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Cairngorm wanderings - another brick in the wall

Cairngorm wanderings - another brick in the wall


Postby kevsbald » Sat Oct 15, 2011 5:38 pm

Corbetts included on this walk: Creag an Dail Bheag, Culardoch

Fionas included on this walk: Creag Bhalg

Date walked: 14/10/2011

Time taken: 6 hours

Distance: 25 km

Ascent: 1000m

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En route to taking my father to see Mac Floyd in Aberdeen, I had planned an overnighter in Braemar and would take in the Graham, Creag Bhalg and the Corbetts, Carn Liath and Culardoch. The plan was to get to Linn of Dee for 1600-ish and while this was admittedly a late start for a venture up and down a hill, I felt comfortable knowing that it was at worst an hour to the summit. However, it has occurred to me in the last week or so that I have perhaps been too intent on getting to the top of a hill rather than actually enjoying the whole experience of it. With new camera in hand, I was spotting some fantastic fauna, which prevails in Autumn - namely the fungi kingdom. Basidomycetes galore! Creag Bhalg is such a lovely wee walk from the road between Linn of Dee and Linn of Quoich and the gentle ascent brings you out at a deer stile, where a lone tree stands proud. From here, the path to the summit allowed for expansive views across to the Cairngorm massif, where a trace of snow was already present. Winter will not be long in coming. At the summit, I sat and listened to the roar of the stags, vying for supremacy. I gazed across at the summit paraphernalia on Morrone and felt incredibly small. I would see more man-made structures on day 2, when I climbed Culardoch. The fungi were abundant and it reminded me that even after death, there is life. How bloody morbid.
IMG_0014.jpg
Autumn fauna 2
IMG_0013.JPG
The path begins
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Autumn fauna 1
IMG_0021.JPG
The final rise
On day 2, I left Keiloch and bade good morning to an older lady at her cottage. I wondered how many folk she had seen come and go past her window over the years and again, I reflected on life and death. I began to query my state of mind but I felt very at ease as I climbed through the forest to reach the land rover track, which would take me over the barren moor before Culardoch and Carn Liath. I was disturbed from my thoughts by two 4-WD jeeps heading past, with 'HighlandSafaris' emblazoned across the sides. As they wound their way towards the beach, I felt it that it was a shame that such silica gleam (Betjeman) should be found in such a wild place. The paraphernalia at the beach itself was also an eye-opener, though no doubt all in the interest of assessing 'climate change'. Of course. Unfortunately, no views were to be had on Culardoch but a biting wind had me rapidly gulp lunch and descend quickly before heading across to climb Carn Liath. I scared a few deer in the process and began the easy climb up and across the South summit. The wall, which has been created here right along to Creag a chait, is something else. Once again, it showed that man can make his presence felt on the hills but in a more subtle fashion. A rapid descent through the forest had me back at the car at 1445 and ready to take in some 'Us and them' with Senior P. Hello, is anybody out there?
IMG_0031.JPG
Autumn fauna 3
IMG_0032.JPG
HighlandSafaris in the distance
IMG_0034.JPG
The solitude
IMG_0038.JPG
The inorganics are here
IMG_0039.JPG
Just another brick on the summit
IMG_0045.JPG
Another brick in the wall?
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kevsbald
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Re: Cairngorm wanderings - another brick in the wall

Postby ChrisW » Sat Oct 15, 2011 5:45 pm

Great stuff K, new camera eh, looks to be working OK - some cracking sharp pics on here. That looks a lovely wander and not too far from home for me to consider :think:
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Re: Cairngorm wanderings - another brick in the wall

Postby Jock McJock » Sat Oct 15, 2011 6:03 pm

Wee tale from the dark side of the 'shroom there Kev? :lol: Nice pics :D
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Re: Cairngorm wanderings - another brick in the wall

Postby pollyh33 » Sat Oct 15, 2011 8:00 pm

Oh aye definitely summit up with the fungi up them there parts!

Is it just me or does the first one look like a big nose? :D

Cracking photos Kev! I'm impressed with your taste in subject matter but er not so impressed with your taste in music :( :( :lol:
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Re: Cairngorm wanderings - another brick in the wall

Postby kevsbald » Sun Oct 16, 2011 8:07 pm

Oh Polly, I thought PF would have been right up your street. The first fungus does look like a nose!
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Re: Cairngorm wanderings - another brick in the wall

Postby pollyh33 » Sun Oct 16, 2011 8:46 pm

kevsbald wrote:Oh Polly, I thought PF would have been right up your street. The first fungus does look like a nose!


Oh Lordy No!!! My two big brothers liked them and they played THAT album continuously :( :(

No George Benson?????? :lol:
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Re: Cairngorm wanderings - another brick in the wall

Postby snodland » Sun Oct 16, 2011 9:17 pm

Really enjoyed your walk report, Kevsbald and especially the 2 pics of the trees in the landscape.
The fungi looked amazing -though I know nothing about them.

As one person has already put in a Floyd pun, I don't feel so bad about saying your report deserves a "meddle". Forgive me, that was just a momentary lapse of teasin'
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Re: Cairngorm wanderings - another brick in the wall

Postby Merry-walker » Sun Oct 16, 2011 11:30 pm

Ahhh, you got up those two Corbetts then?

No dead froglets on your travels?

Good one Kev

J :D
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Re: Cairngorm wanderings - another brick in the wall

Postby MarilynMunro » Mon Oct 17, 2011 8:11 am

Really like your photos, loads of stuff going on there. Entertaining report as well
Don't know my fungi from my feng shui, but I think some of those bad boys would leave you Comfortably Numb :lol:
IMG 39 should be Wish you were here. :lol:
OK, last day of 14day trip and I'm bored or boring :think:

Cheers Kev
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Re: Cairngorm wanderings - another brick in the wall

Postby davetherave » Mon Oct 17, 2011 2:24 pm

Merry-walker wrote:Ahhh, you got up those two Corbetts then?

My thoughts exactly.

DSC00466.JPG
This ones for you Kev.


Below is a link to our Corbett trip . new year's day 2011

http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=8972
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Re: Cairngorm wanderings - another brick in the wall

Postby ndhudson » Mon Oct 17, 2011 2:35 pm

Great dead wood shots, Kev! :thumbup: But I must admit, although I love to eat mushrooms, I find them a wee bit creepy to look at in their natural environment...dunno why. :?:

Everybody loves a pun...or two, or three! :wtf: :wtf: :wtf:
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Re: Cairngorm wanderings - another brick in the wall

Postby magicdin » Mon Oct 17, 2011 2:43 pm

pollyh33 wrote:
Is it just me or does the first one look like a big nose? :D



Or a close up of a big bird :)
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Re: Cairngorm wanderings - another brick in the wall

Postby kevsbald » Mon Oct 17, 2011 3:16 pm

Wilson!!!! More Wilson shots please, Dave.

I know what you mean re: creepy saprophytic shots, ND.

Fit kind of bird do you mean, Magic?
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Re: Cairngorm wanderings - another brick in the wall

Postby magicdin » Mon Oct 17, 2011 3:58 pm

kevsbald wrote:
Fit kind of bird do you mean, Magic?


Hows about "The Big Magic Mushroom Bird"
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Re: Cairngorm wanderings - another brick in the wall

Postby lomondwalkers » Mon Oct 17, 2011 4:05 pm

Some cracking pics there Kev. Those fungus are pretty mental looking! Loving the solitude pic!
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