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.

Conachcraig from Glen Muick

The Corbett ticks continue with Conachcraig (850m) bagged on Sunday in some interesting conditions!

As is now normal with timekeeping outwith my control ;) and with the added factor of the morning after the night before, we didn't have many daylight hours left to take on something bigger so it had to be local and fairly short.

This has to be the most overlooked Corbett I've done as I've probably passed it more than 50 times on my way up to Lochnagar!

Looking NW from the Clais Rathadan track towards the Braemar hills

From Glen Muick car park in quite pleasant conditions (blue sky, no wind) we followed the main Lochnagar tourist path through Allt na guibhsaich up the Clais Rathadan track but when you get to the fork where you would turn left and up towards Meikle Pap and the Gar you simply turn right (NE) at the cairn and follow a faint trail up onto Conachcraig.

Cuidhe Crom left, Meikle Pap center and the Gar just out of sight to the right and behind

Just as we cleared the forest at Allt na giubhsaich and its shelter it was obvious the day wasn't going to stay quite as still as I'd hoped! It got progressively gustier as we climbed and by the time we were at the split on the Clais Rathadan track it was very blustery with frequent freezing, driving snow showers creating whiteout at times.

Getting breezy!

A lull between Conachraig and Caisteal na Caillich

Once we summit-ed Conachcraig we carried on a bit further NW over to the summit of Caisteal na Caillich which was actually not bad running underfoot considering the snow. The issue was the arctic blasts into the face!

The photo opportunities were too good to miss and I couldn't stop snapping! UNREAL scenes were developing in and out of blizzard conditions.

The Gar

Close up of the corrie

The Gar center behind and with MP in front and Cuidhe Crom on the left

The money shot and the reason why I do this!

Between Conachraig and Caistal

 

Running in the mountains is always special no matter the weather. Summer is great and nothing better than moving fast in minimal clothing and gear whilst getting a sun tan..  HOWEVER to really know you're alive and for a more intense experience with scenery that competes on a global level, Scottish winter running is unlike anything else! And it's only just begun!

Unfortunately tho there will come a point where running is impossible and it's time to either dig out the axes and crampons or skis! Until then though I'll keep running as long as poss up high. Boooya!!

The route was 13km/580m although we did a bit more repping some bits.

For once we were back to the van early and zooming into Rocksalt and Snails in Ballater for a fine bowl of curried carrot, lentil and apple soup in front of the wood burner! Incroyable!!




Oh meant to add I was running with a couple of new tops and thought it was worth mentioning..

I wore an Inov8 Tri blend short sleeve under an Inov8 ATC Merino LS hoodie! Game changer!
So summit temp was -4 and wind chill was anything between -10 and -15 brrrr.. however I was absolutely fine in the above combination until the snow really started blasting me and I was getting wet so I did pull on my OMM Sonic smock for a bit more protection but even then the Sonic is wafer thin and I was toastie.

Inov8 Tri blend T SL

I really liked the hood on the ATC although sinch cords would have been even better but to have a hood over a buff was great. As for the built in pullover mits, absolutely brilliant and I used them over my hands the whole time. I did put gloves on when it was really bad and blowing on top.
I was never too hot and never too cold - Goldilocks! Merino feels so good next to the skin, smooth and cozy but also light weight.

Inov8 ATC Merino LS Hoodie

I'm not a big perspirer anyway so I wasn't too surprised I was dry underneath back at the van but I was totally dry! Very  impressed with the wicking performance.
Fit was perfect, I chose medium (5,9/70kgs/slight build) and it was great, not skin tight and not loose, I have a short upper body and longer legs so it sat a bit lower on my bum which is great for me and another layer over my bum.
I've actually just ordered another of each as they're on offer on Sportsshoes just now. The Tri blend T is half price!!