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Braeriach: Garbh Choire Dhaidh

Sandwiched between the more popular, and arguably more impressive, Garbh Choire Mór and Coire Bhrochain, Garbh Choire Dhaidh doesn't offer the same defined lines that its more illustrious neighbours do. Catching the sun more than it's neighbours as well often leads to poorer snow snow conditons, but it is a beautiful secluded place to visit, made all the better if a descent is involved.

Despite there not being many defined lines, theres is one reliable gem: Monolith Gully.

Approach

As per Cairn Toul and Sgor and Lochain Uaine, you can approach from the south via Coire Odhar, skirting the summits of Cairn Toul and Sgor an Lochain Uaine, or follow the Lairig Ghru and then into coire itself, passing the Garbh Choire Refuge. From the North, the best approach is to cycle up Gleann Eanaich and either ascend Coire Dhondail to the plateau, or use the Escalator (shorter). The down side of this approach is that you must climb back out of the corrie again no matter what.

The blunt ridge between Garbh Choire Mór and Garbh Coire Dhaidh offers an easy way out of the corrie, if the headland isn't sporting a decent sized cornice. Depending upon snow cover in the corrie, you may need skirt the base of steep Northeast facing ground below the ridge to get onto it.

Alternatives

On the North side of the corrie, and attractive South facing bowl looks worth doing, but it loses its snow relatively rapidly late in the season. The slope between it and Coire Brochain gives an unsatisfying ski, and can even be corniced. Just to the South of the falls of Dee is a narrow line, bounded on skiers left by a rocky rib. A partial descent is known about, having been mistaken for Pinnacle Gully in neighbouring Garbh Choire Mór (and probably should be named "False Pinnacle Gully", or similar).

Relevant Weather Forecasts

Relevant Avalanche Forecasts

There is one relevant Scottish Avalanche Information Service forecast for Braeriach: Garbh Choire Dhaidh.

Northern
Cairngorms

Monolith Gully

From the summit plateau of Braeriach, most peoples eyes will be drawn to the impressive North facing wall of Garbh Choire Mór when looking South. They might not notice the headland between Garbh Choire Mór and Garbh Choire Dhaidh. However, facing them is the shallow line of Monolith Gully. It's reliable, due to its aspect, and is a really good descent. The cornice can be considerable directly above it, but it is usually possible to slide in next to some rocks (if they are visible), just to the South, and cut back into the top of the gully.

The gully itself is shortlived, but the big open slope below compensates for that, allowing for fast turns to the corrie floor. Well worth doing!

Monolith Gully, in a good snow year (2014) Photo: Scott Muir

Monolith Gully on the far right of the picture, from Braeriach Photo: Scott Muir

Traversing into the top of Monolith Gully Photo: Scott Muir

Grid Reference: NN944984

Approximate Start Height: 1230m

Approximate Descent: 280m

General Aspect: Northeast

Climbing Grade: I

Notes: Relatively easy for Grade I

Skiing and Snowboarding in the Cairngorms National Park sample pages

Skiing & Snowboarding in the Cairngorms National Park

COMING SOON! A complete guide to skiiing and snowboarding in Scotland's Cairngorms National Park.

This book contains everything you need for planning your next adventure in the Scottish Highlands including route descriptions, route gradings with slope aspects, maps, pictures with topography, and pictures of the mountains in a variety of snow conditions. All of this is weaved together beautifully alongside the history, folklore and stories behind the names of the mountains and coires we travel through.

A collaboration by Blair Aitken, Jamie Johnston, Katie Henderson and Scott Muir, with additional contributions from other regular Cairngorm adventurers. The guide suits both ski tourer and splitboarder and includes everything from mellow, low angled slopes, all the way through to some of the steepest gully skiing in the country.

More details here on the British Backcountry Guidebook page

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