The bothy at Glen Feshie was fantastic and we had a good fire, drank some whisky and dried our shoes. Already wet after the 7km run from Achlean.
Next day, the 36km over to Tarf Hotel was hard. Starting with Leathad an Taobhain the days route was over a couple of other Corbetts (Beinn Bhreac and Beinn Mheadhonach) and Munros (Beinn Dearg and Carn a' Chlamain). A persistent gusty headwind coupled with mist and extensive bog made what I had hoped to be a 6 hour jog into a 9.5 hour slog. There was very little running and it took us a while to realise that following the grassier and drier stream beds was quicker than more direct routes over the tops. Reaching every top was hard graft and the temperature almost bitter. Not very spring-like. By the end my ears were ringing with the constant noise of the wind.
Reaching Tarf Hotel, set in a breath-takingly desolate landscape, we managed to find enough unburnt coal, scraps of bogwood and dry heather to get a half-decent fire going to keep the chill out of the air. We were so hungry we had to scavenge food - a pack of MoD Lancashire Hotpot saved the day. I could swear it had bits of lamb, but Al thought it was beef. An argument fueled by a full hip flask of Laphroaig Quarter Cask.
We awoke to sun, clear skies and a slight wind, which was from behind today.
The two Munros to the East of the bothy were quickly dispatched with easy running over short grass, setting off a huge herd of deer on the way. After dropping off the hills, the run down Glen Feshie back to Achlean was long, but the scenery was superb. Deep gorges with remnants of the old Caledonian pine forest made a stark change compared to the wide views of the wide straths and high rolling plateau of the Cairngorms. We nearly stepped on an adder basking in the springtime sun on the track. The first adder I have seen in the hills.
Despite the relatively easy day we still were on our feet for 5.5 hours.
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