31.12.12: Glen Nevis (distance 8.75km / ascent 646 meters)
01.01.13: Glen Roy and Beinn a'Mhonicag (distance 15.4km / ascent 675 meters)
As the Christmas and New Year season approached EwaMH, agrubb, RTMcB and I all decided it would be just dandy to book ourselves a nice self-catering place in the Highlands for a New Year's hill bagging adventure. As the 31st came ever nearer and a wee place in Roybridge booked we were all pondering which Munros (or Corbetts) we'd choose to climb to toast in 2013. Perhaps the Loch Lochys, Loch Treigs, maybe even the Ben himself. However, the weather had other ideas; gales, rain, and the threat of white-out conditions at Munro height made getting high sound like a silly idea.

We scoured the OS maps considering our low level options and Glen Nevis was chosen for the 31st. Despite the near horizontal rain and low cloud the Glen was a busy place on Hogmanay with the wire bridge resembling a play area even though the river and Steall falls were pure white with the volume and speed of the water due to the level of rain in recent days.

Once we reached the Steall ruins we decided retrace our steps back over the foot bridge ascend a few hundred meters to check out potential future wild camping spots at the back of the Ben. I think we were all really pleased to have done so as we were treated to a jaw dropping view of the Mamores, which for me was the highlight of the trip We were even treated to some golden sunshine as we gazed over.

Once the waterproofs were off and we were back in the car the thought of an ale at the Grog and Gruel in Fort William was too good to resist so a pint was had before we headed back to our lodgings for an evening of booze and board games - yes us 20 somethings really know how to see in the New Year

The next day saw another jaunt through a Glen, this time Glen Roy. Once at the view point and with the weather teasing us with patches of blue sky we couldn't say no to a quick whip up little Beinn a'Mhonicag for a better view point - and what a view point it turned out to be! The Grey Corries looked stunning in their white coats and the passing dark grey snow clouds added a real sense of drama.

Views taken in and a few sips from our hip flasks to toast the first summit of 2013 we began the precarious descent down the snowy and steeps sides of the little hill. About 170 meters before we were back at the view point RTMcB slipped and began a dramatic frontal slide down the hill coming to a stop close to my feet. This soon resulted in speedy bum slides all round Unfortunately for me I managed to continue sliding into sheep poo filled puddles the water from which made its way through the pocket holes of my over trousers leaving me with a rather wet bum and wondering whether I was now sharing my over trousers with a few pellets of sheep poop! I have no regrets though and judging by RTMcBs face the bum sliding was his highlight of the trip!

Shame we weren't able to have the fairy-tale hill bagging adventure we'd set our hearts on but our lower level wanders were still memorable.