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This was my first every Munro walk and delighted I was going to be able to tick off 2 at once
It was a cold, but sunny, autumn day in the car park and all was great up to the first view point about a third of the way up Beinn Ghlas. The wind was picking up and I laughed at my jacket billowing and my walking poles flying horizontally. This should have given me a clue to what lay ahead but we happily set off to next stage.
Got to the summit of Beinn Ghlas without too many issues but visibility was nil, so no lovely views but we at least could see enough to get a photo. I got a fright when I stood up on the stone summit and turned round to find there was nothing but a sheer drop behind me; the mist had hidden the edge and therefore any view. Was happy at reaching summit one but keen to go on and top Ben Lawers.
Walked over the connecting ridge with the wind getting ever stronger and now rain, or almost hail, had joined in and I had to fight to move forward as the wind was catching and pushing me sideways. Maybe I should have turned back at this point but there were lots of other hikers and I figured it was safety in numbers and ploughed on.
I'm not gonna lie, the scramble up the last section to get to the summit was scary in the weather conditions but I could see the Cairn and Trig Point within reach and kept scrambling up. The rocks look like they would be slippy in any conditions, so it was definitely a challenge. I was absolutely delighted that I had reached the top and achieved my 2 Munros. My immediate next thought was, oh no, I have to go back down again, lol!
So happy with my day and reached the car park to full on sunshine again and finished the day with a stop off at the Falls of Dochart on the way home. Great day!
