Fuar Tholl, simply magnificent despite sleep deprivation

[MusicalHiker]

Here is a nice summery walk report to help remember what's ahead of us in a few months....

A fine forecast in August, and my walking pal Amy asked if I fancied Fuar Tholl. As it was planned for Tuesday, and I had the day off, I agreed, and got my stuff ready the night before. I had wanted to do this one for a while and was glad to have the company.

Something weird has started happening to me; sometimes, when I have something exciting going on the next day and need to get up early, I don't sleep. I just lie there, and my brain is whirring at 100mph, and I just cannot switch it off. This unfortunately happened to me the night before Fuar Tholl, and at 6am I gave up trying to sleep and had a large breakfast in an attempt to make myself feel vaguely human again.

At nine, Amy arrived at my house and I drove us to Achnashellach. We managed to squeeze the car in at the end of all the others, and off we went, up the path over the road and railway, and into the wilderness.

The railway line

Fine views approaching

I was feeling awful but slowly the fresh air and sunshine woke me up and I was able to enjoy it, even though both legs felt like they weighed five times what they normally do and my head felt like someone has stuffed it with cotton wool.
The path is excellent and the river crossing was very easy, and all the while the blue skies and sunshine were raising my spirits as well as my temperature - it was a lovely day but perhaps slightly warm for climbing mountains!

Crossing the water

Views all around were stunning, and as we passed our objective it became apparent that it has quite a few lumps and bumps....

Fuar Tholl, silhouetted against the blazing sun....

The path goes around to the far end of the hilll before heading up to the ridge. We actually went a bit too too far, accidentally giving ourselves the most incredible views...

Glad we went too far - what a viewpoint!!

Returning back along the path to find the route up, we eventually spotted it among the rocks. Very rocky and very steep - hands and feet required! This was the toughest part of the day, and also spectacular. I was slow, and Amy gave me some of here Dextrose tablets, which I hadn't had since I was a child, so that was a blast from the past!

Up we go!

Once we got up to the long ridge things became a lot easier and it was then a nice stroll ha exploring along the top until we finally arrived at the summit. The rocky nature of this hill makes for some great pictures and it's certainly got character.

Wow! We've come up so high! We could see tiny people down there....

Summit approaching! We stopped to chat to a couple of guys on their way back down... they were descending the same way they had come up, even though there was an alternative scree path that I thought looked better, and I don't even like steep scree - but I wasn't fancying the way we had come up, as a return route!

Summit shelter coming closer!

And finally! Amy took my picture at the top. You can see that I was surrounded by a pack of terrifying Summit Flies by now....

Attack of the Summit Flies

We found a fly-free, airy lunch spot and sat for a long break, enjoying the views.

On the way down, we made use of the steep scree path, which saved a lot of time and was also much easier than going back the way we'd come. We got down to the bottom quickly, and then it was a case of turning right and re-tracing our steps back to the car, stopping of course to stick our feet in the river for a lovely refreshing cool down, as I always do. I was feeling better by now than when I started, which seems odd - no sleep, and then climb a mountain to recover?!

The path back to the bottom - steep and direct!

Drove home, went to bed at 8pm and slept for twelve hours straight ZZzZzZzzzzzz

[Sgurr]

Husband climbed Fuar Tholl in much the same state. We had been staying at a hotel which seemed to be on the down. There was a totally frosty feeling between husband and wife, probably due to the fact that the computer was open at some gambling page and possibly he had been unsuccessfully trying to repair their fortunes. Later we thought they had been perpetually putting the ice-cream back instead of throwing it away. Friend and R had apple pie, he had custard , while husband had ice-cream. Husband had stomach cramps and nausea all the way up. No amount of diaoralyte or dextrose could cure him, just his pure bloody mindedness and will power got him to the top. The day was rather spoiled for us other two. Our friend had custard because the previous year we had come off Mull and were off to the Aonach Eagach and he, I and one other had the vilest food poisoning EVER, put down to getting ice-cream from the wee shop near the ferry. I still haven't done the AE, just the Munros at each end, as husband had hoped that with 3 other hefty blokes he would dilute the responsibility of getting me along it. Let's face it, at 82, it will probably NEVER get done. Friend has emigrated to Oz, and still won't eat ice-cream.


Even with those memories, I have to grant that Fuar Tholl is a cracking hill.

You'll just have to find a calming mantra to get you to sleep. I am not religious, but find Psalm 121 works quite well.

[MusicalHiker]

:D Husband climbed Fuar Tholl in much the same state. We had been staying at a hotel which seemed to be on the down. There was a totally frosty feeling between husband and wife, probably due to the fact that the computer was open at some gambling page and possibly he had been unsuccessfully trying to repair their fortunes. Later we thought they had been perpetually putting the ice-cream back instead of throwing it away. Friend and R had apple pie, he had custard , while husband had ice-cream. Husband had stomach cramps and nausea all the way up. No amount of diaoralyte or dextrose could cure him, just his pure bloody mindedness and will power got him to the top. The day was rather spoiled for us other two. Our friend had custard because the previous year we had come off Mull and were off to the Aonach Eagach and he, I and one other had the vilest food poisoning EVER, put down to getting ice-cream from the wee shop near the ferry. I still haven't done the AE, just the Munros at each end, as husband had hoped that with 3 other hefty blokes he would dilute the responsibility of getting me along it. Let's face it, at 82, it will probably NEVER get done. Friend has emigrated to Oz, and still won't eat ice-cream.


Even with those memories, I have to grant that Fuar Tholl is a cracking hill.

You'll just have to find a calming mantra to get you to sleep. I am not religious, but find Psalm 121 works quite well.

Great story!! Ugh, I tried Yoga relaxation and breathing, I tried reading, counting sheep - sometimes it's just impossible but most nights I'm out in a few seconds, thankfully! It's a fabulous area to explore and only an hour from home - so many more still to do.

I avoid ice cream due to a slight lactose intolerance and an aversion to too much sugar - but I like to take cucumbers hiking, wonderful for crunchy hydration and they don't spill!