils Point
- Nearly at Corrour Bothy
- Checking out Corrour
- Walking the Lairig Ghru. Plenty of re-ascent needed, some boulder fields to cross and a demanding rocky path make this anything but a simple walk out from Corrour - and we still had the gap to cross again yet.
- Naismith + 25% - that's what I call motoring! 
You MUST have been jogging on the downhills, and doing the uphills like an express train...???.
