15-16/09/23 Weekend Meet: Ballater Hostel; Fionas, Corbetts and Munros.

The club made a return visit to this hostel, the first being on14-15/10/22. They had a weekend of mixed weather but an enjoyable, comfortable break in Ballater, see; www.ballater-hostel.com

First up, on Friday 15/09/23, AS, PF and BR on their way to Ballater diverted north to go and do the Fiona Mona Gowan, NJ 33593 05847, using a western approach from the layby at NJ 31053 03951. The route was a simple march over heathery ground culminating in PF doing an impression of the Salsa atop the huge cairn built in 1887 to commemorate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. They covered 10.1km and 476m of ascent in 3:10hr, see; https://consumerplatform.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/route/19065930/230915--mona-gowan?lat=57.125980&lon=-3.132698&zoom=13.4530&style=Leisure&type=2d

On Saturday 16/09/23, the attraction for most folk was Corbett Conachraig, NO 27946 86526 and Munro Lochnagar, NO 24371 86127; PF & AS did Conachaige, followed by DY & LY, while BR, CS & Harry the Dog, did both Conachraige and Lochnagar, returning via the NW shore of Loch Muick. The Conachraig/Lochnagar traverse covered 20.7km & 1074m of ascent, taking 7:10hr, see; https://consumerplatform.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/route/19066253/230915--conachraige-andlochnagear?lat=56.947224&lon=-3.208550&zoom=13.0047&style=Leisure&type=2d. Pic shows AS either reading a newspaper or a map at the path between Conachraig and the route up to Lochnagar, in the background.

DY takes a pic of LY at the top of Conachraig with Lochnagar to the west still shrouded in mist.

…and as if by magic it clears giving a great view of Lochnagar’s rock climbs, taken from Caisteall na Caillich, NO 28202 87460, about 1km NNE of Conachraig.

A beautiful return back through the woods to the Glen Muick carpark.

Meanwhile BR, CS & Harry the Dog, having done Conachraig, descended to the path again and headed west up to Lochnagar. Here the pic takes a closer shot of the climbs on Central Buttress, Eagle Ridge, The Pinnacle and West Buttress, taken from the SW shoulder of Meikle Pap, NO 25783 85737.

The views came and went and as per usual they departed at the top!

…but here is the evidence that they got to there!

At least they were rewarded by better views on the long descent SE to Loch Muick.

…witnessing some fine waterfalls.

Also on Saturday, SP & TF visited Mount Keen, NO 40862 86932 by a long walk in from the NE via Glen Tanar, starting at NO 47971 96538. The path along Glen Tanar has many delights, here SP inspects an ants’ nest.

Mt Keen in distance after exiting Glen Tanar, pic taken looking south from NO 40637 89715.

…also time for a break at the river.

On the way back from Mount Keen they take a rest stop at Half Way Hut, NO 43619 93125.

Back at the hostel MM, PF & BR get some food and liquid refreshment inside them.

Other Munros climbed that weekend were: Broad Cairn, NO 24062 81547 and Carn Bannoch, NO 22294 82548 (AR, MM & NMcD); An Scarsoch, NN 93331 83663, Carn an Fhidhleir, NN 90474 84221, Carn na t-Sagairt Mor, NO 20802 84250 and Carn a Choire Boidheach, NO 22678 84565 (AR).

Sunday 16/09/23 was dreich and so folk mainly went home having had a good break overall.