26A - MONADH LIATH
The Carn Dearg ridge seen from the plateau on the way to Geal Charn. Photo tms.nickbramhall.com
18.6 miles 1150 metres
Start Sunday 14.34
A' Chailleach 15.27
Carn Sgulain 15.43
Carn Dearg 16.36
Geal Charn 17.45
Finish 18.17
Squares: green - start, yellow - changeover. Circles summits: green - this leg. Map Colin Matheson
Time: Estimated 3.44 Actual 3.43
Steve writes:
Spent morning recovering in Newtonmore before driving out to Cuaich to meet Craig. Drove through Newtonmore to end of road at foot of Creag an Loin.
Followed track alongside Allt a' Chaorainn and then cut up NW to small bothy. Luckily picked up track leading towards top and managed to run most of the way except last steep drag across short grass. Arrived at top in warm, sunny weather; started 14.34, top of A' Chailleach 15.27/ 53 mins, 8 mins down.
Fast descent northwards into deep gully and on towards Carn Sgulain, flattish top and not as interesting as previous top but good views; 15.43/ 16 mins.
Followed fence for a while but good weather meant I could pick best line and contoured round Meall a' Bhothein and continued along fence. Past Carn Balloch to Lochan Uisge and decided to contour Carn Ban; snow slopes (very steep in places) and crags pushed me quite high; crossed upper parts of snow slopes very carefully!! Pushed towards top of Carn Dearg and beat schedule by 1 min (16.36/ 53 mins).
Dropped off top and contoured around top at 919. Running steady over short grass and firm (mostly!) peat bogs, got very close to two deer before they spotted me. Cut across Ben Odhar and around Carn Odhar na Criche eventually picking up high ground with fence to NW of me. Continued to Geal Charn contouring minor tops and picking best line; again managed to beat schedule by 2 mins (17.45/ 1.09).
Fast ascent off top but slowed by boulders under heather, so not as fast as I would have liked; down SW ridge and onto path; very fast down path trying to beat schedule, almost sprinting towards the end. Ross, Graeme and Ifor waiting for me; tried to vault gate at bridge but didn't quite make it, baton took most of the fall! Total time 3hrs 43mins (1 min up!) Finished 18.17.
Good run over easy terrain and fine weather; my first run in a tee-shirt! Returned to a very midgy Tulloch Station and a restless night in mothership.
Peaks done 173 Hours elapsed 179 Peaks to do 94
Graeme writes:
Come late afternoon Ross and I headed for Dalwhinnie to collect the key to the gate on the road to Loch Pattock up Loch Ericht side, but first we nipped up the dead end road from Laggan to Garva bridge to see the changeover between Steve and Ifor which might give us an idea, however vague as to how the relay was progressing.
This bridge is the finishing point to the Corrieyarrack mountain pass race, an event which I might have considered myself if it wasn't for the diabolically long and and undulating tarmac road section at the end, I'll probably do it sometime – once.
We didn't have to wait long before a very happy looking Steve came ambling down the gentle slopes complete with an entourage of pesky midges. He'd obviously enjoyed his run in shorts and vest on this warm settled evening.
At Dalwhinnie I also visited a recent acquaintance in the form of a totally wacky British Rail signalman, a position from which I never progressed to the real thing despite my genuine interest in railways. Despite his scatter brained appearance which would no doubt have fuelled the armoury of one of British Rail's critics, I knew, having worked with him, that he knew his job very well and was in complete control of his position, something which I had never felt I was. Anyway it was good to see him again and he was generous to our cause.
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