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In order to tell this walk report properly we must rewind back to January 2024! The weather was alright at the beginning of the new year and I managed 4 winter Munro's in this month, Buachaille Etiv Beag and Beinn a' Chochuill & Beinn Eunaich (how many did others manage ?) as there was some bluebird days which I took full advantage of ! I had also just passed my Officer of the Watch Unlimited oral exam, which means I am fully qualified to be a navigation officer onboard any vessel over 3000 gross tonne!
3 years at City of Glasgow Nautical College and countless days of experience on various vessel types I was feeling pretty euphoric standing on top of Beinn Eunaich looking out over the hills, feeling a huge sense of accomplishment. I felt on top of the world and that nothing could bring me down from this high.... oh how wrong I was.
February 1st I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Breast Cancer and my whole world came crashing down in front of me as I stared intently at the doctor, trying to process what she has just told me. My eyes dry as bone, I couldn't cry. I wanted to know everything. What's next? What treatment do I need? How has this happened? Why did this happen to me? What caused this?
Questions that were quite frankly impossible to answer at such an early stage.
So fast forward to the 20th of May and I'm almost half way through chemotherapy, which is given every 3 weeks. This means on the week prior to the next dose, I feel myself again as I was looking at the weather for my next target of Munro's to do, Beinn Achaladair and Beinn a'Chreachain were the perfect match! Dean my college buddy was also back from the high seas with lots of salty tales to tell. So let's begin !
We were the 2nd car in the carpark when we arrived just before 8am, packed up and ready to go the sun was shining and it didn't take long for the Rab puffer to come off !
A long but enjoyable walk in, passing by the farm with newborn calfs and ewes running after mum. Up came a small bridge crossing the Water of Tulla as we gently meandered our way along. Here a small cairn marked the start off the actual track and onto the hill.
Stunning views of the climb ahead ! A shameless selfie with hill in the background! (sorry more selfies to come)
As we reached the railway line it was time to apply factor 50!! The sun was high in the sky by this point and with some shade from the trees and railway bridge we took a quick break to apply sunscreen and hydrate for the climb ahead.
"Follow the path alongside the deer fence; ignore the two stiles and continue uphill close to the burn." Some key information I remembered from the walk highlands report and also a great photo stop as we continued ahead.
Photos were few and far between until we reached Lochan a'Chreachain which was like coming across a mirage in a desert! The loch glistened and sparkled in the sunshine, making the blue waters so incredibly tempting for a cool dip. We stopped here for a water and snack break, enjoying the solitude of the mountain ridge above and the lochs waters softly lapping at the shores edge. I felt good and just so happy to be back out in amongst the mountains again. But looking at the track ahead it was steep!
This next bit was tough and it was during this steep climb up to the ridge where negative thoughts started to cross my mind. I was tired, my legs were starting to burn and not to mention my nose was like a running tap ! Dean was far up ahead as we made our way up a fairly pathless, grassy slope. Maybe we lost the path or just couldn't find it.
I plodded on, slowly, one foot in front of the other, head down, keep going. I didn't consider quitting at this stage, but it did cross my mind if climbing Munro's was a good idea...
Finally we were at the top of the ridge and a small trail was found! The views from this point onwards were breathtaking !
That on 'top of the world feeling' was starting to come back into my body as we continued up the ridge. The healing powers of Mother Nature were washing over me as I felt a fresh breeze whip up from the left where we had once been protected from the mountain itself, there was no turning back from this point on.
Looking back down the hill from where we came, a small black figure and an even smaller black figure were closely catching us up. Either we were going at quite a slow pace (which I assumed due to me) or this figure was a particularly fast hiker. I went with the fast hiker option and continued on the track. Before I knew it we had hit our first summit of the day and my first Munro since being diagnosed, Beinn a'Chreachain number 58!
Taking in the views over Rannoch Moor and the highest peak in the distance Ben Nevis, it felt good to be back in a place where not many people get to witness. Some people have no interest in standing on top of a mountain, some are not fit enough to do so, some are lazy and think this requires too much effort, and others due to illness or disability simply cannot. I don't feel ill or sick, and throughout my treatment I have never said I am, because that would suggest I am accepting of the fact that this 'thing' is winning. It most certainly isn't winning.
A quick look at the map to confirm our location we had our 2 mystery figures catch up with us at the summit. A really friendly guy with a cute little terrier called Ace who gave lots of kisses and cuddles as celebration.
Another steep section lay ahead for the final Munro of the day, but my enthusiasm and determination could not be stifled at this point as the sun baked down on us I had to stick my buff on under my hat to stop the tops of my ears from getting more burnt !
Here we are, Beinn Achaladair's summit reached and lunch was swiftly setup with Dean boiling some hot water for a well earned coffee. I had my tuna pasta and a can of the good stuff to sustain me for the return trip down.
We took our time eating lunch and enjoying the views, at this point our friendly hiker and Ace the dog had caught us up again to enjoy the views with.
As we packed up and made our way down the hill which continues easily down Coire Achaladair. We stopped at a large rock for a water break and I hopped up onto the rock, crossed my legs, closed my eyes and had a quiet moment to myself. A time for reflection I wanted to take it all in, the smells, the sounds and the feeling of what I had just achieved. In normal circumstances its not that big of a deal, its still pretty cool to hike up mountains but I smiled to myself knowing that my body is capable of incredible things. I shouldn't feel let down by it, but impressed that it can still function the way I want it too if I push pass the negative thoughts in my mind, myself and many others can achieve so much!
We reached a small post that indicated the way back to the carpark and despite it being a wee bit boggy, feet had remained dry throughout the hike. I couldn't wait to get my sliders on though!!
Now no hike is complete without a proper cold pint at the end (Non alcoholic for Dean
) at the Bridge of Orchy Hotel.
We enjoyed the remaining sunshine and people watched all the West Highland way folk come and go. Both myself and Dean having completed the WHW we understood their struggles.
Now back home, writing this report I hope whoever is reading can take away what I aimed to do at the start of this report. Inspire someone to get out of bed and hike a Munro. Maybe hike their first Munro, or if you've been feeling pretty low recently for whatever reason that may be, trust me when I say, the outdoors does you a world of good.
The power of our minds far surpasses the powers of our bodies and when faced with a really crap situation you have 2 choices to make. One is positive and one is negative. You can look at things many ways but being able to see that silver lining and keep going, keep plodding on, will make all the difference.
