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Unfortunately my injuries from falling last time out were worse than I first thought, meant having to wait a month before venturing out again.
With my leg strapped and some companions my first trip was (balloch) station to (helensburgh) station by (ben) bowie. Not sure the clay bits of the new path running down to Helensburgh are going to last.
- one of my companions on coffin road
Next I was in Largs with 3 friends for a bog hopping circuit of Gogo water. Wet, pathless moorland but great views out to Cumbrae, Arran, & Bute on inward leg
- inward leg
- arran above the clouds
Then another wee bit of the 3 lochs way- Arrochar to Garelochhead
- on way to Garelochhead
- back to Arrochar
Shoulder, ribs, leg, held out so time to try an overnight trip alone with an easy exit just in case. Winter had come back.
Caught train to Corrour, put up tent near Loch Ossian & walked out through surprisingly deep snow to Leum Uilleim, a great viewpoint. This would have been my 3rd ascent but as I reached top of ridge clag came down, & wind got up so turned back to tent.
The next morning was cold & dull, had a real struggle leaving sleeping bag - with hours to spare before the train I plodded up Beinn na Lap, noticed 2 people following in my footsteps.
When I spoke to them back at the station realised I had met one of them before, it was his old canvas rucksack covered in sewn on badges that I recognised first. A few years ago we had bumped into each other on Cuillin ridge & had a memorable day in the sun scrambling along part of it - a real gentleman with lots of experience. Both him and his friend are in their seventies, amongst other things he has now done 10 rounds of the munros, his friend has only managed 5...
- Leum Uilleim
- back to Loch Ossian
- Beinn na Lap
- shades of white
- Rannoch Moor
- Blackwater reservoir
- clag & wind
- sun tries break through
- its cold
- sunrise on a dull day
- top Beinn na Lap
- winter cull
- some light as we wait for train