September saw the annual Cairngorm Club traverse, this year starting in Linn O’Dee and heading north.
A rainbow shows the way as we head towards Derry LodgeThe troops heading up Creag Bad an t-Seabhaig. Today’s route is along the ridge west of Glen DerryLooking back to the Linn as we ascendA bit of scramble practice on a rock faceLooking west along Glen Laoigh BheagAs we ascend further, we’re chased by rain burstsThe meanders of the Derry burn to the eastLooking towards Sron RiachEntering the boulder field of Derry CairngormNo need to carefully cross the burn down in the glen todayWaves of Cairngorms, from near to far: Derry Cairngorm underfoot, Sron Riach, Carn a’Mhaim, Devil’s Point, at the back Beinn Bhrotain on the left and Leac Ghorm on the rightAt the top of Derry Cairngorm we’re just below the cloudsThough some drift across as we head down the north side, a bit of sleet in towMaking towards Loch EtchachanBeinn MheadhoinEtchachan outflow, scene of many a soggy footHeading across to Loch Avon with the stag rocks rising aboveLoch AvonMaking our way to the shelter stone for lunchA fav viewThis is where the club was founded over 132 years agoWe wait out a burst of rain but it begins to clear.
We discuss an onward route: a few of the group want to do a steep scramble up pinnacle gully. I’ve had a bit of a dodgy knee which is throbbing so decide against agitating it hoisting myself up a precarious rubble climb. There’s a fair few of the group aren’t climbers, or even confident scramblers – out of breath and tentative across a horizontal boulder field, but were being talked into something that likely would have been out of their comfort zone, but didn’t want to ‘speak out’: once I’ve piped up that I’m definitely taking the easy way up to the plateau they choose that, glad of that option. I see this group dynamic where bravado wins, quite often in groups of mixed capability hillwalkers, IMHO keen-beans should temper their enthusiasm for more challenging routes with realism about the capabilities of other potential participants; those in doubt about anything should make sure they speak up before committing and finding themselves out of their depth.
The easy way up to the plateau looking back to Stacan DubhaWe avoided the Derry burn crossing but not this oneThe Feith Buidhe tumbling down past Hell’s Lum CragA strong wind blows the waterfalls asunderLooking across, 3 of the party are making their way up the gullyWe head up past the waterfalls of the Allt Coire DomhainI scope back with my monocular, the 3 have made short work of the gully. Some of our group are making slow progress up our easier route: they’d have been very slow going up the gully and would have hindered the 3.We head across the plateau to Stob Coire an t-Sneachda. A few head off to take a longer route back round Cairn Lochan or the fiacaill ridgeLooking back before the view is lostRound the crags. Clouds are closing inThey sweep past, hailing on us and adding an unexpected hint of white to the landscapeLooking across to the Fiacaill ridgeMore hailFrom ‘1141’ it’s all downhill to the coach. 21k and 1300m of ascent in the bag.
