Number 1 at long last
Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2011 10:40 pmAbout 10 years ago I thought I'd take up hillwalking and maybe bag a Munro or two.
About 8 years ago I bought a pair of decent boots. These boots turned out to be great, but were only ever used for clearing the path on a snowy day.
About a month ago I was at a loose end and, living in Aberdeenshire, went for a walk up Mither Tap at Bennachie and thoroughly enjoyed myself. I did it again the following week then decided it was time to ramp it up a little and look into getting up a Munro or two.
After a little research I found this excellent website and was pleased to find a Munro, Mount Keen, was only about an hours drive from home.
The date was set. Tuesday 24 May.
On Monday 23 May I saw the weather forecast for the following day to be for 70mph winds at Munro level. I'm not that keen.
That Friday, at long last, I headed down the A90 and found my way to the car park at Invermark. The weather was fine and dry with a fair amount of blue sky around.
I set off into the relative unknown and was pleased to find the signposts I'd seen in previous reports to still be in place and pointing me in the right direction.
As I approached the Queens Well the climb ahead of me was easy to see as it snaked up the hill beyond.
Before my upcoming effort I had a quick bite to eat at the nicely placed picnic table outside Invermark Cottage (thank you cottage owners) then set off to immediately have to carefully cross the burn by the available stepping stones. I felt like a kid again.
Not being used to this type of walk I stopped regularly for breath and a drink but soldiered on determined to reach my goal. I kept moving but felt like I wasn't getting any closer to the summit until the final right turn at the cairn.
I was delighted when I eventually got to the summit. My first Munro (I'm not counting the one I did at school because I've no idea which one it was).
I took in the views and after a short seat in the wee shelter I headed back down the way I came. As I did this I met the first folk I'd seen all day, a couple of small groups heading up the way. A quick hello and I kept descending marvelling at the views as I did so.
It was a great day out and I'm hoping to bag a few more Munro's in the months and years to come.
About 8 years ago I bought a pair of decent boots. These boots turned out to be great, but were only ever used for clearing the path on a snowy day.
About a month ago I was at a loose end and, living in Aberdeenshire, went for a walk up Mither Tap at Bennachie and thoroughly enjoyed myself. I did it again the following week then decided it was time to ramp it up a little and look into getting up a Munro or two.
After a little research I found this excellent website and was pleased to find a Munro, Mount Keen, was only about an hours drive from home.
The date was set. Tuesday 24 May.
On Monday 23 May I saw the weather forecast for the following day to be for 70mph winds at Munro level. I'm not that keen.
That Friday, at long last, I headed down the A90 and found my way to the car park at Invermark. The weather was fine and dry with a fair amount of blue sky around.
I set off into the relative unknown and was pleased to find the signposts I'd seen in previous reports to still be in place and pointing me in the right direction.
- On the right track.
As I approached the Queens Well the climb ahead of me was easy to see as it snaked up the hill beyond.
- The climb ahead.
Before my upcoming effort I had a quick bite to eat at the nicely placed picnic table outside Invermark Cottage (thank you cottage owners) then set off to immediately have to carefully cross the burn by the available stepping stones. I felt like a kid again.
- Don't fall. Don't fall. Don't fall.
Not being used to this type of walk I stopped regularly for breath and a drink but soldiered on determined to reach my goal. I kept moving but felt like I wasn't getting any closer to the summit until the final right turn at the cairn.
- Is it getting any closer?
I was delighted when I eventually got to the summit. My first Munro (I'm not counting the one I did at school because I've no idea which one it was).
- At last.
I took in the views and after a short seat in the wee shelter I headed back down the way I came. As I did this I met the first folk I'd seen all day, a couple of small groups heading up the way. A quick hello and I kept descending marvelling at the views as I did so.
- Back along the Glen.
It was a great day out and I'm hoping to bag a few more Munro's in the months and years to come.
No stopping you now.