
First outing as a qualified Summer ML!
Led a group of 5 friends from Edinburgh, as part of a weekend away staying at the NTS Mar Lodge Estate cottages. I had plotted a number of options on the OS Maps software and printed off 1:25k versions of the Landranger routes, and we discussed and agreed this walk as a group on the Friday night, taking account of the forecast light winds but significant wind chill. I also referred to the route description in the SMC Munros guide.
The route overlapped in part with my Assessment expedition route from 2 weeks previously, this time however we had much improved visibility and no night navigation was required!
We all enjoyed a great day's walking, the highlight perhaps being spotting a Golden Eagle being mobbed by a Buzzard on the way up the Baddoch Burn land rover track.
On the return from the Munro summit I benefitted from having found a sheltered spot at the main bealach for lunch on the expedition, which we used again today.
I also took the opportunity to demonstrate some basic navigation techniques on the legs to Point 855m and Sgor Mor, and to locate the path down Sgor Mor's NE Ridge. At the Baddoch Burn some caution was required for the river crossing and I had to return to lead one less confident member of the party across.
Altogether a very satisfying first outing, I felt a definite increase in my confidence in all aspects of leading having been through the rigours of the assessment: looking forward to beginning the real learning process from here on!
Area :
The Cairngorms
The Cairngorms are ‘a little piece of the arctic in Scotland’ according to the SMC Munros Guide and the area contains many of the tallest peaks in the East Highlands. Ben Macdui (1309m), Cairn Gorm (1244m) and Braeriach (1296) are probably three of the better known and the whole area is full of steep corries and high plateaux. Access to the mountains is typically from Aviemore or Braemar.