Background
- I had an itch that needed to be scratched, having failed to climb these two on my recent overnighter in the Cairngorms due to poor WX.
- Mo had just had a steroid injection in her neck and was keen to prove it had worked (deadness/numbness in arm and shoulder pain) by doing something silly.
- We were off all week and still don’t have any urge to travel too far from home.
Tuesday 29th June 2021
We set off at 0900z from the Linn of Dee for the long five mile walk in to Carn a’Mhaim (pronnounced Carn a Vaam). It was a stunning day weather-wise for this part of the World.
Carn a’Mhaim in the centre of the picture
It took two hours to reach the Luibeg burn. We stopped for some food, crossed the burn without incident and were soon at the lower slopes of Carn a’Mhaim.
The hill track splits from the path leading into the Lairig Ghru
The climb was easy, then steep before finally easing off towards the summit, mainly on path but with a bit of rock and then some granite slabs to cross.
The Upper Slopes of Carn a’Mhaim
Although somewhat dwarfed by its grander neighbours of Ben Macdui GM/ES-001 and Cairn Toul GM/ES-003, its position allowed for spectacular views all round.
Braeriach GM/ES-002 left and Ben Macdui GM/ES-001 right
Cairn Toul GM/ES-003
Derry Cairngorm (non-SOTA Munro), with Ben Mheadhoin GM/ES-005 and it’s granite tors in the background
The Devils Point Munro (non-SOTA) on the right. Ben Bhrothain GM/ES-007 on the left
Looking south to the distant Atholl hills
This peak has a relatively small summit for a Cairngorm mountain. There were a few walkers around and a gusty breeze over the top, but it was easy enough to find shelter and set up the station.
I easily spotted myself using 4G and started operating around 1400z on 20m, feeding 25W into my inverted V, which was strung along an east-west axis.Nineteen stations were worked, in a time of around 25 minutes. Best DX was Greece - SV3IEG and there were back to back Russian stations in the log too. Most fun QSO was with PD2GCM/M, Gerard, who was mobile with a whip on his car.
Happy with that, and sensing I was pushing Mo’s “sunbathing” time on the summit, I packed up.
On the way up to the summit, I’d worked Ian GM7FIE/p from his summit on West Lomond GM/SS-154 using 2m. He mentioned that he may try East Lomond too that day, GM/SS-198. I put out a quick call as we left the summit, and there he was, so a cheeky summit to summit whilst mobile! I also grabbed a summit to summit with G1ZJQ, who was on The Cheviot G/SB-001. The half-wave rucksack mounted 2m/70cm antenna doing the job nicely today. 200km point to point.
From the summit, looking back north revealed a long ridge leading from the summit plateau of Ben Macdui directly to the floor of Glen Luibeg - The Sron Riach. I had a new itch!
I’m coiling my guy ropes here - The Sron Riach ridge in the background
The descent was long but trouble free. A cooling off dip in the Luibeg burn revitalised tired, hot feet and we made it back to the car at 1700z
The entire route back is visible here
Wednesday 30th June
Mo had a hair appointment booked. Rather handily this was going to allow me to scratch my new itch.
I was back at Linn of Dee car park at 0600z, having brought my bike this time. 35 minutes later I was at the Luibeg burn again, having saved almost 85 minutes travel time compared to yesterday! The weather wasn’t so good. A bit cooler, with low cloud in the glens.
Looking up to the Sron Riach
Then path up the glen was narrow but well made. Crossing the upper burn didn’t present any problems and the initial path up the Sron Riach was very well made.
The cloud was lifting as I ascended and soon the views started to open up.
Yesterdays summit - Carn a’Mhaim
Had a few days camping/rock climbing here back in my youth.
Looking back down the Sron Riach
The upper slopes were rougher. I crossed a boulder field and then pulled up grassy and stony slopes towards the massive summit dome of Ben Macdui, reaching the cairn around 3 hours after setting off.
Ben Macdui GM/ES-001
The RSPB website tells me there are 60 breeding pairs of Snow Bunting that remain in Scotland all year round. Well I can tell you there’s a very tame one living at the summit of Ben Macdui (didn’t get a pic, but got an amazing close up with the GoPro).
I expected crowds at the summit - there is a very popular route from the ski centre near Aviemore, but I was alone. I think the poor morning WX forecast had probably helped. Conscious that it would get busy, I elected to set up the station off to the south, in one of the numerous stone shelters.
It was a palace compared to what I’m used to, with a flat grassy/mossy floor.
4G was working and I got my Spot away no problem. I soon worked ten stations on SSB, with G4AEI being the only UK station making it into the log. Aware that the 20m hop meant that UK chasers were missing out on a 10 point summit, I decided to re-rig the inverted V for 40m.
40m brought in seventeen contacts, ten of them being UK callsigns. I had a summit to summit with GW4TQE from GW/NW-042 and a further one with Simon GM7WKX/p, who was on GM/SS-034. I was delighted with this one, as Simon had been out all week climbing in GM-land.
I had the HT, but just the whip this time. I was about to put out a speculative CQ on 2m, when M0JKS/p beat me to it. He was on Scaffell Pike GM/LD-001, Englands highest. Surprisingly, given the 300km distance between the summits, he gave me an S6 report! He also congratulated me on getting ten points from him. I replied with my summit reference and said, “here’s ten points back!”.
I’d been 100 minutes on top in total and having run out of things to do, started heading back down using the same route. I saw no one else on this route all day, which was awesome!
Hazier WX today
Macro mode on the Samsung phone
Just another Cairngorm boulder field
Descending, but the ascent route now fully in view
The replacement bridge at Derry Lodge - innovative use of tower sections
The return journey was uneventful. Oh, apart from me nearly running over a young Adder with my bike. I was home before Mo, so some Brownie points in the bag too!
SUMMARY
Carn a’Mhaim, Ben Macdui and Derry Cairngorm are normally climbed a as a lengthy circular walk. One which I was keen to avoid with radio gear in my rucksack. I’d completely forgotten about the direct access to Ben Macdui from the south via the Sron Riach until I saw it from the top of Carn a’Mhaim. So, two itches scratched and a couple of very satisfying activations, with decent band conditions. A 14 mile hike followed by an 18 mile bike & hike. Mo seems to be back to full strength too, which is great. She can carry the radio next time!
Radio Gear
Yaesu ft-3d half-wave rucksack antenna plus whip
Yaesu ft-857d with LifePo4 battery
Inverted V 40m/20m linked
7m Spiderpole, three guys (and still using the broken and semi-repaired guy ring)
Waterproof notebook and pencil
73, Fraser
I’m aching all over just reading about it! Fuel for dreams.
