What's Aviemore like just now?

I’m off up on Friday for a week. The Cairnngorm cam makes me think I’ll not be doing too much biking?

What’s things like in Rothiemurchus forest and other slightly more low lying places like Glen Feshie?

Crap, that’s bad news

Cheers

I’m up there with family from Friday – was planning on biking too!

Aye, we were hoping we could ride Rothiemurchus with the wee one, not to mention all the high mountain riding I’ve had planned all winter long.

Balls

I was planning some Munros and some bothying over the weekend. Debating leaving the tent behind to make space for crampons, but don’t want to make it to the bothy only to find everyone else has ditched their tents too! Think the bothy would be pretty miserable as well without carrying in some firewood…

Decisions decisions…

The forecast if for temperatures to rise towards the end of the week – 7-10deg during the day. That snow wont last long at all.

PS – this was last Tuesday…

The forecast if for temperatures to rise towards the end of the week – 7-10deg during the day. That snow wont last long at all.

PS – this was last Tuesday…

That’s what I guessed. Prob bin the high tops riding and just focus on the lower level stuff.

-7 to -10!!! 😉

What’s your expert opinion then Druidh, think Corrour will be busy on easter weekend? 8)

Thinking Cairngorm/Macdui/Carn a’Mhaim before dropping down to the bothy and doing the Braeriach ridge the next day. Hence the reluctance to overpack the rucsac…

think Corrour will be busy on easter weekend?

Probably be quieter at the Coylumbridge Hilton!

ditch_jockey – Member
>think Corrour will be busy on easter weekend?
Probably be quieter at the Coylumbridge Hilton!

That!

Haha, thought as much. Considered the other local option but it takes me a little way off my intended route the next day. Better pack the tent then…

Oh dear, I was supposed to be camping there this weekend too. Note to Sanny – think low level…. PLEASE.

The Cairnngorm cam makes me think I’ll not be doing too much biking

As things stand the snow is relatively thin in most areas and has generally fallen on bare and warm (but dry) ground. If I was biking I’d be more worried about wind/cold/thaw/visibility than the superficial white stuff (though the forecast implies it might go either way and I’m sure you can find proper snow if you know where to look).

Better pack the tent then…

Forget the tent IMO. Your best bet would be do the whole route you have planned in one go as it makes for a good day out. Riding in to above Picadilly (if going from Rothiemurcus side) or past Derry Lodge/ or anywhere up from Linn of Dee (if starting from the south) is worth considering too.

MC

Go high or go home, fella! 😀

Druidh

What track was that photo taken on. Looks rather nice!

If anyone is in the area doing any riding at the weekend, would you mind if I possibly tag along?

I’m up with the family and don’t fancy going high solo given the conditions. I’m fairly fit, skilled and prepared.

Cheers

Sanny – that’s the way in to Loch Einich. We just did an out-and-back but I’ve often wondered about using it to link up with the Braeriach/Carn Toul plateau.

Hi Druidh

I thought it was familiar. 😀

I did Braeriach that way last Easter. Slight trauma trying to get past a snow field on the steepest section of the path at the head of the Glen. I had a great day but there is no discernible path from where the path levels out up onto the summit. It’s easy going to carry but a bit of a bugger in that there is no path as such that I could spy.

The descent off Braeriach is nice if you like tech with only two short carry down sections where it is a wee bit bouldery.

Next time, I plan to head up Braeriach then drop down to Corrour then mooch back up over Carn a Mhaim and Derry Cairngorm or MacDui. A big day but doable I reckon.

I bet you had a headwind going up the Glen!

Forget the tent IMO. Your best bet would be do the whole route you have planned in one go as it makes for a good day out. Riding in to above Picadilly (if going from Rothiemurcus side) or past Derry Lodge/ or anywhere up from Linn of Dee (if starting from the south) is worth considering too.

Interesting… hadn’t considered it as a one dayer, biggest day I’ve done is about 30km and 2800m ascent, so it would be a toughy (I’d guess 40km and over 3000m?). Wasn’t planning on taking the bike but guess it would help at the end!

I think you’re about on the money with the distance, but I’m not very good with figures for that kind of thing. IIRC the better hill runners do it in times getting towards 4 hours (that’s not a typo). In good conditions its a great day route esp. with bike in and out to ease you in and out of it. I think it’s a different proposition in winter – one I’m yet to try but will do by ski as soon as I get the chance.

If anyone is in the area doing any riding at the weekend, would you mind if I possibly tag along?

I’m up with the family and don’t fancy going high solo given the conditions. I’m fairly fit, skilled and prepared.

I’m up from Friday to Friday. Mostly family stuff but should get a day out on my own, but not sure when yet. Happy to meet up? I did Carn Ban Mor last year and Sanny has suggested a few routes to try. E-mail is in my profile if you are interested in meeting up.
I’m fairly fit, slightly skilled and hopefully prepared!!

An on the spot report…..

We walked the ‘triangle’ from Coylumbridge campsite today, going out via the Whitewell track towards Glen Einich then went along to the Cairngorm Club footbridge and then back to Coylumbridge. The tracks were all pretty clear, bit of slushy snow but plenty of people around on bikes. The snow has shifted quite considerably today and it’s not icy at the moment, just wet and slushy. We’re planning on heading out on the bikes tomorrow, probably just around Rothiemurchus and Glenmore for now.

It was grand on Monday

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Was a bit of a shocker waking up to 4 inches at Glenmore on Tuesday morning though.

Heading into Rothiemurchus today.

Geoffj, that looks ace. We’ve got all fingers crossed that we get it back to something like that before we have to head for home.

I went up to the ski trails at glenmore yesterday and you’ll have no worries with low level stuff. Even higher its pretty thin.

“high jack” – sorry- how’s meall a’ bhuachaille looking?

Mr P went up Glen Einich today. He reckons the first photo is somewhere in the vicinity of Druidh’s further up the thread – compare and contrast!

Brilliant – that first photo is in almost exactly the same spot. I reckon he was just standing at the other edge of the track.

>high jack” – sorry- how’s meall a’ bhuachaille looking?>

The big hills might look superficial from below – they aint 😉

As of 3 p.m Thursday – surprising amount of snow >600m. Paths on both sides mostly buried / unidentifiable at this level. Summit and exposed ridges are scoured bare but the gullies and snow fields are easily 1.2m deep – you’ll go in .5m+ trying to walk on them.

Will upload some sunnier pics when I get to a proper machine.

This won’t help, but look what you could have won!
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150648431587523.399249.579452522&type=1

Druidh n me went for a bimble and cake. Excellent cake by way. Get some!

That’s just showing off! (Out of interest, where’s the cake from?)

LOL – cakeage c/o the Glenmore Visitor Centre cafe.

Well that’s this afternoons plans sorted then…

I reckon i could totally go 2 next time. Soooo light and airy it was.

Thanks for the info theblackmount……Monday’s visit on hold

Oof. That was hard going over the weekend, lots of soft thawing snow on top of boulder fields, couldn’t trust a single footstep 🙁

On the plus side, plenty of space in Corrour! Could have left the tent at home…