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Day 3 of a Gold Assessment and after my Saturday evening assault on Sgarsoch and Fiddler, a 10 o'clock start from our campsite at the big bend on the upper Feshie had us at our day 3 campsite at the Ruigh Aiteachain bothy by 1 o'clock. Such were the low river levels that I was actually able to cross the River Eidart with ease at its confluence with the Feshie without the need for the detour upstream to the bridge above the falls.
After putting the tent up and having a quick lunch, I slung a few things in the little daypack and headed off for an attack on the Corbetts of Carn Dearg Mor and Meallach Mor. The four lads were spending the afternoon working on their aim and popping up Mullach Clach a'Bhlair, while Steven had tweeked his ankle the previous afternoon and was taking it easy, so I was on my own.
Ruigh AiteachainI could barely believe how easy it was to cross the Feshie a short distance upstream from the bothy, certainly a very different experience to the one I had two years ago on my way to Leathad an Toabhain. The steep pull up the track through the Slochd Mor remained as difficult as ever however. Low river levels can only stretch so far in making routes easier!
Sron Direachain and an exposed vehicle track across the FeshieEvidence of the force of the Feshie in less favourable conditionsLooking downstream from the "wet" part of the crossingSron na h-Iolaire and the Slochd MorMullach Clach a'BhlairLochan an t-Sluic #1Lochan an t-Sluic #2Lochan an t-Sluic #3Lochan an t-Sluic #4At the high point in the track just beyond Lochan an t-Sluic, I met three ladies with horses who had come from Bruar and were heading down through Glen Feshie. They said I was the first person they had met all day. What a coincidence - their horses were the first horses I had seen all day!
I followed the track down and then back up round the bend onto the ridge between Carn Dearg and Carn Dearg Mor, from where it was a short, straightforward stroll up to the wide summit of the Corbett. Another showery squall swept down the Slochd Mor to my right but fortunately I remained just out of range.
Track leading to Carn Dearg MorCDM from the high bealach with Carn DeargOver the squall towards Leathad an TaobhainDark clouds over Meallach Mor and Meall CuaichApproaching the summit of CDMWest towards KingussieMeall Cuaich and Meallach MorDistant Sgarsoch and FiddlerFrom the summit I retraced my steps back to the bealach and carried on over Carn Dearg before dropping down the steep rocky slopes of Sgor Dearg past the tiny lochan below the eastern slopes of Meall an Dubh-chadha. From here a wide, peat hag studded bealach led on to Meallach Mor, with increasingly expansive and impressive views opening up south down the Gaick Pass.
Carn Dearg Mor from Carn DeargDescending rocky Sgor DeargMeall an Dubh-chadhaBack to CDMPeat hags between Meall an Dubh-chadha and Meallach MorI don't think this guy is going to pull through!Loch an t-SeilichZoomed to the Gaick Pass and Lochs an t-Seilich and BhrodainnCarn Dearg Mor from the summit of Meallach MorThe fourth and final bagging of the tripMeall Cuaich and the Gaick Pass from the summit of Meallach MorFrom the summit I decided to forego retracing my steps in the interests of a bit of off piste exploration of the upper reaches of Glen Tromie, so I dropped south to pick up the Allt Coire Bhran and its real sense of remoteness.
Wizard of Oz sky on the road home to KansasAllt BhranA left turn along the Allt na Cuilce led me into seriously rough terrain which had me cursing my sense of exploration before a rough firebreak in the forestry ahead led me back out onto the track for the steep descent back down through the Slochd Mor.
Allt na CuilceWhat goes in................ must come out againCarn Dearg Beag from back at the Feshie