
Day started very early, left Fife at 6.20am 80 or so miles to Dalwhinnie and the car was parked near the level crossing where there are about 8 spaces set aside for us walkers/campers/cyclists etc.
Next part of the triathlon was the 10 mile cycle from Dalwhinnie to Culra Bothy, the first part of the cycle is excellent, it is only when you approach Loch Pattack that the surface becomes a bit more uneven, loose rocks, stones etc. I made the mistake of taking the cut off across the grass track which was damp with drainage channels cut out to release the water. Misjudged one of the channels attempted to jump across but my left foot ended up in the mud which went up to my shins, not a good start, especially as I had been trying to conserve some energy for the long day ahead.
The bike was duly abandoned at the bothy having been secured, not that anyone in the middle of nowhere is going to pinch it

I had a brief look around for a path up the side of Carn Dearg but nothing was obvious so I just went straight up the grassy heathery slopes, fairly steep but nothing difficult.
I was following the Walk Highlands route almost to the letter, one problem was the path along the route is obviously not a well trodden one and at times is non existent. Whilst on the summit of Carn Dearg I was looking round to try and work out where the next three summits are, bearing in mind the sun was shining and visibility was very good, I was slightly concerned that I could only see my next destination. So I headed down the scree and then grassy slopes of Carn Dearg towards the huge mass of Geal Charn.
It was only when on the summit of Geal Charn that the other 2 munro's became visible and a bit of a relief, not that I doubted the WH route

It was whilst descending that I saw 3 fellow walkers in the distance on the summit of Aonach Beag. This area is so remote that it is hardly surprising that human beings are a rare sight

Finally met up with the other walkers on the summit of Beinn Eibhinn, they were planning to be wild camping once back down a bit lower

The descent from the bealach was really good fun as the first 1000' or so was snow covered and I was following in the footsteps of earlier walkers. I was concious and looking out for snow holes however in my enthusiasm managed to find one and ended up thigh deep. Not deterred I carried on my merry way.
The next obstacle was the stream that runs down to the west of Sron Ruadh, the route description advised staying to the left of it, that turned out to be easier said than done, especially as it was getting faster & wider as I descended. I picked my crossing spot & used my poles to assist with the balancing act & made it no problem. On reaching flatter ground the next obstacle was another stream Uisge Labhair (that is what the map calls it), once again finding a crossing point was challenging. After crossing the stream I was spotted by a herd of deer.
Was expecting them to gallop off into the distance but they must of noticed I was hardly fit to chase anything, so managed to get a few photo's.
Unfortunately I have reached my photo limit so that's your lot, photo wise

The trudge up to the stalkers path was a real struggle, through peat hags, heather & boggy ground, but once on the path progress back to the bothy was a breeze. There is an incline up to the Bealach Dubb of about 200-300ft, but nothing too difficult, but after a long day it was something one could do without


The stalkers path takes you almost to the bothy front door. It was then the part of the day I had been dreading - the cycle back to Dalwhinnie

I decided to follow the path that takes you along the shores of Loch Pattack, it is further but the path is better than the short cut that I used on the way in. The 2 horses that I saw last summer are still grazing happily near Loch Pattack and barely gave me a glance


I met/passed a fellow walker just at the end of Loch Ericht he was walking back to his car having done the 6 summits over 2 days


The car was a welcome sight and after last seeing it at 7.40am, the time was now 6.30pm it had been a very long day, but thoroughly enjoyable
