Glencoe and Aviemore

What a weekend! Absolute scorcher! Great for the tan, nae so good for hard running!! 

We headed over to Aviemore on Thursday night at parked up at loch Morlich which was great and a fine spot. Friday we did Meall a Bhuachaille via the Green Loch. I've done the hill race here a couple of times but never ascended this way before which was great and very scenic with the Green Loch. No idea why I didn't take a photo of the Loch, probably the hoards of people there which was the only down side. It was more like the Med than Aviemore!

No pics of MAB either, it was just a quick up and down and then hit the road over to Glencoe..

Sat morning sunrise

Waking up to Loch Achtriochtan underneath AE on one side and Aonach Dubh on the other in blazing sunshine is surely the perfect start to a mountain goers dream day! I'd been waiting for a west coast hit for months and this was the perfect forecast although slightly hotter than I'd like but this wasn't a race just training and mountain loving!

We were here for Aonach Eagach ridge, A ridge I've done several times in both directions since the late 90's. Every time has been an experience. It's exposed, it's loose, it can be very dangerous and must be respected and great care must be taken traversing it. 

I have also raced over the ridge during the Glencoe Skyline. I don't remember saying to myself though that it is exposed, loose, dangerous and care must be taken! Nope, instead I ran across it as fast as I could while feeling hungry, thirsty and extremely fatigued! Looking back it's a crazy thing to do. It's not until you take your time over it and realise actually how dodgy it is. One slip and you're off!

This is what I was thinking this time that the more I concentrated on foot placements on some of the bits the clumsier I got and did have a couple of trips. 

I was unlucky enough to witness a serious accident here in 2004 when a woman fell down a gully near the start going East to West. We watched the rescue as we couldn't get past the bottleneck of people that had gathered.

Back in 2004

We decided to go West to East this time which is the same direction as the race and the faint path up to Sgorr nam Fiannaidh is right across the road from where I was parked so straight into an 800mtr climb! Ouch! 

Once onto the ridge we ran as much as possible and just took our time on the scrambles. Most folk were going East to West so it actually worked out better than having to overtake folk going the same way apart from when we got to the Pinnacles. A group of 4 or 5 guys were very slow and we had to wait for them to come across before we could cross. We were in no rush so it was fine and they were clearly shaky so we didn't want to hurry them. 

Like any other scramble I've done it never seems long enough and you just want more and more and for the climbing not to stop. It's great fun pulling up on the climbs with hands and feet. It's much better than running!

It was a great run and the views were unreal in every direction. 

We dropped back down to the road and ran back a long the trail that follows the road back to Loch Achtriochtan. 

After any Glencoe adventure it's always capped off with a night in the Clachaig Inn which we did of course and had a few drinks.

Back to Aviemore on the Sunday and up to Fiacaill Ridge for my back to back run. Another scorcher in very very hot conditions. We looped back down via Cairn Lochan to the Ski center. 

I love Fiacaill, easily accessible, a great short scramble but with amazing views and positions.

Loch Morlich and Meal a Bhuachaille at the back

Cairn Lochan

Awesome weekend with 3 days running, good food, good company and good laughs!  

 

Ben Avon swim/run

I've been wanting to swim Loch Builg for a while with it's remoteness and special position right under Ben Avon. It was an obvious sim/run route taking in Ben Avon first then the Loch on the way back.

With at least 18 degrees forecast and sun I decided to go for it last minute.

The Loch is short at only just over 1km but it's a quality swim. There are myths of a gigantic Pike in there somewhere but thankfully it didn't get a bite!

Corndavon Lodge

There's no easy way in to Ben Avon. It's remote but does have several ways in but these are at least 10km just to the foot of the hill. I went in from the Gairn Sheil road NW of Ballater as I think it's the best way in and the track is mostly flat unlike Corgarff or Keiloch. Also this way takes you straight to Loch Builg which is where I based myself for the transitions.

I took the bike in to cut down mileage on foot. The route is approx 20kms bike, 20kms/1200mtrs run and 1.2kms swim.

