Day 5 - Creag Meagaidh and Monadh Liath

Yesterday, Spyke bagged the 9 Munros north of the Laggan - Newtonmore road: Beinn Teallach, Beinn a'Chaorainn, Creag Meagaidh, Stob Poite Coire Ardair, Carn Liath, Geal Charn, Carn Dearg, Carn Sgulain, A'Chailleach. Towards the end of the day Corbett-meister Manny Gorman tracked down Spyke and support, and penned the following report:

The Spyke is cruising.


With 5 Munros this morning already under his belt, he left Garva for Geal Charn about 3pm with his biking mate Alan, who despite only ever having had one 5 mile run before, was tricked into this 18 mile bogtrot to Newtonmore over 4 Munros along the way.


Fair play to Alan, he not only survived in his near slick treads, but actually enjoyed the hills, the rough ground, the bog and the remoteness in amongst the heavy cold showers scudding over from the west.


I had to work until 4 then drove to Shepherds Bridge and reversed their proposed route, cutting a few corners, and first caught sight of them topping Carn Dearg at bang on 6.30pm. We met up on Carn Balloch, along the broad ridge leading to Carn Sgulain, and trotted gently over the big snow patches and sopping undulating ground, enjoying the chat as we went.


Ptarmigan, mountain hares, plovers, deer - the ground was moving with wildlife, magic.


The sun came out, the wind was at our backs and we were moving steadily first to Carn Sgulain, then quickly over A' Chailleach, just to get caught in a wee shower before a very soft & wet decent down to Glen Banchor to meet up with his van and crew of Sam & John, about 8.45pm.


Spyke is in good form and will be glad of any company on the hills, so don't be shy, give the boy a shove along - he is looking forward to some of his mates coming north for the next week to help out over the still white monster of the Cairngorms and beyond. A task indeed.


Tomorrow he is hoping to do the west Drumochter hills first, then over to the east side of the A9 and stay high until Meall Cuaich, before returning to the road to pick up his road bike then spin around to Glen Feshie for the launch pad into the Gorms.


The route has changed from the plan a bit, and will probably continue to do so as the round progresses so keep checking the blog for updates.


Thanks for the run, keep it going Spyke - hope you had that beer...