Blath Bhalg on the wettest day of the year (maybe)
Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2021 3:34 pm
Another trip between Glasgow and Inverness - Malky wanted a walk on the way. Blath Bhalg above Pitlochry would have been a great option on a lot of days, but not this one. It was raining very heavily as we pulled off the A9 at Pitlochry - "oh it'll stop, that's what the forecast said" Malky was sure. It didn't.
At the parking area it only got heavier, although there was another car parked there surprisingly! Dutifully we suited up in our waterproofs and headed off up the track - it was easy enough underfoot, just incredibly wet!
Heading up the track - ironically the photos don't look as bad as it was - probably because I only dared get a camera out in between the worst bits
The path crossed a flattish section before starting to climb - another photo looking back showing a bit of sun that gives a false impression of the day
Although never particularly steep, the path did begin to climb a bit more. There were lots of blaeberries which were good to eat all the way.
Eventually we were on the sort-of ridge and could see what I thought was the summit (there was a sting in the tail that Malky hadn't really mentioned... )
When we finally reached this summit, it turned out that there was a big drop and another ascent to the actual summit. This photo is me before I realised this...
...and after...
Finally at the summit
Of course we then had to go back over the original summit-that-wasn't in order to get down - it was probably only about 40 metres but I was really feeling it. The cloud cleared at the wrong moment!
It had been fairly solidly raining the whole time but did start to clear a bit as we descended
Looking back up - even a little sun up there
The car - looks miles away but at least it was downhill - my feet were sort of on autopilot by this point which never ends particularly well...
Finally back at the car we stripped off waterproofs and changed into dry shoes. Probably not the wisest use of my already limited energy, but there you go...
At the parking area it only got heavier, although there was another car parked there surprisingly! Dutifully we suited up in our waterproofs and headed off up the track - it was easy enough underfoot, just incredibly wet!
Heading up the track - ironically the photos don't look as bad as it was - probably because I only dared get a camera out in between the worst bits
The path crossed a flattish section before starting to climb - another photo looking back showing a bit of sun that gives a false impression of the day
Although never particularly steep, the path did begin to climb a bit more. There were lots of blaeberries which were good to eat all the way.
Eventually we were on the sort-of ridge and could see what I thought was the summit (there was a sting in the tail that Malky hadn't really mentioned... )
When we finally reached this summit, it turned out that there was a big drop and another ascent to the actual summit. This photo is me before I realised this...
...and after...
Finally at the summit
Of course we then had to go back over the original summit-that-wasn't in order to get down - it was probably only about 40 metres but I was really feeling it. The cloud cleared at the wrong moment!
It had been fairly solidly raining the whole time but did start to clear a bit as we descended
Looking back up - even a little sun up there
The car - looks miles away but at least it was downhill - my feet were sort of on autopilot by this point which never ends particularly well...
Finally back at the car we stripped off waterproofs and changed into dry shoes. Probably not the wisest use of my already limited energy, but there you go...