Ben Alder
22 - 24 May 2007
This trip had been planned for a few months as part of Laila's
challenge to finish her Munros. She was joined by Norman who was
working his way through the Munros trying to ensure he didn't leave
the more remote ones to the end.
The approach to the Ben Alder Group of Munros is normally from the
Railway Station at Dalwhinnie where there is limited parking. This
entails a long walk, or cycle down the north-west shore of Loch Ericht
as far as Ben Alder Lodge on a good vehicle track. However access by
vehicle is controlled at a gate beside the Estate Office near the
start of the track.
I had an exemption so the start of our three day trip was from the
rear of Ben Alder Lodge with a walk along the vehicle track towards
Loch Pattack and then the path to Culra Bothy crossing a small swing
footbridge over the Allt a'Chaoil-reidhe just before reaching the
bothy. Don't confuse the bothy with the newly renovated Culra Lodge
nearby.
We found a vacant room at the bothy and set out our sleeping gear on
the platforms. A discussion took place as to whether or not to try
for one of the Munros as it was only just after 4pm. We only had
sufficient time to climb one of the mountains so I decided on what I
thought would be the hardest of the trip, Ben Alder.
We left the bothy, returned to the footbridge and re-crossed the Allt
a'Chaoil-reidhe and followed the well maintained path up its south-
east side to around 670 metres where we left the path, crossed some
heathery ground and descended to cross the Allt a'Bhealaich
Bheithe. Thereafter we headed over some rough ground to the Long
Leachas and ascended this ridge with a wee bit of difficulty due to
the wind and wet rock, in particular near the top of the ridge.
Eventually we arrived on the Ben Alder plateau and walked to its
summit as the cloud came in obscuring the top, marked with a cairn and
trig point. After a few minutes at the summit we walked round the
corrie and out of the cloud before the steep, rough and in places wet
descent towards Bealach Breabag. It had already been decided that
we hadn't enough time to include Beinn Bheoil so once down the
steepest section we headed to the path leading to Loch a'Bhealaich
Bheithe.
This path was followed to and along the east shore of the loch but was
wet and boggy in sections. However at the outflow of the loch the
path had been upgraded and this was the one used on the approach to
Ben Alder so we followed it back to the bothy.
The next morning it was wet and windy. Norman had the four Munros on
the north side of the Bealach Dubh to climb while Laila only required
the easterly two. Norman set off half and hour before us and I had
hoped that we would meet on Geal-charn, Norman's third Munro. Laila
and I followed Norman's route, which was over the Bealach Dubh, but
only as far as the outflow from Loch an Sgoir. We followed this
outflow and climbed onto the ridge south-west of Diollaid a'Chairn.
The next section was a steeper climb onto the Geal-charn plateau where
visibility was very poor due to low cloud. It was a very featureless
area so we followed a bearing to the summit cairn. There was no sign
of Norman but we were unlikely to see him in these conditions so we
returned to the ridge we ascended earlier and headed for Carn Dearg as
the cloud broke up slightly and although still windy we had some sunny
spells so it was time for a lunch stop.
On finishing lunch a figure was seen at the top of the ridge but we
were unable to identify the person so we ascended Carn Dearg as the
figure got closer and the clothing was similar to Norman's. From
Carn Dearg we descended to Culra Bothy as we watched Norman closing in
on us and he arrived at the bothy a few minutes after us.
Although the weather was clear it was windy but both Norman and Laila
were keen on going out again and climbing the final Munro of the trip,
Beinn Bheoil. I had my doubts as I felt Laila was tired after the
last two days but she wanted to get it over with so after a break and
some food and hot drinks we set off for Beinn Bheoil using the same
path as for Ben Alder the previous day.
Where the path changed direction we headed towards Beinn Bheoil trying
to stay off the ridge due to the strong wind. Laila, who doesn't
like the wind, was now fairly slow as she tired while Norman, although
feeling the effects of his earlier ascent of the four Munros was still
keen on setting a reasonable pace so he led the way up the ridge.
Higher up the ascent became steeper and more exposed and the cloud
base lowered. Norman had reached the summit cairn and passed us on
his way back down while Laila struggled to the summit. We returned
to Culra by the route of ascent although we did keep to the ridge more
as there was very little difference in the exposure to the wind.
Once back at the bothy it was time for a meal and a well earned rest.
The next morning, having climbed all the Munros necessary we returned
to Ben Alder Lodge.
Day one:
Time taken - 1.25 hours/6.25 hours.
Distance - 6.3 kilometres/16 kilometres.
Height climbed - 70 metres/760 metres.
Day two:
Time taken - 6 hours/4.25 hours.
Distance - 13.5 kilometres/11 kilometres.
Height climbed - 840 metres/570 metres.
Day three:
Time taken - 1,5 hours.
Distance - 6.3 kilometres.
Height climbed - 40 metres.
Photos taken on walk can be seen at:
http://www.caledoniahilltreks.com/gallery07/ben_alder_may07/index.htm
Lindsay
www.caledoniahilltreks.com