13/09/07 Karen, Jo and malcolm. Cycled in from the Keiloch to high point on track and then on foot through heather to the summit. Very windy - had to pedal downhill!17/09/07 Dave H
After yesterday's nonsense I thought I would make the most of the long, warm summer evening and pick up another point. Set off from home at 17.00, in atrocious weather, hoping that the forecast for clearing skies was more accurate than the one for snow and freezing temperatures. Actually both were right. Biked in from the road end at Aberarder (turn north off the North Deeside Road just east of Inver). Went via Ratlich and Auchtavan to the top of the Bealach Dearg. The track is much better than than you would expect from the map (it's all rideable) though not necessarily as good as you might hope with only 2 hours before dark. The rain stopped, several times, and I was mostly sheltered from the northerly wind. It probably would have been quicker to abandon the bike at the junction with the Cullardoch track (191972) and run from there, because the track makes a big detour and loses some height, but I wanted to come back a different way. Took 65mins to the hut at the top of the bealach. Changed shoes and ran to the top of the hill. Sort of. It was quite difficult even to stand in the wind. Only took 15mins to the summit. Good view of lots of weather. There was new snow on Ben Avon, and lots of cloud with very fast moving sunny patches in between. Turned to come down just before a hail storm hit (see picture). Fortunately it was mostly behind me on the way down. Back to the bike in 10 mins then had an extremely fast ride back. Went down the track due south until it meets the track between Craig Leek and Meall Gorm (not marked on the map) and got back to the car at 19.25. 2 hours 5 after setting off and still in daylight (just).
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