Planning to do a Cairngorm circuit this weekend. Friday is due to be Blair Atholl to Aviemore via the Gaick Pass. There seem to be a couple of river crossings and with all this weather I am wondering if they will be fordable or should we consider other options eg Glen Bruar/Glen Feshie?
Anyone done the Gaick after a bit of rain or any advice on a better option?
thanks
I was up in that area last week. All of the rivers were very high and there was loads of water in the ground. Given there's been more rain since, I can't believe it'll be any better.
Only one of note and it's very shallow - go for it.
On Sat 10th me and two mates rode from Blair Atholl, up Glen Tilt to Geldie Burn and over to Glen Feshie, finishing at Kingussie train station.
Dunno bout the Gaick, but the ride took us 10hrs and we had to ford 4 swollen rivers. The Geldie was just over waist deep! With a bike in hand it was pretty dangerous and thinking back, we should really have turned back. You'll be hoping for some dry days before the weekend - there's been loadsa rain from when we were there on Sat up until today!
Enjoy!
Haven't ridden the Gaick after heavy rain, but as mentioned above, the only river crossing where you have to get your feet wet is pretty shallow under normal conditions.
Well said Rossco. It was a knightmare of a day due to the swollen rivers. The time it takes just deciding where to cross the rivers is frustrating. If you have any fords to cross, think twice!!
Not looking too good but we are meeting another 4 in Aviemore and are all booked up. I think the rain finishes tonight so hopefully levels will drop over the next couple of days.
The worst crossing is going to be at the end of the LR track going up from the A9, after the shooting lodge and before the singletrack at the left side of the first Tarn/Loch. I'm told people have been killed there when trying to cross it when its in speight.
There are several others as you descend which in normal circumstances you'd pay no heed to....but this is the Highlands and things get wild...man
Glen Bruar ends you out at the Minnigaig Pass. Going up there is a track/path which is hike a bike out of the top of the Glen and then just about discernable path to the top...going down the other side there is no track or path or joy to be had....hike a bike most of the way down over rough ground. That's about six years ago...might have changed
My thoughts: You'll be fine on the Gaick.
It's the river crossings between Aviemore and Tomintoul I'd be worried about - particularly around the Braes of Abernerthy and in Glen Brown.