2016 TGO Challenge Day 6

2016 TGO Challenge Day 6

Planned: River Dulnain Campsite to Glenmore Campground (14.25 miles)
Actual: Bridge at Coignafeuinternich to Aviemore (16 miles)

Total Trip Miles: 85.25

Wednesday, May 18th, 2016

Day 6

The rain never stopped overnight, and continued into the morning.  Luckily when I got around to packing up my tent the rain had slowed to a drizzle so I was able to get a good amount of water off of it so I didn't have to carry that water weight.  Unfortunately the rain wouldn't let up for the entire day so there aren't many pictures.  

Mervyn and I left our campsite about 8:15.  The day began with a 3 mile walk up the LRT where we gained about 1,000 feet of elevation.  The track we were on would end and then we'd have a nearly 3 mile walk across the bog with no trail of any sort to follow.  We met another Challenger by the name of John Enoch shortly after leaving camp.  John would end up joining us for the entire day into Aviemore.  As the elevation increased the wind picked up and the temperature dropped.  We stopped for a break and realized we were farther north than the map showed the LRT going.

Looking back into the valley on the way up

 The three of us took a bearing and headed off into the bog.  We kept hearing a loud booming sound which we thought was a shotgun.  As we plodded through the bog it began to get foggy and we still occasionally heard the booming noise.  Just great, not only is someone out there with a gun, but it's foggy too.  It was tough going through the bog, jumping from grass tussock to grass tussock to avoid the worst of the wet ground.  It was cold, windy, and rainy too.
 

The crossing began on the bottom left at the double dotted line.  We climbed up and then across and followed the river to the other track on the right side of the map.  The hunting lodge is where the red X is on the right-center.

We eventually found the river we intended to parallel until we hit the road.  It took us a lot longer than anticipated as the terrain really prevented us from making any speed.  (I'm glad Mervyn told me not to attempt this crossing the previous night as I would have been beyond exhausted.)  After following the river for a while we finally made it to the other road we were seeking.  There was a hunting lodge that wasn't on any map.  The hunting lodge was unlocked so we let ourselves in to warm up and have lunch.  We were joined by 5 or six other challengers who showed up.  The lodge was just a one room building with a table and benches in it. 

After a quick lunch (we all started to get cold real quickly) we headed out. We made a quick stop at the Red Bothy to sign the register.  Then it was the long walk down the Burma road.  The first two miles of the nearly straight track was a gradual uphill, with about 500 feet of elevation gain.  The next half mile or so was a much steeper uphill climb back up into the clouds.  Then it was a long downhill to get into Aviemore, the last part of which was on the B road leading into town.

The Burma Road -- Not sure why it's called that

Originally my plan was to go further on to the Glendoe campsite, but I had added miles from the previous two days.  Mervyn's plan was to not even get into Aviemore until the following day, but decided to go the extra distance and have a real short day the next day.  John's plan was to get a hotel room with some other Challengers once we got into town.  Mervyn and I paid for a spot at the campsite right on the edge of Aviemore, and about an hour later John joined us as the hotel was booked.

John and I decided to walk to the fish and chips place down the street but it was closed when we got there.  There was an Indian restaurant open next door so he offered to treat me to dinner there.  So, if you ever read this, thanks again John!!

***It rained into the early afternoon so I had my camera put away.  In the afternoon I am sure I took some pictures but unfortunately they seem to be lost so that is why there is a lack of pictures in this post***