walkhighlands

Share your personal walking route experiences in Scotland, and comment on other peoples' reports.
Warning Please note that hillwalking when there is snow lying requires an ice-axe, crampons and the knowledge, experience and skill to use them correctly. Summer routes may not be viable or appropriate in winter. See winter information on our skills and safety pages for more information.

Fiacaill Ridge Scramble & Ben Macdui

Fiacaill Ridge Scramble & Ben Macdui


Postby HighlandSC » Sun May 01, 2011 3:49 pm

Munros included on this walk: Ben Macdui

Date walked: 25/04/2011

Time taken: 6 hours

Distance: 16 km

Ascent: 840m

3 people think this report is great.
Register or Login
free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).


Date - Mon 25/04/2011
Title - Fiacaill Ridge Scramble & Ben Macdui
Route - Start at Ski centre car park. Ascend Fiacaill ridge to plateau and on to Ben Macdui. Descend path on W side of Coire an Lochain
Weather - Dry and breezy with clearing cloud & increasing sun
People - Me
Time - 6h
Distance - 16km
Ascent - 840m
Max Altitude - 1309m


Ben Macdui via Fiacaill Buttress scramble (route file) 16km.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts


Ben Macdui via Fiacaill Buttress scramble (route profile image).jpg


I've had my eye on the Fiacaill ridge route for a while- During a navigation course in 2009 a guide pointed it out to me. Since then I've been to the Cairngorms a fair bit (going on to the plateau by most of the other usual routes from this side) and spotted others doing it. Malkys report on it also caught my attention.
I took this pic of it much later in the day during my return on the other side of Coire an Lochain:
Image

I had no intention of going out this morning, but after looking at the forecast at 8am (saying excellent after midday) it seemed a perfect chance to take my time getting there and start walking late (12:30). I arrived at the ski centre car park about 11.45 to see there was still a lot of cloud but I sat and had lunch, watching the sky improve by the minute, then set off.

Took the path toward Coire an t-Sneachda before breaking off to the right, picking up the path leading toward the Fiacaill Ridge (Fiacaill Coire an t-Sneachda)
Image

Went up a small patch of snow and the boulder field to gain the ridge proper
Image

Image

Looking left into Coire an t-Sneachda
Image

Looking right into Coire an Lochain
Image

Apart from a small section (which still isn't too hard) the scrambling is quite easy and enjoyable, however there are bypass paths if you didn't fancy it.

From here on I stuck to the rock on the ridge, enjoying the scrambling and fine views around me. There was a couple of climbers doing a route up the vertical wall of this buttress that plunges into Coire an t-Sneachda. There was also a couple of (extreme) skiers slowly plodding up the goat track in Sneachda. They took a breather at the top before skiing back down at some pace!
Image

After the first rocky section of the ridge it flattens out briefly before you go on to the main section of scrambling to end the ridge
Image

Looking across Coire an t-Sneachda to Cairn Gorm
Image

Plenty of good grippy rock with holds aplenty
Image

Image

Image

This is the crux section. It's not hard but I think this pic makes it look a little easier than it is. There's plenty of holds and I only found one move a bit tricky, resulting in downclimbing to have another look, before going for it. I'm tall and had to stretch quite far for one move- but I was probably missing an easier hold somewhere. As a beginner scrambler I had no problem with this route, and I'm sure anyone more experienced wouldn't think twice about most of it.
Image

Image

If you wanted to bail out you could take this way round the side of the difficulties and walk up as far as you like to the top if you wish
Image

Looking back along the ridge
Image

Once past the crux it's an easy clamber to the top
Image

From the top of the corrie I decided to continue on to Ben Macdui
Image

There was some large patches of snow dotted around, avoidable if you wish, but it was no problem to go over
Image

For the next section up to Ben Macdui I got my head down and pressed on (not like me at all!), arriving at the summit in good time.
Image

Nice views in every direction
Image

Image

Image

It was now 5pm and there wasn't a soul to be seen anywhere. Nice to have Macdui and the plateau all to myself in the evening sunshine 8)

360 degree pano from Ben Macdui summit (click to open LARGE)
Image

After spending half an hour at the summit and sitting eating in one of the many shelters I packed up and left. As I walked off 1 lone walker was on his way up. I suspect he must have approached and departed from the east as I never saw him again.

I returned the same way, before breaking off to the left to return via the path on the W side of Coire an Lochain

Leaving Ben Macdui
Image

As I crossed the plateau a huge ugly cloud formed above me and for a second I thought my luck had run out, but thankfully it passed over and the evening continued to improve on the day
Image

Across the Lairig Ghru to the other giants
Image

Braeriach
Image

Approaching Coire an Lochain
Image

Coire an Lochain. As I was walking down the path I heard what sounded like thunder in the corrie- I turned to look and see a few massive boulders hurtling down to the corrie floor. I was safely up on the ridge. Wouldn't have wanted to be in the corrie at that moment!
Image

Looking across Coire an Lochain to the Fiacaill Ridge ascended earlier today
Image

================================================================================================
These 3 pics are from a previous trip, taken from the other side of the ridge in Coire an t-Sneachda. On this day I counted a group of 15 going up the Fiacaill Ridge
1 fiacaill ridge.jpg


A stream of people begin the ridge
2 fiacaill ridge.jpg


A few people in centre of this pic give some scale to it
3 fiacaill ridge.jpg

================================================================================================

All that remained now was a nice evening stroll down the path back to the car park
Image

Looking over to the Chalamain Gap
Image

Arriving back to a lone motor (thankfully it was my one) in the car park
Image

The day was ending with a great sunset. If I'd had the time I'd have liked to stay up on the plateau to see it before returning. I did snap a few pics from the road home though
Image