Loch Builg

What's left of Builg Lodge

I managed to padlock the new bike to an iron bar cemented into the wall of Builg Lodge. I'm pretty sure nobody would mess with the bike this far into the hills but you just never know. I've dumped plenty bikes at the foot of hills before and never even thought of anyone actually taking it as you'd hope hill goers are decent folk but when you've spent more money on a bike than a small car then you can't take any chances! 

I stashed my wetsuit and other bits and pieces at the head of the Loch ready for the swim on the way back then I was off on the run.

The route follows the Gairn upstream SW for a few Kms and then peels off  NW following the Allt an Eas Mhoir burn until you get onto the vast plateau of Ben Avon. 

The views looking back SE towards Lochnagar are incredible.

From the top of the burn it's onto the true top Leabaidh an Daimh Bhuidhe (1150mtrs). It's a massive and impressive area up here and unlike most munros with weird Tors strewn all over the place. There's a very easy short scramble to the summit.  

Typically the cloud and a bit of rain came just as I got to the top so I hung around for 30 mins or so hoping it would clear but it did not. Then once I started heading down it cleared! I wasn't going back..

The path from the plateau down towards Inchrory is superb with very good fast running. 

Once down it was back to a big landy track following the Builg Burn down to the Loch and into my wetsuit for the last stretch. 

The swim was brilliant and the reason I was here! A welcome relief to get off my feet and float around for a bit before a wee speed session down the length of the Loch and back to the Lodge and bike.  

I didn't see a soul all day and didn't expect to tbh as it's so remote and not a popular munro to scale and even then most folk go in from keiloch. However, while I was stripped bare arse etc drying myself after the swim I heard a voice shouting "Oi I really don't want to see that!" from behind me! Bloody typical that a bike packer just happened to be passing the Loch just as my arse was out!! Hahaha

The route

 

Knockargety night race

The 2nd Deeside night race at Knockargety, Tarland and I was keen to podium in my category at least and maybe even get an overall place as no Dan Whitehead to be seen! 

However, Peter Hendry and Stuart Pringle were both running and I didn't see Calum Dempster at the start so i thought it could be on! Stuart had raced the day before at the Lochaber winter series so I thought he'd be tired and I might get the better of him as I've been going well recently on shorter courses.

It was a cold night, perfect for a race! 

This is a flat trail race through woods, single track, landy track, road, felled tree stumps, heather, grass etc etc. Very fast running and care needs to be taken as several of us found out, Stuart receiving 3 injuries! We both rolled an ankle each in the first couple of kms on tree routes but not bad enough to stop.. 

So from the start Peter, Stuart and myself sped off waaaay too fast but it was enough to build a gap for a while with everyone else behind. Then the inevitable happened at this pace.. I could hear somebody behind me and I had no idea who it was. I certainly wasn't going to look. The footsteps followed for a while until finally overtaking me and it turned out to be young Calum Dempster again who beat me by 1 second at Cnoc Dubh when he took 3rd overall putting me in 4th two weeks before. Calum was on top form and disappeared quite quickly in front.

Peter had a good lead on Stuart who was slowing by now with his race the day before starting to take its toll. I had now caught up with Stuart but he was still pushing on so I decided to hang back with him as there was nobody that close behind us and I knew if I overtook I would speed up but only for a short time. It was great and we had a wee chat here and there and pushed each other on.

Then Stuart had some bad luck, he hit his head ducking under a fence which alerted me to the hazard so I missed it, then not long after he ran straight into a felled tree stump giving him a nasty gash on his thigh! Ouch!! He was now hobbling in front and with a head torch getting closer to us from behind, somebody else was catching us so I passed Stuart and put in a wee push and got a bit of a lead on him. I kept it up until we got back to the carpark at Tarland Trails and Stuart had managed to gain on me and caught me and passed me! The hardy bugger was on fire! I stayed on his heels though down the road towards the finish and found a last spurt of power and just managed to pip him by 1 second!!!! 

I finished 3rd overall and 1st V40 with Stuart 4th and 2nd V40. It turned out Calum had caught Peter and won with Peter runner up. 

The post race was at the local cafe in Tarland where I caught up some folk and shot the shit. Prizes were veggies so i got a bag of tatties and a Lindt chocolate rabbit! Yaldie!

