free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
Do not know why but as I drove down the A9 on a -5 cold early Sunday morning to atholl, unheeded by any cars (a miracle) I was feeling guilty. Guilty of nothing in particular, just the usual married man stuff , of me going off for some fun while the family are stuck at home sort of guilty. It could be that just because today was the first in many months when it did not rain or was very windy but then again my days of taking them places does seem to be over, as they would rather ‘hang’ with mates then parents now. It is the ‘Can’t live the parent’s day’ I am really waiting for, feels like it will never arrive. But back to the guilt stuff, don’t know if anyone else ever feels it, but if today was guilty day for all walkers then I saw at least another 20 odd cars around parked in the going munroing places, so I guess I’m not totally alone.
And right now your thinking – he’s weird isn’t this supposed to be a route report – and yes you’d be right it is so on with it. the walk is of a great 13 mile 1,200m odd ascent walk near to atholl going over the beinn a ghlo mountain.
Overall a great day, apart that is from the first two Munros which were covered in cloud – they were not as I approached them, only covered while I was on them (hence the guilt – cloud was retribution stuff). However, saying that as I carried on along the wide ridge the swirling of the cloud from those peaks created some fantastic scenes (as seen in photos). The large amount if height gain was due to their being narrow low passes between each, which rather added some spark to the whole thing. Usually my old knees can cope with one climb, and then tend to cry with agony if I try more but today they feel OK (back at home) despite running down one of the ascents!
Not much else I can say about this days hike really, hoping that the photos say much more, but the long return path is very boggy, I mean Very boggy. Not very wet but more like the consistency of cement mix – horrible stuff. Oh and should not forget the views – those that I did get were far and wide to the cairngorms and Ben alder (before the cloud that covered these peaks started growing) and down into the deep and narrow glen tilt – have to return there one day. Plus I guess the appearance of a bi plane flying around was quite unique – came from the direction of glenshee. Almost forgot as well the specters or whatever their called that appeared below me, of me like the grey man of Ben Macdui – sort of looked really neat in real life.
