Well first let’s talk about the sleeping experience in a full 6 bed bunkbed room. I have a (long passed) military and german alpine hut background where you sometimes slept with 20 or even more people in one room. There is at least one who heavily snores and/or someone who is simply loud.
We had one of those as well … actually a person snoring and not behaving well … and it was not me.
I brought earplugs and a sleeping mask and survived!
At breakfast I met 4 challengers and we had a long chat about personal experiences and where to go or not go.
Left at around 09:30 first crossing Fort Augustus and then up towards Corrieyairdack pass … I took the scenic (longer) route along the river passing the beautiful Lady Falls.
The little path ended and I had to cross over to the passroad and got lost … I saw a road going up the hill and did not even check … did not follow a rule that I teach my students in the first class „an assumption is the mother of all the fuck-ups“ (excuse my words).
Eventually made it up the pass taking a short rest stop at an interesting little building with 3 beds and electric meters installed … long abandoned.
Down into Glen Spey … still some snow patches on the Munros of Creag Meagaidh … and passing Melgarve bothy where I stayed in 2021 (Day 4 from Mallaig).
Still 12km to go from here 😥
Shocking how little water is in the Spey River … but maybe you see the red deer standing in the middle of it.
Unfortunately I could not camp at the place I planned to … all fenced in! I went a little further hoping to find a good spot and water. The camping spot is OK … but looks more favourable on the picture then it really was.
Water? Zero … nada … nichts. Tomorrow should be still working out as I will meet a major river relatively early. In Dalwhinnie I might also be able to get additional supplies and a water container.
But I am really getting worried now … with the really hot weather and sunshine all day (have not seen a cloud at all today) I need to drink between 4 and 5 liters during the day.
I will report … should be quite challenging tomorrow with lots of altitude meters and distance kilometers.
My Travel Adventures 