It has moderate to steep slopes rising to crags below the summit ridge which runs SW to NE, with two peaks, Gairich and Gairich Beag (730m). From the summit ridge three ridges arise, NNW turning N to Meall a' Coire Leith (437m), NNE and finally E to Druim na Geid Salaich.

The normal ascent route is via the E ridge on easy slopes leading to a steep climb through rocky outcrops to the summit. An alternative ascent can be made via the W slopes of Gairich Beag were a stalkers path leads to the summit.

Garbh Chioch Mhor sits on a undulating ridge with its sister peak Garbh Chioch Bheag (968m) beyond which the ridge slopes down to a col linking to Sgurr nan Coireachan.

The summit ridge is very rocky, but a drystone wall runs along its crest and down to Bealach na h-Eangair, simplifying route finding over this rough terrain. The normal ascent routes are from Bealach na h-Eangair or from the col to Sgurr nan Coireachan.

A much broader E ridge offers easy slopes down to the A9 below. There is also a N ridge, which turns NE at Coire Beul an Sporain to connect with Creagan Mor (772m).

The only difficult slopes on this mountain lie to the NE where the crags of Creag Dhubh overlook Loch Ericht. There are some boulder slopes S and W of the summit and on the S flank of the E ridge.

The N face of Geal Charn has two ridges forming a corrie with craggy slopes. There are also some steep and craggy areas on the lower slopes to be avoided.

Geal Charn is separated from its nearest neighbour Beinn Sgiath by a high col (850m) at the head of Coire nan Dearcag. The moderate to easy slopes of the SW ridge lead to a path from Garva Bridge and the gentle slopes of the broad NW ridge leads to the high moorland of the Monadhliath plateau.

To the NE, a ridge (Bruach nam Biodag) leads SE from the plateau offering an alternative ascent route from Glen Markie.

The slopes between the N ridge and Sgor Iutharn, which is effectively the E ridge, are steep and craggy as is the southern slope of Sgor Iutharn. There is also a S ridge which terminates in the crags of Sron Ruadh.

The SW slopes of Sgor Iutharn provide an easy access from Bealach Dubh and the path from Culra Bothy.

The safe ascent routes are on the ridge from Ben Starav which can also be reached by the path from Coileitir by the Allt nam Mheirleach, or from the bealach between Glas Bheinn Mhor and Stob Coir an Albannaich.

The shortest routes are from Glen Etive, but routes from Loch Tulla to the E are possible.

The broad summit ridge runs from An Cabar (950m) 2.2km NE to the summit of Glas Leathad Mor, then turns SE to An t-Socach (1006m) which has crags on its E slopes. From the summit a ridge continues 1km NNE to a col then curves NW to Tom a' Choinnich. The E slopes of this ridge are again steep and craggy.

Midway between An Cabar and Glas Leathad Mor a broad ridge descends gently to the SE but has crags on its NE face. The slopes are otherwise fairly steep grass. Usual ascent route is the W ridge of An Gabar and the summit plateau.

The SW ridge leads to another Munro, Creag Leacach, with a dry-stone wall leading most of the way from one summit to the other.

The broad N ridge branches, with a NE branch connecting to Cairn of Claise and a NW branch, which has a path leading to Sron na Gaoithe, giving an alternative route of ascent.

The SE ridge leads to Little Glas Maol, then branches with paths on the both branches leading to Glen Isla. The access route from the NW give the easiest access.

To the E of the summit three ridges form two corries Glas Choire Bheag and Glas Choire Mhor, with crags and steep slopes close to the summit. To the S are a series of parallel ridges with mostly gentle slopes although there are some steep and craggy slopes the SE.

Ascent is normally from Glen Lochsie in the S from where a track leads close to the summit.