TGO Challenge Day 7 Fri 16th May

Ruigh-aiteachain Bothy Glen Feshie to Derry Lodge  40.6km - 1916m ascent - 1853m descent
I woke having slept very well, completely rested. Looking out first thing the cloud was down to about 2500'. I had already decided I would venture up onto the Moine Mhor and climb Sgor Gaoith. From there I would take a view on the weather and more especially the wind speed and see what I thought. This is how it panned out....

It's a stiff pull out of Glen Feshie, but the Land Rover track does at least make for easy going underfoot.

The cloud had lifted somewhat as I reached the lip of Coire Garbhlach. Alistair Pooler and Sue Oxley (Thanks Louise!) were going over to Mullach Clach a Bhlair, so I left them shortly after this point as I headed North

The LRT seems rather to well made for my liking over here, the cloud is just touching Sgor Gaoith in the distance.

This is the Munro top of Carn Ban Mor (I think), the cloud now clear of Sgor Gaoith.

Looking down to Loch Einich, complete with whitehorses! Standing on the summit was fraught with danger in the gusting wind.

The head of Glen Einich, at this point cowering below the ridge out of the wind I decided to go for all the Braariach group of Munro's. Time to gird my loins!

here we look North from the moraine field south of the head of Glen Einich. I've been here before and its had graft.

This is Loch nan Cnapan, this was my original planned campsite. Had the high winds not been forecast. It looked a great spot, I'll be back!!

I nearly stepped on this Mountain Hare, it was no doubt feeling vulnerable as it changed colour.

This slope up to the Braeriach plateau seemed neverending, there were excellent views back to Sgor Gaoith though.

The vastness of the Moine Mhor, fantastic!

Eventually I reached the edge of the corries, and looked down into the Lairig Ghru. From here I could see much of what I would be climbing throughout the rest of the day.
The prominent peak is Cairn Toul. 

Down to the Lairig Ghru, tiny Carn a Mhaim dwarfed in this company.

I followed the corrie rim, still lots of snow as you can see as I look back from Sgor an Lochain Uaine.

Ahead the next objective, Cairn Toul. Energy was not a problem on a day such as this.

The huge bulk of Macdui across the Lairig Ghru.

Cairntoul looking South to Monadh Mhor and Beinn Bhrotain, the Beinn a Ghlo group in the distance.

Braeriach looks along way away now, still another Munro to climb though and a top.

Amazing quantity's of snow still left on the rim of the corries. Seen here from Cairn Toul, Where I met Paul Myerscough the only Challenger I saw after leaving Alistair and Sue until I got down to Corrour.

A wonderful arc of snow.
Here I was able to contact Braemar SYHA to book an extra night as I knew I would be a day ahead of schedule. This would give me a rest day, although I didn't really feel as though I needed one.

The Devils Point, and Carn a Mhaim...how can they be Munro's. Just shows how high Cairntoul is in comparison.

I was lucky on the descent to the col below The Devils Point, alot of the slope had soft snow on it and made for easy going.

It's not much of a climb from the col to the summit of The Devils Point. Last hill of the day.

Looking North up the Lairig Ghru, Currour Bothy below.

The view South from the same point, the Dee snaking away into the distance.

I had thought of possibly camping at Corrour, but I think from memory I counted 16 tents here...not much grass left! So I pressed on to Derry Lodge, it would make a very easy Saturday.

Devils Point doesn't look quite so small now!

The tent pitched amonst the pines at Derry lodge, I arrived at 8.45pm.
What a fantastic mountain day, my best day of the Challenge.

TGO Challenge Day 6 Thurs 15th May

Spey Dam to Ruigh-aiteachain Bothy Glen Feshie  41km - 663m ascent - 566m descent
I'd slept merely Ok, disturbed at some point by lights flashing over the tent...probably security from the nearby Balfour Beatty compound? I was up and away before 5am, with a plan to do some serious miles to put myself in a position to climb the Munro's above Feshie in the promised sun of Friday.

On the road (literally in this case) early..an advantage of the early start was that I saw very little traffic on the minor roads during the morning.

The picnic area in Laggan provided a great place for second breakfast. The nearby loo's were also handy.

Looking back up the upper Spey valley, the Silver Birches were beautiful on the stretch of tarmac to Glen Truim.

Seeing this waymarker confirmed my thoughts having studied the map, so I detoured through the forestry for a couple of Km. I probably wouldn't repeat this!

As I walked under the fresh leaved Beeches near Glen truim House I realised that I was making excellent time. The campsite here at Invernahavon was to be my stop for the night, but it was only 10.30am.
I called into Challenge Control, and explained what my plans were over the next couple of days, and pressed on.

I took the "track" to Phones, I presumed this wouldn't  be tarmac. But it was this was a bit of a disappointment. The Surroundings were very attractive though, and more than compensated.

The old military road, made for great walking, this is the bridge over the Milton Burn in excellent condition.

The bridge offered good shelter from the wind, it was a good place for a brew!

Ruthven Barracks...soon be leaving the Spey Valley. It felt like real Eastwards progess was being made.
Shortly after here I met Graham Weaver, and chatted and walked together almost to Balleguish.

The hills above Glen Feshie were starting to look very close, I was tempted to camp just the other side of the footbridge here but decided to press on to Feshie.

Feshie at last! Peter Little (who I'd last seen at the Falls of Glomach) had a great spot for his tent just beside the bridge. The path fof much of the way from here to the bothy has been "improved"

Glen Feshie is a great place to camp. I had a chat with Alistair Pooler who had managed to get an up to date forecast on his smartphone. High winds were on the menu for friday...confirming what I had thought. I posponed my decision on plans for Friday until the morning.
This had been a long day...but the miles, both on tarmac and tracks/paths had passed easily.
Now I was below the mountains again :-) 

A Superb Night on Wetherlam

 A short notice overnight trip on Wetherlam with  Ian ( https://twitter.com/ianwood2011 ) It was a great trip. I'll let the pictures do the talking!!

So green compared to Scotland recently!

Ian checking out a water supply.

A great place to camp on Ladstone Edge, Wetherlam.

Last of the evening sun lighting up Ambleside and the head of Windermere

Sunrise from Ladstone, the light had a milky appearance early on.

The lower Yewdale fells weathed in the start of an inversion

Sun starting to hit the tents

Sunrise really getting good.

The sea of mist washing up against Wetherlam

Whilst the other side of the ridge Coniston Old Man had its feet in the mist.

As we climbed the ridge to the summit the mist started to wash over the ridge.

There had been other high level backpackers...ther were 3 Akto's further up the ridge.

And to the North the Langdale Pikes were visable above the inversion

We then climbed Swirl How and skirted Brim Fell and The Old Man before we dropped out of the cloud to Goatswater. Dow Crag looked impressive from the tarn.

We dropped down to Tranearth and then Torver.

We then used the old railway and then the lakeshore path back to the car in Coniston.
The Lakes at their best!!