Wednesday, January 08, 2020

210. Carn a'Mhaim (95). 05/01/2020

The weather was very blowy today and with rain to accompany it in the west, we decided to head east and tackle my final peak in the Cairngorms. This proved to be wise, because we stayed virtually dry throughout and it therefore turned out more comfortable than expected.

We set out from Lin of Dee at 9.15am along the track past Derry Lodge that leads to the Lairig Ghru. We followed this for 5 miles over one new bridge (not on the map), through a slightly boggy section, over a ford and to the beginning of the rise round to the Lairig Ghru, before we took the fork which went straight up Carn a'Mhaim. This was a very efficient and well made section, which climbed up steps most of the way to the summit. We were below the clouds until 900m, but even at the top, the wind gave us fleeting glimpses through the cloud.

The wind was very strong at times at the top, so we were glad for the lack of precipitation and given that we'd made good time, we decided to wander a little way along the ridge towards Ben Macdui. We turned back after a kilometer, but it was well worth it, as we were gifted some impressive views straight down to Corrour bothy in the Lairig Ghru (the scene of a midge-fest from a few years previous). 

Progress was fast back along the valley and we were done in 6h, despite the extra time spent on the top.

A view of the top from near Derry Lodge

A windy top just in the cloud

Looking down into the Lairig Ghru

An action shot of Chris failing to fall in

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