Footprints Across Scotland
Why not make a few of your own!
25th November 2007
First Taste of winter.
Today I headed out with John, Bushan and Chester (John's dog) through Braemar and then down the Glen Shee road to Auchallater farm. It was a slight shock to the system getting out of the warm car to don our walking boots. With temperatures hovering around freezing it was definitely starting to feel like winter. We followed the landrover track up the Callater burn disturbing many red grouse on our way to Callater lodge.
Loch Callater
We found a rather unusual warning sign posted on the lodge gate post
'Roo alert
From here a gradual climb up the hillside on the north side of the Loch Callater gave some good views of the hills surrounding the far end of the loch.
Upper reaches Loch Callater
After traversing the hillside south east for a kilometre or so we then adjusted to a north easterly direction heading for the slopes of Carn an t-Sagairt Mor. We hit the snow line at about 800m and started to feel the effect of the strong North westerly wind. Occasional snow flurries added to the atmosphere and chill on the cheeks. Our destination for the day was Carn a' Choire Bhoidheach situated on the east side of Carn an t-Sagairt Mor, the opposite side from our ascent path which slowly disappeared under the snow as we climbed. We started to contour around the side of Carn an t-Sagairt Mor in the increasing blizzard conditions.
Downturn in the weather
We hoped for some shelter from the biting wind as we moved around the hillside but after a brief easing we now had it full on. The lying snow on this side of the hill was knee deep in places slowing progress and visibility was down to a few meters at times. After a bit of discussion we decided things didn't look like improving so we retreated back to the west side of the hill. From here we ascended to the top of Carn an t-Sagairt Mor and after a brief visit to the cairn retraced our steps back toward Loch Callater. Out of the wind and back in the view of the Loch we stopped for our lunch. From here it was a short drop down to Callater lodge and then an hour's walk back out of Glen Callater to the car.
Cairn on top of Carn an t-Sagairt Mor
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