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We planned an early start from Newtonmore, so that we could do MNHA and Gairbeinn, but didn't leave Garva brig until 9am.
Garva Brig
We started on the quad track on the W of the burn and crossed over the bridge opposite the first forestry plantation. The quad track continued up the east bank of Alt Coire Iain Oig.
Following the quad track
The track crossed back over the burn above the second forestry plantation and swooped up the flank of Meall nan Ruadhag before returning back towards the burn.
We left the track and headed across a short section of peat hags to gain the slope on the W flank of M na h-Aisre. The going improved as we gained height and as the slope ease, we intersected a quad track heading for the summit, which we followed. ( we wondered if this was the track we were following which continued into the bealach and up the west flank of M na H-Aisre to the N of the route we took ). This track led up to the summit trig point and stack of steel fence posts. Good selection of views from the top, but cloud wafting around on the higher tops.
Derek at the Top
After the obligatory photoshoot, we headed down into Coire Gorm to intersect the track by the burn on the E side near where the fence meets the burn.
When we reached the bridge, I realised my fleece had dropped off my rucksack somewhere on the way down, (Numpty) so I had to retrace our route back up to near the top of the second plantation to recover it.
As we were tight for time to do Gairbeinn in daylight anyway, after my fleece debacle, this meant we had to content ourselves with a recce drive up to Melgarve, wailing all the way at the SSE megapylons with a new access road between each one all the way up over the Corrieyarrick to Fort Augustus. These new pylons seemed about 50% higher than the existing ones, waiting for the power lines to be installed.
Big Pylons
Prospective Geal Carn baggers should be aware that the normally big parking area at the entrance of Glen Markie by the Spey dam is full of caravans and containers of the construction company ! Probably will be for a few weeks (months ? )yet.
However had a cracking day out with my old climbing mate from the 60's
