It started warm and sunny, it continued to be that way together with high humidity for the rest of the day, starting on a good path that soon fizzled out; and the rest of the way was a hard slog over boggy rough ground. I new having looked at the map this would probably be the case, but did I have to be so right?
Perhaps I should have chosen something a little easier, it was the first big hill of the year and the poor legs were thrown in at the deep end, they were not to let me forget either. After trudging to the base of the mountain and a bit of rock hopping to cross the river at its base the only way was up.
The legs wanted to stop but I drove them on with just a brief pause to put on a rain jacket as a band of showers blew through. Twenty paces, rest, twenty paces rest, pick a target and don’t stop until reaching it; all the tricks to keep going until you get to your destination.
Room with a view
It was bliss to arrive and set up camp and get a mighty brew of tea on the go. Camp set, a short rest, dinner and away up Sgurr Beag armed with the camera and my first taste of the views to be had from this lower neighbour to Sgurr Mor. On returning to my room for the night it was 11o’clock already, ouch I would need to be up 3am, it was going to be a short night.
All too soon the alarm was singing, it was time to get togged up and move, poor legs.
Earth shadow
What a fabulous morning, chill at 2ºC and I was glad of a down jacket, hmm summer… The air was misty and an eye had to be kept on the front lens element for condensation.
The sun finally warms the slopes of Sgurr na Ciche
The views were spectacular, worth the slog to get here and the return journey yet to done.
Ben Nevis from afar
All too soon it was time to head back to the tent for breakfast, but I had to linger a little longer slowly turning and drinking in the views that surrounded me. It was difficult to leave.
It had been a hard outing with little in the way of paths and taken a little longer than expected, the legs were well and truly done in and on returning to the car their would be a long, tiring drive home. But wow what a trip.