Image

8)
User avatar
HighlandSC
 
Posts: 2188
Munros:33   Corbetts:4
Fionas:2   
Sub 2000:14   
Islands:8
Joined: Jul 12, 2009
Location: USA (formerly Inverness)

Re: Fiacaill Ridge Scramble & Ben Macdui

Postby Vick1 » Sun May 01, 2011 5:02 pm

Cracking pictures and just in time as Im off up to Torridon &Assynt at the end of May and had my eye on this as a stop off point and short walk ( Cairngorm only ) on the way up there :D
Looking at your pics Im confident of gettin this done weather permitting
User avatar
Vick1
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 111
Munros:42   Corbetts:10
Fionas:5   
Hewitts:64
Wainwrights:73   
Joined: Apr 20, 2011
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne

Re: Fiacaill Ridge Scramble & Ben Macdui

Postby malky_c » Sun May 01, 2011 5:38 pm

That looked like a great afternoon out. You manage to borrow a car or have you bought one again? Just thinking back to your query about getting public transport up to the ski carpark.

Perfect conditions for the ridge anyway, and good to see some nicely lit photos after my rather washed out ones. Looking forward to see how you got on with A' Chralaig and Mullach Fraoch Choire now, although no need to rush if you have more sunny days out planned :wink:
User avatar
malky_c
 
Posts: 6342
Munros:282   Corbetts:222
Fionas:219   Donalds:80+37
Sub 2000:315   Hewitts:281
Wainwrights:140   Islands:39
Joined: Nov 22, 2009
Location: Glasgow/Inverness

Re: Fiacaill Ridge Scramble & Ben Macdui

Postby HighlandSC » Sun May 01, 2011 5:47 pm

Its a great way on the plateau, vik. If it's dry I'd take this every time from now. It work make a nice circuit if you do Cairn Gorm.

Malky, I've borrowed car. This long weekend and the last one I've stayed at my parents and taken full advantage- robbing their car for 4 hill days!

We had a perfect day on A' Chralaig and Mullach Fraoch Choire, culminating in a fantastic (albeit short) scramble over the pinnacles on the return. Report on the way.....sometime soon. Wont be tomorrow- pretty sure I'm going to go for Cul Mor. I'm sure there will be plenty more reports flood in tomorrow for you to get a hill fix from afar ;)
User avatar
HighlandSC
 
Posts: 2188
Munros:33   Corbetts:4
Fionas:2   
Sub 2000:14   
Islands:8
Joined: Jul 12, 2009
Location: USA (formerly Inverness)

Re: Fiacaill Ridge Scramble & Ben Macdui

Postby Stretch » Sun May 01, 2011 8:13 pm

Sweet pics man, that boring lump we did Easter weekend must have inspired you to do more exciting stuff! :lol:
User avatar
Stretch
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 1714
Munros:146   Corbetts:8
Sub 2000:2   
Joined: Jun 15, 2009
Location: Morristown, Tennessee

Re: Fiacaill Ridge Scramble & Ben Macdui

Postby HighlandSC » Sun May 01, 2011 8:39 pm

:lol:
I was actually planning on doing this that day I met you instead- that lump most likely saved me from having to abort an attempt at it. But yeah, there's nothing like walking a Drumochter lump to motivate you to seek out a bit more excitement next walk!
User avatar
HighlandSC
 
Posts: 2188
Munros:33   Corbetts:4
Fionas:2   
Sub 2000:14   
Islands:8
Joined: Jul 12, 2009
Location: USA (formerly Inverness)

Re: Fiacaill Ridge Scramble & Ben Macdui

Postby Tenbob » Sun May 01, 2011 9:37 pm

That looks ace! Fiacaill ridge is now on my must-do-soon list!
User avatar
Tenbob
 
Posts: 198
Munros:102   Corbetts:2
Sub 2000:3   
Joined: Jul 23, 2009
Location: Dunfermline

Re: Fiacaill Ridge Scramble & Ben Macdui

Postby Alastair S » Sun May 01, 2011 10:31 pm

Great stuff there Scott 8)

I went over this ridge on Friday on the way to Beinn Mheadhoin but didn't do it full on. It was fairly blowy so ended up going up a gully to the right - not exactly a stroll but certainly not as exposed as the head on approach. But it was my first (almost) major scramble so was taking it fairly steadily. Report in the next day or two.

Must have been something else to have experienced that rock fall. You think with most of the snow gone so has much of the danger but I suppose the melting snow & ice can still release its grip on slopes that have been broken up in the depths of winter.
User avatar
Alastair S
Hill Bagger
 
Posts: 1283
Munros:78   Corbetts:13
Fionas:6   
Sub 2000:13   
Islands:22
Joined: Dec 14, 2008
Location: Banchory, Aberdeenshire

Re: Fiacaill Ridge Scramble & Ben Macdui

Postby Scotjamie » Sun May 01, 2011 11:40 pm

great tour and pics. We also had great weather for macdui but really now regret missing such a great opportunity
now a must-do - its the way you tell em
User avatar
Scotjamie
Wanderer
 
Posts: 1170
Munros:148   
Joined: Jul 27, 2009
Location: north berwick

Re: Fiacaill Ridge Scramble & Ben Macdui

Postby wilkiemurray » Mon Jul 22, 2013 11:51 am

nice report - just did a very similar route last night and this morning - great fun the scramble :) :clap:
User avatar
wilkiemurray
 
Posts: 1333
Joined: Jan 26, 2012
Location: Perthshire

3 people think this report is great.
Register or Login
free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).




Can you help support Walkhighlands?


Our forum is free from adverts - your generosity keeps it running.
Can you help support Walkhighlands and this community by donating by direct debit?



Return to Walk reports - Scotland

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: annaguy, mariansharkey, nigheandonn, stevehgate, StevetheDee and 67 guests