Corrieyairack Hill, Gairbeinn, Meall na h-Aisre and Geal Charn
MunrosGeal Charn
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CorbettsCorrieyairack Hill (demoted)
Gairbeinn Meall na h-Aisre |
GrahamsNone
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BothiesMelgarve
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Distance/Ascent41km 1520m
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Estimated Time12h 00mins
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NotesA big day on the hill best left to fine weather. It took me three attempts to climb Geal Charn from Gen Markie. To the best of my memory, one of only three hills where I have turned back.
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2nd and 4th May 2015
This was originally intended to be done in one go. I had considered following the route clockwise and camping before Geal Charn making it a day and a half trip. However, with very wintry conditions underfoot (for May) and strong winds forcast for Sunday 3rd, I took the cautious step of doing these peaks over two days; Corrieyairack Hill and Gairbeinn on Saturday 2nd May and Meall na h-Aisre and Geal Charn on Monday 4th May. The bank holiday weather improved throughout the day though there remained a cold wind.
Above, the route followed on the Saturday from Melgarve bothy. Distance/Ascent: 21km 782m. Time taken: 5h 30min.
Right, the route followed on the Mayday bank holiday Monday from Garve bridge. Distance/Ascent: 22km 970m. Time taken: 6h 45min. |
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I arrived at the bothy around 9:00pm to find a man called Ian in residence and the bothy fire lit. It is certainly a fine bothy and I took the room above the stable. This picture of the bothy was taken the next morning.
The glen is spoilt by the electric pylons and the bulldozed service road running a little further up the hill. New pylons have been erected but they have not removed the old ones to recycle the metal. Why can't the cables be ran underground? They would be better protected from adverse weather conditions.
2 May 2015
Ben Tee, Sron a'Choire Ghairbh and Meall na Teanga from just above the Corrieyairack Pass while heading up Corrieyairack Hill.
There seems to be some confusion about the position of the summit and the coordinates in the "The Corbetts and Other Hills" (bigger cairn) is different to that provided by hill-bagging.co.uk (smaller cairn). Looking at the 25,0000 map, it seems that the SMC are correct. Limited information is available for this hill as its demoted Corbett status means a reduced interest in the hill. Personnally, I think this hill will make a comeback and regain its Corbett status ..... We'll have to wait and see.
MW top
SE top
It was a bit of a trudge across to Geal Charn (not the Munro) and on to Gairbeinn.
The cairn is just below the summit.
I arrived back at the bothy around 15:00. Plenty of time to collect firewood before my evening meal.
Sunday was spent taking photographs of Garva Bridge before stocking up on calories and doing a tour of the gear shops in Aviemore (didn't buy anything but interesting to see the developments in the market). Stayed at Aviemore SYHA before returning to Garva bridge the next day.
The bridge at 525 959 is long gone. I slipped on a boulder crossing the burn, ending up with wet feet and a wet bottom. I wrung out my socks but got cold feet while walking through the snow. Other than my feet, the rest of me dried out quite quickly.
Meall na h-Aisre is not a very interesting hill, but the tall circular trig point seems to raise its status.
Meall na h-Aisre is not a very interesting hill, but the tall circular trig point seems to raise its status.
This convex slope of deep snow added to the fun on the descent.
I failed on my first two attempts at Geal Charn. Now it is Geal Charn 2 Mountainmann 2.
I descended Geal Charn in fine weather though I could see distant showers on Ben Alder.
Great panoramic views on the way down - Another Geal Charn, Creag Pitridh, Binnein Shios, Binnein Shuss and the Creag Meagaidh group.
.....And finally, back to the car at Garve Bridge.