Brilliant race and another great battle with Stuart. 

Dess Woods next 17th Jan. Ooooosh!

Tattie and chocolate prizes.

Braid Cairn, Glen Tanar

The Deeside Corbetts still summon us just now with minimal snow and short travel time.This week was the turn of Braid Cairn, a child summit of mount Keen and Corbett.

Goes without saying any run begins with coffee and what better place to stop off but Spider on a Bicycle in Aboyne where I bumped into Zicky who were off to solve mysteries with their bike gang (actually they were off to bike a route on the Fungal). Good wee catch up tho..





The problem with the Mount Keen area is monotonous landy track no matter which way you go in.
Our route started from Glentanar car park then taking the more southerly track following the same course as the Water of Gairney between Clachan Yell and Little Cockcairn then at Black Craig take the south fork on the track and ascend Gathering Cairn first then onto Braid Cairn. Return was the reverse and the quickest way back.

The guts of the first 10kms is on what seems never ending Landy track. Once you clear the Forest of Glentanar and head out onto the open hills the views are great. At the ruined shelter at the fork under Black Craig it's onto single track and some nice techy steep running up to Gathering Cairn.

Black Craig and Clachan Yell from Gathering Cairn

The forecast as ever was bullshit and what started out as a nice blue skied, dry day although a bit breezy, turned into a full on blizzard-fest up top! Gusting 50mph and -10 wind chill with horizontal sleet and hail and often zero visibility made Cairn finding a bit tricky!

Braid Cairn

We got some short glimpses of Mount Keen but it was mostly hidden in cloud and the snow flurries. It was bad enough at Gathering Cairn and we still had to nip across the plateau to Braid Cairn where it was more exposed.

Lions face and Mount Keen behind

This was the worst bit and we got battered here, bare legs pelted with freezing wind and hail! As soon as we found and touched the Cairn we were off, no photos nothing, just a big fat U-turn back to Gathering Cairn and directly down to the broken shelter off grid through deep heather!

Then all that was left was the 10kms back out to the van and another mad rush to catch Spiderbike for 2nd visit this time choosing Lentil and Coconut soup by the wood burner.. bliss!

Ace day, mad weather and although mostly landy track it was good and fast running and another Corbett bagged. Route was 30km/4000ft!

The route

Morrone, Carn nan Drochaide, Gong and Viv!

Saturday afternoon we headed out to Braemar for the first of the weekend's runs. Short of time we opted for the very accessible Corbett - Morrone Hill which overlooks Braemar. This is the same hill as the Braemar Highland Games hill race, a short but steep out and back.

Unfortunately I forgot my phone so didn't get any pics but it was a short run in snow, ice and low cloud, around 700mtrs. We did get some nice views south towards Glen Callater but no visibility to the North. There was a fair bit of snow higher up and the path had some ice on and off from the very bottom to the top. I wore my Salomon SG's but my Artcic Talons would have been the better choice.
We were going to do a loop but we really were short of time and had plans at night so one out and back speed rep was all we could manage.

Saturday night was great, a fine meal at the Buchanan Bistro, good banter, serious life chats, a couple of character taxi drivers and far too much wine!

Sunday was a lazy morning and late start again but we went back out to Braemar this time deciding for the Corbett Carn nan Drochaide from the Lynn of Qoich.

River Quoich, another classic Deeside spate paddle

The weather was Ok, not much wind, cold but not like Morrone the day before.

As the estate are rebuilding the road that was swept away in the crazy floods a couple of years back, we had to park further back up the road. After an initial landy track climb you drop down into Glen Quoich and cross the river at the new bridge built by the Cairngorm club.

Morrone Hill

Once you clear the forest at the Quoich it's a flat 2km landy track until you turn north at the Allanmore cottage and onto the lower slopes of Creag a Chleiric following a very overgrown landy track up to its summit.

 This was good running turning steep and no give right up to Creag a Chleric.

Braemar down on the left, Morrone centre and the Glen Callater and White Mounth hills at the back

Then drop down and across to the rocky side of Carn nan Drochaide. There is a faint trod which we followed for a short distance but then went off grid which was more direct so it was into deeper heather, rocks and some snow up onto the summit.

