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Since starting this madness of bagging 16 years ago, and having over 230 bagged, some folk will wonder why it has taken me so long to get my backside up to Glen Affric. After my first visit, I wonder that myself!
However, it was not as straight forward as I planned. (Is it ever??). I arrived later than I hoped, but settled on the parking area just west of Chisholme bridge as there was already a couple of others parked there. Settling down in the van and opening a can of cider I started to read up on the route for the next day. I decided to pop outside and take a picture of the fading light and I managed to knock over the can of cider! After clearing up the mess, I did manage to capture a decent picture. That was me settled down for the night with the alarm set for 5.30am.
- Goodnight Glen Affric
The alarm sounded and was duly switched off. Too early to climb out of my sleeping bag. After stealing another hour in bed, I eventually rose and got my breakfast on. Booted up and away just before 7am.
- Good morning Glen Affric
Taking another picture and headed off. At this stage, I was still undecided if I was doing the three or five. Having an extra hour in bed meant that the 5 was maybe a bit much now that the nights are drawing in! Stopped at the main car park to use the facilities and headed down to Affric Lodge and took the track heading up the hill. However, something wasn't right. I just couldn't shake off the thought that I couldn't be bothered with the day
Here I am, the sun is shining and I am in what could be argued as the most beautiful glen in Scotland, and I can't be bothered. I pushed on and followed the track all the way up to the sharp 180 degree turn and left it at this point. With a very faint track coming and going and the ground being boggy, it did nothing to lift my spirits. I managed to phone Mrs T and she even noticed in my tone that I was not great. I said to her that I would push on as see how it goes. Following what I thought was the best route I eventually got to summit of Sgurr na Lapaich. I had been on the go for nearly three hours, most of it grumpy. With the ridge stretching out before me my mood lifted. The lack of boggy ground and the sun coming out definitely lifted my moral and by the time I crossed over the .996 and reached Mam Sodhail I was back in the grove. I still have no idea what caused this dip in motivation, but it defiantly left me and never returned.
- Very recognisable cairn!
- Still looks like I am in a mood!
- Mountains everywhere!
From Sgurr na Lapaich to sitting on Mam Sodhail took just over an hour. I had something to eat and just sat and admired the views. Outstanding. Looking across to Carn Eighe, it seemed so close to where I was sitting, I felt I could throw a stone to add to its cairn but I knew there was a bit of down and up again.
Off I headed and was surprised that in under 30 minutes, I was sat on to of the second Munro of the day. The views were again unbelievable and as we have all said hundreds of times, the photo's don't do it justice. As I sat there, I could see someone approach from the West. The first person I have seen since I left the car park. He duly arrived and we chatted for a bit before I headed off to Beinn Fhionnlaidh. I remembered last night reading about the drop and assent up to BF but it wasn't as bad as I feared. In fact, I quite enjoyed this part of the route as by now, I had decided to leave Toll and Tom for another day. I was there in under an hour but I had now been on the go for 6 hours and I was as far away from the car park as was possible on this route! The other walker joined me on the summit as he left Carn Eighe after me. I had planned to leave my day pack somewhere but forgot to take it off. I only remember when he arrived bagless!!
- Looking down to Loch Mullardoch
- More mountains
Having decided not to try for 5, I had to plan my route back. But first I had to drop down to bealach beag at 832m and then headed up to about 1050m contour line and contoured round Carn Eighe to try and meet the low point between it and MS. I arrived just a bit too high but soon found myself back up to the summit of Mam Sodhail. The other walker was heading out to Sgurr na Lapaich but I followed the ridge to the first dip and then headed south to pick up the track that followed Allt Coire Leachavie. The route was boggy but the path got better the closer it got to Loch Affric. However, the walk from the track junction to Affric lodge is long......... very long after a long day!
- Wee waterfall
- My hoose....... in my dreams
I passed the time by trying to work out my bad mood earlier in the day. I concluded, there is certainly no point in crying over spilt cider!
Whatever it was, it left me and never returned for the rest of the day. I got back to the car park just before 6pm making it an 11 hour day. Now all I had to do was drive home, a mere 4 hours away! As it turned out, the A9 was not busy and I was home before 10pm
I knew that on Wednesday I had another walk up Ben Lomond with The Black Watch Association Hill Walking Club. A new club formed this year aimed at retired soldiers and their family's from mainly the Black Watch regiment. As the outings coordinator, I was keen to be there. So to finish off a wee picture on Wednesday showing the six of us sitting admiring the view. Over 100 years of military service sitting on Ben Lomond.
- Over a 100 years of service right there!
