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08
Jan
2009
9:55 am
4:52 pm
Geal Charn & Carn Dearg is a route in “The Ben Alder” region / range which is located in the Loch Linnhe to Loch Ericht area of the Scottish Highlands as defined by the Scottish Mountaineering Club.
This is a mainly circular route but there are parts where you need to retrace your footstepsThese hills are situated in mountainous countryside between Loch Laggan & Loch Ericht which is a large area penetrated by no public road so this is a long route. This is the shortest approach and still a long 40+ km route in which a bike is extremly useful and a night in Culra Bothy may be a good idea. If you like exposed ridges you'll enjoy the Lancet Edge which is narrow and rocky with a heady sense of exposure on both sides.
| Distance | Ascent | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 43 km/ 26 miles | 930 m/ 3052 ft | 13 hours plus |
There are 2 munros on the route and are listed below
| Munro | Height | Order | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geal-Charn (Alder region) | 1132 | 26 | Geeya Karn | White Peak |
| Carn Dearg (Alder region) | 1034 | 98 | Karn Jerrack | Red cairn like peak |
Walkers should satisfy themselves that they have the necessary permission from Network Rail to use the railway crossing at Dalwhinnie.
| Q | Grid Ref. | Bearing | Distance(km) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | NN633846 | 234° SW | 0.9 (0.9) | Start from Dalwhinnie |
 | NN626841 | 243° WSW | 1.1 (2) | Pass sheilding on the left continue along track |
 | NN616836 | 222° SW | 6.1 (8.1) | Pass An Tochailt on the left continue along track |
 | NN575791 | 266° W | 3 (11.1) | Pass the Ben Alder Lodge |
 | NN54487889 | 218° SW | 3.7 (14.8) | Continue along the track around Loch Pattack shores |
 | NN522760 | 243° WSW | 3.8 (18.6) | Contunue past Culra Lodge and follow along the northwest bank of the Alt a'Bhealaich Dhuibh until you're underneath the first crags of Sgor Lutharn |
 | NN488743 | 0° N | 0 (18.6) | Climb steeply up grass & heather until reach crest of "Lancet Edge" easy scambling required & feeling of exposure on both sides |
 | NN48807433 | 273° W | 0.9 (19.5) | Lancet Edge. Scambling required to get here. Pass small summit cairn and descend onto col |
 | NN47897439 | 281° W | 1 (20.5) | From col climb up scree splatterd slope to summit of Geal Charn. Then continue about 1km to safe way down |
 | NN469746 | 66° ENE | 1.2 (21.7) | The summit Geal-Charn (Alder region) (1132 metres) |
 | NN47997507 | 36° NE | 0.8 (22.5) | Safe descent winds steeply down to col. If you find yourself looking for handholds on steep rock you're on the wrong place. |
 | NN48497574 | 70° ENE | 2 (24.5) | Continue onto summit of Carn Dearg then continue down |
| NN504764 | 60° ENE | 1.1 (25.6) | The summit Carn Dearg (Alder region) (1034 metres) |
 | NN51357694 | 64° ENE | 0.6 (26.2) | Continue along down to point 827 marked on the map |
 | NN519772 | 55° NE | 2.3 (28.5) | Head down over easy grass and heather to the north-east |
 | NN538785 | 60° ENE | 0.8 (29.3) | Cross the Bridge |
 | NN545789 | 60° ENE | 0.8 (30.1) | Continue back from the way you came |
This month you MUST take ice axe and crampons, and have been taught how to use them. You also must have an awareness of avalanche danger and have a competent navigator
munro-madness.com accept no responsibility for your interpretation of our route information.
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