Creag Meagaidh in the heat with a swim

[kathleenebowie]

It had been scorching for a couple of weeks and forecatst was marginally cooler for the Saturday. We decided to head for Creag Meagaidh and attempt these 3. Amazingly Calum managed to drag himself out of bed to join us, and we arrived at the car park just after 10 having had a quiet run up the A9.

It was hot hot hot all day. Plenty sunscreen so we managed not to get burnt. We set off along the good paths of the nature reserve and started climbing immediately. Spotting the wee Cairn marking the route to Carn Liath, we climbed up the overgrown path which climbed steeply up the hill. It was a hot and sweaty climb with me trailing well behind Calum and then Neil. Good views back towards Loch laggan. We passed a guy getting ready to take off with his parachute near the top. Didn't stop long at the top just enough to grab some lunch. We had already drunk a lot of water and were beginning to realise we maybe didn't have enough as there were no burns on route.

We headed off along the ridge to the next top with the impressive crags of Creag Meagaidh getting nearer. At the second munro we made the decision to go on to Creag Meagaidh as the climb didn't look too bad,and ration our water, then to have a swim in the lochan after. We dipped back down to the top of the window and climbed up to the wide ridge and the huge cairn then the summit. Due to heat the view was fairly hazy so the photos weren't great.

Back down to the top of the window and parched, we made our way carefully over the rocks and scree- by far the worst part ! Finally we filled up and water bottles from a burn, and headed down to loch for a dip. It was wonderful and even Calum braved the water. So glad I brought my cozzie! Spent around half an hour here, then headed down the very good path back to the start. All in all took not quite 8 hours.
Small detour to Kingussie for fish supper and home. A great day to take me to 140 munros. Nearly half way!