Approaching the Carn nan Drochaide cairn

Looking SE to Carn nan Sgliat and Creag nan Leachda on the other side of the A93

Ben a Bhuird (1179m) towering behind!

Looking over to Glen Quoich and our decent

This was a great route and still very runnable unlike the higher hills just now which are becoming more difficult with deep snow. Reports of the higher munros in this area and over towards Lochnagar the same day sounded like very difficult running.

After the run we stopped past the Bothy at Braemar Mountain Sports for food before we said our goodbyes and I carried on over Glenshee towards Blairgowrie and Perth having some fun on the way as I was in the car (van still off the road) and then onto Glasgow for the night as I was going to see a gig.

Gong and Steve Hillage

What a night at SG3 in Glasgow seeing one of my all time favourite bands and idol live, the legendary, hippy axe man himself - Steve Hillage who was being supported by a distantly related version of his band Gong. It was amazing and a great nostalgic trip! ;)

The maestro himself

Jazz club - Niiiiiice!

After the gig and on my way back to the hotel I stumbled upon this jazz quartet playing in a pub so I popped in for a listen and a couple more shandies! ;) They were brilliant!

Absolutely blinding weekend from one extreme in the snowy hills to another in Glasgow city center listening to the most amazing prog rock!

Mike and the Mechanics taking away Viv with a blown turbo!

Now Monday morning was another day! Up reasonably earlier and I was zooming up the road from Glasgow to meet Mikey who was picking up my van from Stoney to take it away to fit a new turbo. Getting it onto the trailer was comedy gold! For a start the smoke belching from the van was like thick fog and eventually blinded the whole street while the minor road block we had created started getting a bit heated as folk started losing patience with us! This pretty much brought the Stoney Marina to a stand still for half hour! Pffffff..

Mikey hero tho was able to pull the engine that afternoon ready for the turbo which I was now on my way to pick up. My plan was get the turbo and then nip out to Bennachie for a quick blast before meeting Mikey again later on to give him the turbo.

Engine oot

Mither Tap on Bennachie

Here's where my day really got crazy! After my run and back at the car getting changed I was sitting on the passenger seat pulling jeans on and I sat on the car key and the car locked. I unlocked the car and threw the key on the drivers seat thinking nothing of it.. I then got out of the passenger side of the car and shut the door... you know where this is going don't you!?

BEEEEP I heard! This is when I knew I had fucked up! I clearly hadn't unlocked the car when I thought I had thus locking my key in the car! Noooooo!! It's Ok I thought.... I'll phone the house and arrange the spare key to be taken out but how could I do that when my freekin phone was also locked in the car!? Shite!!

Oh, I only had a T-shirt and a wafer thin OMM top on.. I was freezin, it was minus something with ice on the ground and starting to get dark and not a soul about in one of the more remote carparks at Bennachie.. At least I managed to put my jeans on!

I had just run out of hope and started running towards Chapel of Garioch when an older gentleman drove into the car park. I think he might have been God! I was able to borrow his phone and call who else but the one and only big Kev who came to the rescue AGAIN after towing my van from Inverurie to Blackburn 2 weeks ago when it first broke down. He picked me up, took me home to get spare key and then back to the car!
What a diamond!

Finally I was back on track although running massively late to meet Mikey to deliver my turbo down at Asda Garthdee..
Just when I thought things couldn't get any worse, nipping on to make up time, I ran a very debatable red light while crossing Great Western Road on Anderson Drive! Oh wait, is that blue lights behind me!? Yes it fucking was!! I pulled over waiting for Jeremy Beadle to jump out of the bushes but sadly not only a pair of fucking jobsworths! After the usual condescending good cop, bad cop bullshit and bringing up my slightly shady driving history, I was finally back on the road but with 3 points on my license and a £100 fine! Thanks for that... Just to put this into perspective.. I've had an exceptional amount of shit to deal with this last month (REALLY!!) and it seems like there's some sort of conspiracy going on against me! I'm waiting for some sort of earthquake or volcano to erupt next!

Anyway, one of my more full on weekends I've had in a while. All good now though, Mikey finished Viv and she's back running like a dream!! Booooom!!