walkhighlands

A damn fine day in the Cairngorms

Route: Cairn Toul - Braeriach traverse

Munros: Braeriach, Cairn Toul, Sgòr an Lochain Uaine, The Devil's Point

Date walked: 25/08/2022

Time taken: 9 hours

Distance: 37.6km

Ascent: 2160m

I left the car at Sugar Bowl at 8am and headed off with an open mind about a clockwise or anticlockwise route choice. By the time I'd fought my way past the boulders of the Chalamain Gap, the early morning cloud had gone so I opted to make the most of the conditions and start the day with the ascent of Braeriach and the traverse, leaving a long but flatter return along the Lairig Ghru. I think this turned out to be a good choice.

The cloud rolled in and out from time to time as I climbed Braeriach, which made the views even more special when they appeared. A first sight of Lochan Uaine:
PXL_20220825_094008272~2.jpg

As I followed the edge of the plateau, I looked back to see the Falls of Dee and was pleased to see the last remnants of snow in Garbh Choire Mòr:
PXL_20220825_104902947.MP~2.jpg

More intermittent cloud on Sgòr an Lochain Uaine's airy summit:
PXL_20220825_105822283~2.jpg

I picked my way carefully over the boulder fields to the summit of Cairn Toul and as I was descending equally gingerly, a young chap strode past as if he was walking on carpet, seemingly untroubled by the perilous terrain. I've never had a good sense of balance, so I ambled on with care, before eventually catching up on Devil's Point where he posed unwittingly to add a sense of scale to the picture!
PXL_20220825_123012195~2.jpg

Back to the bealach and then the zig zag descent with Corrour Bothy looking like a toy house down below:
PXL_20220825_130040018~2.jpg

A simple task to navigate back along the Lairig Ghru. Less easy to avoid the midges or make any sort of speed over the often rocky ground.
PXL_20220825_140418092.MP~2.jpg

It was a grand day out, and one that even a return trip through the Chalamain Gap couldn't detract from.

Click to mark this as a great report. Register or Login
free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).



Schiehallion on a scorcher (Aug 2022)

Attachment(s) Munros: Schiehallion
Date walked: 12/08/2022
Distance: 10km
Ascent: 730m
Views: 596


White Mounth circular (May 2022)

Attachment(s) Munros: Broad Cairn, Cairn Bannoch, Càrn a' Choire Bhòidheach, Càrn an t-Sagairt Mòr, Lochnagar
Date walked: 12/05/2022
Distance: 29km
Ascent: 1470m
Views: 860


Corryhabbie Hill from Glenfiddich

Attachment(s) Corbetts: Corryhabbie Hill
Date walked: 08/03/2022
Distance: 25km
Ascent: 1100m
Views: 560


Sgòr Buidhe circuit, Ballater

Attachment(s) Date walked: 07/01/2022
Distance: 11.5km
Ascent: 400m
Views: 636

allyanddave


Activity: Mountain Walker
Place: Assynt

Munros: 59
Corbetts: 6
Fionas: 3
Donalds: 1
Sub 2000: 12



Filter reports


Statistics

2022

Trips: 5
Distance: 113.1 km
Ascent: 5860m
Munros: 10
Corbetts: 1


Joined: Mar 12, 2021
Last visited: Mar 14, 2024
Total posts: 5 | Search posts