I may expand on this tomorrow....but it was wet. The forecast was for a band of rain to come in overnight and gradually clear later in the day. It was right. The views I am told would have been magnificent.
A 4 and a half mile walk up the glen then a 700m climb straight up a grassy, muddy shoulder gave out - after a false top - to the South Summit adorned by a cylindrical trig. It was heads down and march up, slow and steady.
By this point it was wet and windy with the cloud base down to about 300m and the trudge along the ridge was challenging, demoralising. After 3 and a half hours we reached the top and were refuelled by strong black tea, before turning about and returning the way we went.
It was hard. At times I was wondering why I do this. I really do not like walking in the mist. You have to sometimes if you are to do anything, and we were never going to get badly lost on this hill, but there is almost a primitive fear of isolation and being lost when in the mist. Especially on relatively quiet hills where you never see another soul. The isolation is nice, but I always like to bump into people on a quiet hill. There is reassurance somehow. But that is me being a wimp.
Don't get me wrong though - I did enjoy the day. It was challenge and it is always good to be out in the hills.
Boots - I'd worn boots today anticipating a wet walk - were sodden, the waterproof lining preventing the water inside from escaping....I'd have been as well in my trainers. most of the time my glasses were off too. I'd tired of wiping the rain and condensation off them and so was walking through a fuzzy world.
As we reached the car it stopped raining. Driving back by Glen Coe it was clearing. By Tyndrum it was glorious once more and almost impossible to contemplate the wet windy and misty world we had stumbled through a few hours earlier.
A good weekend though. Three new Munros. To be honest though that is secondary to having a good couple of days out. The pressure and competition of bagging is not fun.
2 comments:
I know what you mean Chris, I put a bit of pressure upon myself to go after peaks. Always one more to check off the list.
As for weather, the mountain will dictate how you'll get to the top. Some days are great, while others, well, like you said, you wonder why you are out there.
How many Munros have you completed?
Keep it up brother!
thanks
I have done 242. 42 left. But those that are left are getting harder to reach. A few - on Skye - are harder technically and need some climbing, but in most cases it is just that they are getting more remote.
I'm in no rush though, just enjoying the days out.
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