Malky gets eaten by his own hair on Stac Gorm!

[Jaxter]

Although it doesn't look like it, this was a kayaking trip. Or it was meant to be! When we inflated the kayak on the side of Loch Duntelchaig it went BOOM - turned out that Malky's kayak repair skills were not quite as good as he thought Seeing as a nice relaxing evening of kayaking was clearly off the menu, I suggested a short stroll up Stac Gorm seeing as it was just down the road. Malky didn't have the most appropriate shoes on and I had socks with holes, but why not...


There's a good path all the way up Stac Gorm. The initial boggy sections were successfully, if not very gracefully negotiated. The heather either side of the narrow path was a bit painful on bare legs! Although we were walking fairly slowly, before too long we had reached the rockier and more interesting part of the hill


Loch Ruthven - the crappy phone camera doesn't really do it justice


At last we dragged ourselves out onto the summit - it was pretty windy but the views were excellent


Brin Rock and Strath Nairn


Looking South - we could make out Gulvain and even Knoydart


Looking down Loch Ruthven to the Loch Lochy munros and Strathfarrar hills to the right


Ben Wyvis


Bit windy for Jaxtering


We found a sheltered (ish) side of the trig to sit behind and chill out. It was a beautiful evening for Malky to get eaten by his hair


Beinn Mheadhoin behind Dumnaglass and the edge of the Monadhliath


Eventually the call of dinner spurred us into action and we got going, back down the same way


Back at the car it was an easy drive home and surprisingly I had enough energy to make dinner - something which Malky took full advantage of

[onsen]

Kraken sighting !...
Just a tinge jealous of his lengthy locks.

[BlackPanther]

I wouldn't want to meet Malky in the forest, he'd scare the heck out of me!

[denfinella]

Thanks for this - added to the list (and I wanted to go back to Loch Ruthven for bird spotting anyway). Even better that there's a path

[Alteknacker]

Like a kind of jet black giant squid!!

Bit hypocritical though: the back of my tatty locks haven't been cut for a year or so (can't reach 'em), so I've got a wonderful (= absolutely breathtakingly horrible) 80s mullet.

[ere1]

Hi Jackie

I always enjoy your stories and am a bit jealous that you are able to visit the hills so often. I miss Scotland, the hills and the lochs. Hopefully, 2022 will be a better year, in which I can travel from the Netherlands to the Highlands without difficulties. Keep hiking and take beautiful pictures!

Peter

[Mal Grey]

Can't beat a nice evening on the water. Oh, OK. You had a good go at it anyway!

(Time to upgrade the deflatable? )

[Jaxter]

Kraken sighting !...
Just a tinge jealous of his lengthy locks.

They're fabulous aren't they! Can't believe he wants to cut it off

I wouldn't want to meet Malky in the forest, he'd scare the heck out of me!

He's a scary guy - even without the hair

Thanks for this - added to the list (and I wanted to go back to Loch Ruthven for bird spotting anyway). Even better that there's a path

It's a great wee one. Lots of good small hills in the area - thank goodness - but this one is particularly good as well as having a path! (Also Tom Bailgeann if you've not been there yet?)

Like a kind of jet black giant squid!!

Bit hypocritical though: the back of my tatty locks haven't been cut for a year or so (can't reach 'em), so I've got a wonderful (= absolutely breathtakingly horrible) 80s mullet.

Oh wow....you can't leave a comment like that without also posting a photo

Hi Jackie

I always enjoy your stories and am a bit jealous that you are able to visit the hills so often. I miss Scotland, the hills and the lochs. Hopefully, 2022 will be a better year, in which I can travel from the Netherlands to the Highlands without difficulties. Keep hiking and take beautiful pictures!

Peter

Thankyou - I'm missing the bigger hills but we are definitely lucky to have lovely places so close to home. Hopefully next year will be a better year for us all...

Can't beat a nice evening on the water. Oh, OK. You had a good go at it anyway!

(Time to upgrade the deflatable? )

We have actually just picked up 2 sea kayaks. Decided to just DO IT! Looking forward to trying something new - hopefully a Long Covid compatible sport, because mountains is definitely not.

[Mal Grey]

Can't beat a nice evening on the water. Oh, OK. You had a good go at it anyway!

(Time to upgrade the deflatable? )

We have actually just picked up 2 sea kayaks. Decided to just DO IT! Looking forward to trying something new - hopefully a Long Covid compatible sport, because mountains is definitely not.

Two sea kayaks will open up all sorts of stuff, and also allow lots of gear carrying, up to a point! However, if you got a tandem open canoe, you could put Malky in the front, and just relax in the back steering gently whilst he does all the work. You can also fit in more ballast of the red, white or sparkling variety.
Song of the Paddle (more about open canoes but happy to talk kayaks, and lots of Scottish trips blogged) is the nearest equivalent to the WH forum when it comes to advice on where etc.
Generally, paddling can be relatively sedate, but it does have its moments on big lochs when the wind gets up and there's definitely a "brown pants moment" possibility!
Hope you can get back to the mountains in time too.

[Jaxter]

Can't beat a nice evening on the water. Oh, OK. You had a good go at it anyway!

(Time to upgrade the deflatable? )

We have actually just picked up 2 sea kayaks. Decided to just DO IT! Looking forward to trying something new - hopefully a Long Covid compatible sport, because mountains is definitely not.

Two sea kayaks will open up all sorts of stuff, and also allow lots of gear carrying, up to a point! However, if you got a tandem open canoe, you could put Malky in the front, and just relax in the back steering gently whilst he does all the work. You can also fit in more ballast of the red, white or sparkling variety.
Song of the Paddle (more about open canoes but happy to talk kayaks, and lots of Scottish trips blogged) is the nearest equivalent to the WH forum when it comes to advice on where etc.
Generally, paddling can be relatively sedate, but it does have its moments on big lochs when the wind gets up and there's definitely a "brown pants moment" possibility!
Hope you can get back to the mountains in time too.

Yes - we've definitely been inspired by some of your watery adventures! There are some nice wee lochans near here where we can get out and practise falling in before embarking on anything more stupid I was thinking of making sure I bring a rope so I can tie myself to Malky and make him do all the work when I get tired I'm hoping we can get out and explore some coastlines and wee islands once we've got the hang of it but we've probably just missed the only calm weekend of the year last week

[Sgurr]

You MUST have read about/ heard of/ been told of /Malky's Loch Morar kayaking exploit. What possessed him to get another?????

[Jaxter]

You MUST have read about/ heard of/ been told of /Malky's Loch Morar kayaking exploit. What possessed him to get another?????

Yup - this is why I'd rather have my own than share with him

[rockhopper]

Good to see you're managing to get out and about regularly - hope you're still continuing to improve and it won't be long before you're back on the bigger hills.
As for the hair.....I managed to get to the barber for the first time in about 16 months last week..think it's about time you got malky to do the same or he soon won't be able to see where he's going - cheers