My trusty LSD route at Glen Muick. It's a 27k/1800mtr scrambly route taking in Black Spout on Lochnagar, Stuic Butress on the Stuic and Central Gully on Creag an Dubh Loch.
With remnants of winter still lurking Black Spout was out so I sneaked in a quick blast up to Meikle Pap before heading for Cac Carn Beag on the Gar stucking to the main path. The Stuic looked Ok so made my way across.
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| Lochnagar corrie and Black Spout at the far side still snowed up |
The Stuic was fine and I enjoyed a good hard power hike up through the rock and onto the plateau.
I love the run from here over to Dubh Loch, surprisingly runnable off grid through heather and bog.
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| Dubh Loch from the bottom of Central Gully (Creag an Dubh Loch) |
The Gully looked fine and I thought I'd get up no problem however the further I got the more snow I could see at the top of the Gully. I kept going as far as I could.
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| Looking up Central Gully |
Unfortunately the very top was blocked with hard neve and my Inov8 X-Talons really weren't up to the job of acting like crampons. I used a couple of sharp pointy rocks to move out a few mtrs kicking steps but it was just too dodgy! I had to retreat back down, it was the only safe option.
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| Almost the top of Central Gully |
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| Looking back down Central Gully, quite steep. |
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| Finally onto Broadcairn Plateau |
Once I descended down to Loch Muick from Broadcairn the usual route is just plod back to the carpark round the Loch but I was here for the climbs so back up to Lochnagar I went via the Glas Allt Sheil path. I also repped Meikle Pap for the 2nd time and then finally back down to the carpark. Beast of a route and great training for the what's to come this year!
Total route 40km/2500mtrs.
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