Training Log Archive: Big Jon

With RC - Keiloch car park towards Glen Slugain, rough track - not helped by estate digging drainage channels!

Glen Slugain - lodge (CP22), tried to find the how but failed. Across to lovely footpath into towards the col between BaB and BA. Turned left and up into corrie and Dubh Lochan (CP20), then up onto eastern end of Beinn a Bhuird and to col then climb to Ben Avon(CP23), back via Allt An Eas Mhoir and glen to SW.
Superb day out - cold and windy in exposed places but warm when the sun was out. First time into the BaB worries and they are superb - well worth a visit. Huge ramparts of rock all round with massive boulder fields at hte bottom. Snow and rock (saw 2 guys skiing down one of the gullies - Deeside Runners!) and then a couple on Ben Avon. Found a wee shelter stone (footprints on the snow gave it away) under the central buttress of the main corries - pretty cramped and cold inside, but maybe better than carrying a tent?
Some steep and a bit icy snow up towards Cnap a Chleirich then a bit of a detour to avoid a cornice dropping to the col. The climb to Ben Avon was very exposed to the wind and glad to reach the plateau and be able to drift away from the edge to get out of the wind. Final climb was again exposed and also a snow blatter came across. Descent to the glen was wonderful - huge snow patches at a decent angle and often good surface (not too soft, not too icy). Saw several ptarmigan here - burping away and looking very obvious with their white colour changing to speckled!
Down the glen - picked up a path that helped a little, then just a long plod SW along the strath and then over the col to drop down the final glen to the bikes, not helped by hail and then snow. Right knee started whinging here - I suspect too much diagonal on steep snow with lots of twisting to get grip on the hard snow.
Epic day out. 7 hours total time.

C • Corries 2

Whiz back on the bikes - cursing the drainage channels even more :-)

Rest day

Glen Muick car park to Las Allt Shiel - a lot less windy than yesterday but colder (2C) and snow in the shade.

Glas Allt to Dubh Loch - lovely little footpath up the glen. I'd forgotten how stunning the Dubh Loch and the glen are - river flowing over rock slabs and other gentle winding sections, all with the crags looming over the loch like a big dark cloud.
Had a wee paddle (feet only) at the far end - a lovely sandy beach and the sun was out. Thought about more but couldn't face it :-)
Nice run back out - so much easier going gently downhill then gently uphill!

Cycle back out - wind assisted so very pleasant. Went the long way round to avoid the beach/rough track along the loch-end. Fairly whizzing at points.
Such a difference in pleasure from yesterday, wind is such a killer.

Glen Muick to foot of main climb - a bit windy - leaning at 20-30 degrees to stay upright across the glen...

Up main track to col between Ladder and Meikle Pap then down to Loch (CP42) and back on north side of Meikle Pap and main track down.
Windy doesn't describe it - head wind every inch of the climb so most done at a walk with occasional jogs that felt like intervals. Then down to loch - wind coming across me and hod one scary moment of being blown uncontrollably down the hill, luckily managed to fall over in a soft patch avoiding the stones. Then really cautious across the boulder fields to the loch. Return was a lot more sheltered on the north slope but main track and a howling tailwind and its rocky and rough, so slow, slowly again.
Had planned to cycle along the length of Loch Muick and run to the Dubh Loch. Another day!

More tail wind then cross wind so whizzed back to car.

Gairn Shiel road to Loch Builg Lodge (CP30) - headwind and gradually uphill = slow going :-)
Started with waterproof top, within 5 minutes had stopped to put on waterproof trousers as well - worked a treat to stop the windchill.
Track had been atrocious last year - very loose, now nicely bedded in and good riding throughout.

Jogged across to lodge - then realised the path bent round to it - dohhh! Had to go back 'cos left gloves by ruin when taking photos ;-)

Whiz back down glen :-)))) very pleasant.
Saw a buzzard and a swan (yellow/orange head) at wee loch an near Builg. Some grouse and a few smaller birds but strangely empty area - I guess everything is burnt/shot/trapped...

east along Deeside Way, down to river and west along bank then back up DAP road and DW. Feeling a bit sluggish but pleasant enough. Chilly wind but warm sun.

rest day, still feeling pretty washed out and lethargic.