24A - CAIRNGORMS EAST
Looking along the edge of the Beinn a' Bhuird plateau. Photo tms.nickbramhall.com
20.3 miles 1500 metres
Start Saturday 15.54
Ben Avon 17.55
Beinn a' Bhuird 18.34
Beinn a' Chaorainn 19.18
Beinn Bhreac 19.54
Finish 20.14
Squares: green - start, yellow - changeover. Circles summits: green - this leg, purple - to do. Map Colin Matheson
Time: Estimated 4.01 Actual 4.20
Steve writes:
Weather improved during the day; picked up Craig at Glen Muick and drove to Keiloch, near Braemar. Set off as sky was clearing and sun emerging; steady pace up Gleann an t-slugain in very pleasant conditions (makes a change!). Past ruins of lodge and 'Tom's canyon' into more open area below Carn Eas Dubh, wind picked up and was against me all way up the glen to the standing stone – Clach a' Chlerich. Approaching col at top of glen started to get very cool so put on coat and gloves!
Long approach to top of Ben Avon across granite boulders, pushing quite hard to beat ascent time – just made it by 5 secs! (2hrs 55secs) much to amusement of people on summit tor. Spoke very briefly to them and set off for col and on to Beinn a' Bhuird; seemed endless drag to find summit cairn on top of flat mountain – misty on top but visibility 30-40 yds so fairly easy to find, not so in bad weather? (39mins/ 18.34pm)
Bearing off top towards west, crossed very bouldery minor summit and onto low point just beyond lochans and minor crags - almost lunar type terrain! Steady/ slow approach up Beinn a' Chaorainn. Again very bouldery summit and still very cold (44mins/ 19.18pm).
Steep descent and direct line to Beinn Bhreac past large herd of deer and across reasonably dry peat bogs; top in 36mins/ 19.54. Steep descent into Glen Derry; legs very tired so not very fast (20/ 20.14). Total 4hrs 20mins – 19 mins down.
Long mountain bike ride out with Colin to Linn of Dee – very cold!!
Peaks done 149 Hours elapsed 157 Peaks to do 128
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