Gairich in the November Sun

[Jokester]

Weather looked like it was going to be a cracker, warm and a high chance of clear summits so took the day off work to make the 3 hour drive across country. Drove under clear skies all the way to about Invergarry where it clouded right over. Doh. Ah well here now, make the most of it.

IMG_0812 by matthew_chalmers, on Flickr
A glint of blue skies!

IMG_0815 by matthew_chalmers, on Flickr
View towards Gairich from the dam.

Past the dam the path immediately heads into one of wettest mossy, boggy sections of path I've seen.

IMG_0817 by matthew_chalmers, on Flickr
Damp!

Thankfully this only lasts about 2km, before there is a dry(ish) path again down into a bit with some trees before it starts climbing up the slope of Gairich

IMG_0818 by matthew_chalmers, on Flickr

IMG_0819 by matthew_chalmers, on Flickr
Path starts up the slope

IMG_0820 by matthew_chalmers, on Flickr
Just below the cloud, looking back towards Invergarry

IMG_0822 by matthew_chalmers, on Flickr
And looking up into the gloom

And up into the cloud it was, didn't expect much from the day from now on.

And then, a glimpse of a peak looking out of the cloud!
IMG_0823 by matthew_chalmers, on Flickr
Is that the top?

IMG_0826 by matthew_chalmers, on Flickr
Yes it is!

At this point, I meet someone coming the other direction and he tells me that it was absolutely stunning at the summit, cloud inversions, fog bows, broken spectres, the whole lot. But I know it's going to be too late for that now as the cloud and hill fog continues burn off around us.

IMG_0827 by matthew_chalmers, on Flickr

IMG_0828 by matthew_chalmers, on Flickr

The last stretch zig zags up and there's a wee scrambly bit (bum slide on the way down).

IMG_0830 by matthew_chalmers, on Flickr
Wee scramble

And with that, the cairn comes into view giving some spectacular views of the moutains and wilderness around

IMG_0832 by matthew_chalmers, on Flickr

IMG_0833 by matthew_chalmers, on Flickr

IMG_0834 by matthew_chalmers, on Flickr

IMG_0837 by matthew_chalmers, on Flickr

IMG_0838 by matthew_chalmers, on Flickr

IMG_0839 by matthew_chalmers, on Flickr

Stopped for a spot of lunch and just soaked the views up for a half hour before heading off again back the way I came.

IMG_0847 by matthew_chalmers, on Flickr

IMG_0848 by matthew_chalmers, on Flickr

IMG_0854 by matthew_chalmers, on Flickr

IMG_0859 by matthew_chalmers, on Flickr

Very nice day for a November, just need to wait for my boots to dry off before I clean them down and put them away till next year again.

[daves boots]

Thank you for a very useful report great pics ! Going to give this one a go over the holiday. David in Borders