Backpacking the Lochnagar Munros , Nov 2021

- November 30, 2021

I had planned on us returning too Scotland before November but life got in the way.So it was mid November before we were heading North again.To help with an early start we stayed in Perth the night before which allowed us to leave the car park at Auchallater,on the Glenshee road, at just gone 8am

The forecast was still giving big winds so i tried too plot a route so we had it to our backs as much as that can be planned, it was a calm and 8c as we followed the easy track upto LochCallater bothy

This one seems to be privately owned but across from it is one that's open to all, another buildings even gives a sit down toilet !

The open to all bothy,no fire mind

After a quick peek in the bothy we followed an excellent stalkers path upwards,its amazing how well these are built and bring you up out of the glens so smoothly,the wind starting to build as we gained more height,but the sky was blue !

On our first summit Cárn an Sagairt More the wind was already starting to get strong,i was just hoping the 50-70 mph winds,forecasted did not arrive !

Lunch was on the next Munro Carn á Choice Bhoidheach,from there i started to look for a more sheltered spot to camp,although we had seen a spot between two hills earlier, one thought had been to drop to Loch nan Eun,but looking down the cliffes ,showed the wind had found this spot already

We left the packs here and made fast time to Lochnagar summit where the wind was still strong, after showing Jamie the cliffes we were soon back at the packs and on the hunt for a sheltered spot too camp, the days being so much shorter, this time of year

We found a spot as the light started to fail and some light rain came on,our pitch was between the 1047m Munro and the 1044m summit NE of it.At a height of 960m

Sadly we did not get any clear skies so it was a night for rest and food,this pasta really filling and hot after a cool day.I took this shot of the moon as it breifly appeared, using my iPhone

The next moring started grey and a bit damp as we made our way out to Cairn Bannoch then onto Broad Cairn,a brief clearing gave a veiw down to Loch Muick

We returned the same way back,then turned South as the sleet and hail started crossing the wet ground around Jocks road

The wind was strong (35mph gusting 60 mph) already and forecast to stay strong, so we found some pitches just behind the summit of the Munro Tolmount a bit early but reading the map it was the best place to try and get some shelter

In the picture above Jamies about a minutes walk from the summit cairn

As the sun sank the temp followed, it snowed some too,having camped early it was so good to finally put some water on for a hot meal,we had already had Cuppa soups and brews

Sunday morning dawned but sadly,like the rest of the trip,no sunrise/sunset or starry skies were seen

Breakfast eaten it was time to decamp and then wait for the warmth to return to cold fingers as we set of for our next Munro

Sadly L.N.T could not be done

Tom Buidhes summit was wind swept, i took a reading of 30 mph with a wind chill of -14c,Buffalo mitts were soon back on again as we now turned into the wind more,goggles are so nice to wear in these conditions

These Torq bars from Basecamp foods are very tasty !

As we found the wall to the summit of Cairn of Claise the wind and spindrift found us

We took a few mins to regroup and tighten up fastening as sadly the clag came into so it was a compass bearing then another to make the small flat col a kilometer NNE of the next summit.Its good to be forced into Navigating again just to see if your still can

The weather had already ramped up with Jamie recording a gust at over 69mph with the clag and thick spindrift,we took no more pics as i followed my compass,up to our last Munro,Carn an Tuirc.An easy bearing then took us to the Landy track that led us down to the bothy and out of the rough weather

Once out of the weather we followed the track down and below the snowline

The bothy was empty and i guessed that as it was Sunday in November, on a crappy forecast we would be on our own,which we were then as darkness fell 3 figures appeared at the end of the Loch

We were then were a 5 in the bothy but after an hour or two it didnt feel right so we packed up and left them to it,an hours quick walk and a phone call,saw us booked back into Perth Express Inn again.Which did make the drive back home shorter and quicker