January 25, 2012
Lyme Disease more prevalent than firstthought
•

There but for the grace

On Saturday, four days ago, I crossed Jock’s Road from Glen Doll to Glen Callater in perhaps the most severe winter conditions I’ve yet encountered; total white-out at times, reduced to crawling on hands and knees at one point to make any forward progress. It was exciting, exhilarating - and a little chastening. A number of people have died on this route, and it’s easy to see how. Inadequate clothing, perhaps lacking fitness or navigational skills - you wouldn’t stand a chance. I was a happy chap when I got to the bothy at Loch Callater. Two days later, walking into the Cairngorm from Linn of Dee, I met the MRT searching for a guy who’s now been missing out of Corrour for four nights (see link). Up on the plateau in that weather for four days with no shelter? That doesn’t sound like a happy ending.

Familiarity doesn’t breed contempt in my case; rather than becoming blase about these hills I find I’m becoming much more cautious and respectful. I’m currently pitched up in trees in the eastern Cairngorm, waiting on forecast gales after walking through rain for five hours. There’s a signal coming in, so I’m posting this one out of sequence. Stay careful.

•
Cairngorm search
•
Death on Rannoch
•
January 20, 2012

Just put another hole in my belt with the Swiss Army knife’s awl, the right direction to be heading.

•
January 17, 2012
Ribbon of Wildness

Must be better than joining the lemmings on the Cape Wrath Trail, eh?

•
A chilly night, -15C, followed by my customary dawn start. I topped out on Lochnagar by 09:45, dropping down the tourist track to nab the adjacent Corbett (and surprising two guys on their way up who thought they’d be the first that day…). John, this is the location for that summer climbing trip: easy walk in, pitch up by the corrie lochan with a week’s food, knock off high routes on superb rock, with a bothy option nearby if the weather goes all mentaloid. Check out the topos and start planning, mate.

A chilly night, -15C, followed by my customary dawn start. I topped out on Lochnagar by 09:45, dropping down the tourist track to nab the adjacent Corbett (and surprising two guys on their way up who thought they’d be the first that day…). John, this is the location for that summer climbing trip: easy walk in, pitch up by the corrie lochan with a week’s food, knock off high routes on superb rock, with a bothy option nearby if the weather goes all mentaloid. Check out the topos and start planning, mate.

•
•
At 1197m, Beinn a’Bhuird is one of the biggies, up there with Ben Macdui and a few others. I had it to myself on a flawless day and took my time, gazing out over the Cairngorm peaks as I worked my way round the huge corries chewed out of the plateau’s eastern rim.

At 1197m, Beinn a’Bhuird is one of the biggies, up there with Ben Macdui and a few others. I had it to myself on a flawless day and took my time, gazing out over the Cairngorm peaks as I worked my way round the huge corries chewed out of the plateau’s eastern rim.

•
Climbing out of the cloud inversion. Just wait for the panoramic version…

Climbing out of the cloud inversion. Just wait for the panoramic version…

•
Early to bed, early to rise.

Early to bed, early to rise.

•
I’d made a meal in Braemar Bunkhouse the night before, beef and venison casserole with half a bottle of Arran Blonde in the sauce (one has to maintain one’s standards). The frozen batch still hadn’t defrosted when I returned from Carn Liath, but two hours in my sleeping bag had it pliable enough to gouge into the pan for reheating.

I’d made a meal in Braemar Bunkhouse the night before, beef and venison casserole with half a bottle of Arran Blonde in the sauce (one has to maintain one’s standards). The frozen batch still hadn’t defrosted when I returned from Carn Liath, but two hours in my sleeping bag had it pliable enough to gouge into the pan for reheating.

•
•
Four Corbetts in three days culminated in a return to Carn Liath, after my failure of the will a month earlier. Nice views down towards Braemar, but I couldn’t help casting sidelong glances at the snow filled corries of Beinn a’Bhuird. I could feel a change of plan coming on….

Four Corbetts in three days culminated in a return to Carn Liath, after my failure of the will a month earlier. Nice views down towards Braemar, but I couldn’t help casting sidelong glances at the snow filled corries of Beinn a’Bhuird. I could feel a change of plan coming on….

•
Weather forecasts and the hours of daylight regulate my life. By 08:00 I had the tent down and was walking in the pre-dawn darkness under an ominous nicotine stained sky. It came good, though, as I climbed away from the Dee at White Bridge.

Weather forecasts and the hours of daylight regulate my life. By 08:00 I had the tent down and was walking in the pre-dawn darkness under an ominous nicotine stained sky. It came good, though, as I climbed away from the Dee at White Bridge.

•