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Fourteen hardy Stockets
climbed aboard Gordon’s Luxury Coach at Mile End School early on Saturday
morning. Sylvester did an excellent job of tearing around the top of the
Cairngorms but even so it was more than three hours after leaving Aberdeen
that we rolled past turf-roofed houses in Glen Feshie and were deposited at
the end of the road.
Unusually the Munroists had a shorter route and so we bid farewell to the
Glen Dwellers, led by Steve who disappeared off in what appeared to be the
wrong direction. They were actually heading further south down Glen Feshie
to pick up a Glen that would eventually bring them through to Whitebridge.
Apparently it was a lovely walk with spectacular landscapes, marred slightly
by the onset of blisters for one unlucky trekker. Liam has posted an
excellent report on the blog so get yourself registered!
Meanwhile, the
Munroists were heading up on a good track around the lower slopes of Carn
Ban before finally gaining the plateau by way of a steep slog up an eroded
path. Initially sun had driven off the layers but by the time the plateau
was reached most people were back on with midlayers and waterproofs against
a wind that was driving cloud, rain-like, into our faces.
Without a dedicated
leader the task of navigating was shared amongst the company. Maps were
consulted regularly in the mist and very often when a path ran out we were
referring to our compasses. In unpleasant conditions we identified a
suitable spot on the map for lunch, and after a rapid descent down a
landrover track we found it by a gushing burn.
Lunch was a relatively
brief affair and we were soon crossing over and heather-bashing our way up
the other side, making our way for the top of Tom Dubh and Liz’s prime
objective of the day. Premature celebrations occurred when I found a small
mist-shrouded cairn but the group’s opinion was that given the subsequent
rise in the ground beyond me I was not yet at the top. A few minutes later a
much more substantial cairn was found and with a little help from multiple
GPS units, our position was identified as on top of Tom Dubh. In the mist it
could just as easily have been Tom Buidhe.
Coming off this
seemingly innocent and insignificant top we came across the great obstacle
of the day, the Allt Luineag, which came down a steep sided, almost straight
gully. With the water high and fast it posed something of a puzzle and only
some brave venturing forth with poles got the first person across the rocks
to the other side. Three intrepid folk headed further upstream to try their
luck and successfully reappeared a few minutes later.
With regrouping
achieved again compasses were taken out and by reading the countours we
found our way across another spot height and then on to the final slope of
Monadh Mor, a steep grassy slope with occasional rocky patches. The summit
was achieved after only a little discussion of the slope of the plateau. It
was still very misty so after photos the group again split. Three headed by
Liz sought a different way off the plateau by way of Glen Geusachan, and the
remainder headed now southeast along the broad summit towards Beinn Bhrotain.
Using the crags as a
handrail we navigated our way across the narrow col and then up the final
bouldery slopes to the Bhrotain plateau. In thick mist we regrouped and
discussed the probable location of the summit. 10s after heading off in our
chosen direction we found the trig point.
The potential for compass treachery and
moving of trig points was discussed before photos were taken and a last
intake of energy was had. After refreshments we continued, taking a
south-easterly bearing and descending down into Coire an t-Sneachda.
Eventually the burn in the coire became more of a stream and we were able to
follow it as it tumbled off the hill and into the River Dee.
As we came off the hill the views opened out and we had atmospheric views
deep into Glen Dee and the feet of some of the Cairngorm giants.
After a final stop to
shed layers we trooped off down the track by the river, catching up walkers
from the low group shortly after passing White Bridge. The coach was found
at the Linn of Dee and then we had a wee wait for the folk who had avoided
the summit of Bhrotain.
Our attempt to stop at
the Inver was foiled so we continued onto the POW in Ballater where a more
obliging bar attendent served tea to those who wanted it and beer to the
sensible folk.
A much shorter coach
ride back got us to Aberdeen for 9:30pm. A long but ultimately rewarding
day.
Thanks to Dot and WIllie for excellent hosting and the collective efforts of
the group for navigating across a misty Cairngorm plateau.
Nick Bramhall
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