South From Carn Dearg
Matt popped north for a
few days in late November to complete some unfinished business either side of
the A9. Three days of pretty reasonable
conditions for the time of year saw him successfully complete all the Munros
east of the A9 - another significant landmark in his on-going quest for Munro
glory!
The Monadhliath Hills
Glen Banchor
There was just enough
time on a short winter’s day to canter around the 3 easternmost Munros in the
range before night set in. We took the
clockwise option from Glen Banchor following the track beside the Allt
Fionndrigh and up into Gleann Ballach to gain our first peak of the day: Carn
Dearg (945m; red hill).
Carn Dearg
Then came the long
traverse over the broad ridge past assorted bumps and dips as the cloud descended
intermittently to hide the view.
Eventually, the line of rusting fence posts led us to the summit cairn
of Carn Sgulain (920m; hill of the basket).
Carn Sgulain
In the gathering gloom,
we headed SW steeply down to the meltwater channel of the Allt Cuil na Caillich
and equally steeply up the other side to the smooth grass and moss slopes that
led us to the big unmistakable summit cairn of A’ Chailleach (930m; the old woman).
A' Chailleach From Glen Banchor
It was then a race
against time down the wet, heathery slopes of An Leitir, past the Red Bothy and
over the neatly concealed dilapidated footbridge over the Allt a’ Chaorainn for
the final walk along the track back to the car.
Glen Feshie
A Murky Glen Feshie
Yet another largely
cloud-enshrouded day traversing the high plateau of the Moine Mhor proved,
nevertheless, to be as enjoyable as ever.
Climbing up the excellent path from Achlean on to the slopes of Carn Ban
Mor, we entered cloud at 900m and stayed in it all the way to Sgor Gaoith (1118m; windy peak) and back again before
heading south across the featureless plateau.
Sgor Gaoith (On A Better Day)!
Later in the day, the
cloud started to lift and we were afforded great views down Coire Garbhlach
before intercepting the vehicle track that leads past the flat non-descript
summit of Mullach Clach a’ Blair (1019m;
summit of the stone of the plain).
Coire Garbhlach
We descended down into
Glen Feshie via the vehicle track before intercepting the very welcome recently
upgraded track and path that now lead all the way back alongside the River
Feshie to Achlean - give or take the odd problematic river crossing!
Glen Feshie
Drumochter East
The Drumochter Hills
Two cars gave us the
welcome option of tackling these 2 Munro in an A-to-B traverse for a
change. Leaving one at Lay-By No 87 on
the A9, we parked at the summit of the Pass and headed due east up the steep
slopes in bright clear and frosty conditions.
Mountain Hare
Once away from the Pass,
the going got very easy across the wide-open grassy slopes which we shared with
numerous mountain hares in the process of turning white for the winter! The slope flattens out to a plateau that
leads all the way to the trig point marking the flat summit of A’ Bhuidheanach
Bheag (936m; little yellow place).
The Drumochter Plateau
Given Matt’s onward drive south later in the
day, we wasted little time on the summit before turning north and descending
slightly to intercept the vehicle track that leads NE almost the whole way to
Carn na Caim (941m; hill of the curve).
Carn na Caim
The sky remained clear as
we retraced our steps to the old marble quarry that marks the junction of the
tracks, one of which leads down easy slopes back to the A9 and that ever-so
cleverly positioned car!
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