The White Mounth Munros
Date Walked: 26th October 2011
Distance: 18.5 miles (29.3km)
Actual Ascent: 4685 ft (1428m)
Time Taken: 9 hours
Having been in the flatlands of Lincolnshire for the past week I was keen to get out there in the hills on my return, unfortunately the weather had other ideas. Hurricanes on Monday, Rain on Tuesday but.....something struck me on Wednesday morning that changed things. Someone on breakfast TV mentioned the clocks going back, I realised that I had just a few days left if I was to tackle the White Mounth Circuit. (I'm heading out to Calgary on Saturday house hunting, the days will be shorter when I return) I checked MWIS and it looked to be OK enough to have a go, so flask made, bags packed and away to the car park at Lock Muick.
By the time I got walking it was 10.30. I calculated (somehow) that the journey was 16.5 miles I average 2mph including stops so thought I had just enough time to get back to the car park before dark...... I had miscalculated
By the time I got walking it was 10.30. I calculated (somehow) that the journey was 16.5 miles I average 2mph including stops so thought I had just enough time to get back to the car park before dark...... I had miscalculated
Starting out along the lochside path the cloud still hid the Munros from view
The deer were well up the hills out of the way today, perhaps the number of people around put them off a little, but later they would be down in the glen as always and I hoped to see them up close then
The loch looked as beautiful as always even with the looming clouds, I will miss this place when I have completed the move to Calgary
at the waterfall where Black Burn pours down toward the loch the noise was thunderous as it crashed below the wooden bridge
it is then a steep zig zag climb up the corrie until reaching the overlook where the royal hunting lodge can be seen nestled in Glas allt shiel
I am soon ascending Broad Cairn and remembering the first time I climbed this hill and the incredible view from here, today the view is still there but very different
even zooming in does little toward making an interesting picture today
as I huff and puff my way to the summit I see two guys tucked in out of the breeze behind the cairn, I grabbed the evidence shot before settling down for a cup of tea and a bite to eat
It was then that I realised the sandwiches I had prepared were still in the house on the kitchen worktop as I watched the two guys head out toward Cairn Bannoch I considered turning back, but then remembered my 'emergency pocket' in the rucksack where I keep tracker bars etc......... two trackers and a kit kat, it will have to do.
I had a quick bite and set off again for Cairn Bannoch which is a nice gentle wander from Broad Cairn and in no time I am there, but the temperature has dipped considerably on that short journey
I had a quick bite and set off again for Cairn Bannoch which is a nice gentle wander from Broad Cairn and in no time I am there, but the temperature has dipped considerably on that short journey
still smiling and enjoying the day..... I see the two guys again but they are starting out for Carn an t-Sagairt Mor
I can't help but think there must be some beautiful views down to the right but the cloud has lowered again putting a lid on Carn a Choire Bhoidheach which I am sure is over there somewhere
I set off again behind the two guys who are staying about the same distance from me throughout.......or am I staying the same distance from them, they can just be seen in the centre right of this shot heading toward Carn an t-Sagairt Mor
As I begin my ascent of Carn an t-Sagairt Mor I look back toward Broad Cairn and Cairn Bannoch as the cloud lifts again
it is now just possible to see Carn a Choire Bhoidheach on the left (though not the summit) Dubh Loch in the centre and Broad Cairn and Cairn Bannoch on the right, I wish I 'd had the fitness to attempt this in the summer
as I reach the summit, random sunshine arrives and lifts my spirits, though my energy levels are now very low and I can feel cold much more than I should...the lack of food is beginning to tell on me I think.
to the North-East even Lochnagar is visible, if only for a very short time
so another summit reached and a little sunshine to cheer the day
the two guys are here again and this time we have a good long natter about life in general, turns out that both of them go skiing in a small town west of Calgary every year. It seems almost surreal to be standing on the top of a mountain in Scotland discussing mountains in Canada that I will be standing on in just a couple of months now. We discuss everything from post accident ligament damage to life in another country, before they tell me they walked in from Glen Esk and needed to turn around and walk out that way now (but were thinking of taking in Tolmount on the way back) we had a short discussion about head torches before they were on their way again.
I realised now that I was going to be pushing it to get Lochnagar in and still be down in daylight, I set off with greater urgency for Carn a Choire Bhoidheach. It's only 2k away but it felt like much more, the final ascent in particular left me wondering about my fitness, I made a few calculations and realised that I had already covered about 12 miles (I hadn't been over 13 since my leg op) and still had 5 or 6 miles to go.
With the light changing to the evening glow, energy at an all time low and still a way to go before I'm down safe I grabbed the evidence shot, scrapped any remaining thoughts of Lochnagar and headed for the fastest descent route, the Glas Allt path.
I found myself hurrying along the path trying to beat the light which was fading fast, the final section of the path down beside the falls and finally to the royal lodge are very poor on a good dry day. On a dark, wet night they are risky, I pressed hard and reached the loch side without incident, but absolutely worn out. I sat beside the loch in the darkness and had a drink and a final tracker bar before wandering the lochside path in total darkness, I didn't use the head torch as the path is a flat track and my eyes were soon accustomed to the dark. The rain fell in squalls and the deer bellowed across the glen as I walked the last 3 miles looking at the lights in the visitor centre guiding me back to the car park.
I finally reached the car almost 9 hours after setting off, exhausted but happy. On arrival home a hot shower and good grub left me perfectly tired.
That may well have been my last look over Loch Muick, when I return from Canada in a couple of weeks we will have just 4 weeks left in Scotland......Maybe I could get a few more hills in.... It would be nice to have a final ascent of Lochnagar by way of goodbye
I finally reached the car almost 9 hours after setting off, exhausted but happy. On arrival home a hot shower and good grub left me perfectly tired.
That may well have been my last look over Loch Muick, when I return from Canada in a couple of weeks we will have just 4 weeks left in Scotland......Maybe I could get a few more hills in.... It would be nice to have a final ascent of Lochnagar by way of goodbye