Ben Macdui and Cairngorm; Ciste Dhubh and Am Bathach.
Ben Macdui and Cairngorm
Torrential rain in Inverness - with the southbound A9 between the Longman and Millburn interchanges resembling the Caledonian Canal more than a trunk road - did not augur well.
Eight names on the list but as it turned out, thanks to injury and having other commitments, a somewhat diminished party of five gathered at the ski car park on Cairngorm to contemplate the rain and the glowering clag. Full waterproofs on right away, but this is Scotland after all, where conditions change in the blink of an eye (almost), so they were peeled off again inside twenty minutes. Michael did a Greta Garbo from the start and went off to be alone on Cairngorm - fat chance of that on a Sunday in July. Reduced to four, the remainder trudged along the N Corries path set on the easy route to the second highest summit - if an elevated plateau may be so described - in the land. Unfortunately one member of the party wasn’t feeling too great so - wisely - decided to retreat from the shoulder above Coire an Lochain. The remaining trio - the “survivors” according to one - had a pleasant amble along the eroded and over cairned trade route to the trigpoint atop its monumental cairn, enjoying expansive views along the way, with the keen climber of the trio expounding extensively on all the myriad possible ways to ascend the triptych of peaks - Cairntoul ,Angel’s Peak and Braeriach - looming impressively on the far side of the Lairig Ghru.
Of course, this being an IMC meet, further fragmentation was inevitable, with two survivors - Mairi and Wendell - electing to return by scrambling down the Fiacaill Ridge, and a single solitary stroller - Robin - retracing the route of ascent hoping to catch up with Richard, who was gingerly making his own way back to what passes for civilization halfway up a Scottish mountain. By happy chance all four were reunited a ten minute stroll from the base station coffee shop. There they found a suspiciously fresh looking Michael sunning himself at an outside table claiming that yes, he had been up Cairngorm rather than quaffing coffee all afternoon - or had he just cunningly hidden behind a rock until the rest of us were out of sight earlier on?.
(Michael responds to this dreadful slur: I didn't attempt the hike out to Ben Macdui, but went up Fiacaill a Choire Chais up to Cairn Gorm and down 'Windy Ridge’ It started wet but cleared nicely to give great views. My new hip survived!!)
By a further happy coincidence, Mairi chanced upon an old university friend (with husband) who were visiting Cairngorm on holiday and joined us for refreshments, so a sociable time was had by all.
Taking part: Michael, Mairi, Richard, Robin and Wendell.
Words and photos: Robin and Michael
Ciste Dubh and Am Bathach
Much like our fellow members heading to the Cairngorms, the weather did not bode well on the drive out to the Cluanie Inn – bucketing rain all the way!! Nevertheless, a late morning/ early afternoon clear-up in the weather led to another great day in the hills.
There had been similar attrition in cast members ahead of our 8am start time. In the end, it was a purely prospective member day-out! Myself, Stuart Tait, and of course, Stuart’s dog, Hamish, completed our roster.
Our day started out with the ascent from the car park shortly out from Clunie Inn up an initial ascent to a small cairn at 734m. With continuing rain, mist, and resultant poor visibility, difficulty picking out the path and boggy-ness underfoot made this somewhat of a challenge. Nevertheless, it was soon overcome and, with the cloud lifting, the walk along the grassy ridge to Am Bathach’s summit came with continually better vistas. It was back down from there into the yet more boggy Bealach Chòinnich with the final push to the summit of Ciste Dubh ahead of us. With a final uphill effort, and with a second, more airy and rocky, ridge navigated, the appropriately bulbous top was reached. This was a third Munro for Hamish. No doubt the first of many in a budding career!
By this stage, the weather had very much cleared and we were rewarded with superb views of Am Bathach’s rocky east face and back up the valley. Lunch was spent enjoying the scene before heading back down.
Heading back to the bealach, warnings were a-plenty. Fellow walkers instructed us that the standard return down the east side of the glen An Caorainn Beag was yet more damp underfoot with the path near untraceable. But, with the weather getting ever warmer and sunnier, we pushed on with our intended route. Happily, despite the indeed rather indistinct path, the walking was good and we were soon back to the A87.
An all-round super day was had by all!
Taking part: prospective members Stuart C. and Stuart T.
Words: Stuart C.
Photos : Stuart C. and Stuart T.
