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Worshipping the Goddess Buachaille Etive Mor
Worshipping the Goddess Buachaille Etive Mor
by laconic surf » Wed Jun 27, 2012 4:07 pm
Route description: Buachaille Etive Mor
Munros included on this walk: Stob Dearg (Buachaille Etive Mor), Stob na Broige (Buachaille Etive Mor)
Date walked: 26/06/2012
Time taken: 6.3 hours
Distance: 15.5 km
Ascent: 1243m
14 people think this report is great. Register or Login free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).I will send a messenger in the form of your 2 year old daughter to wake you at 4.15am. If at first you do not respond, she will prise your eyelid open "to see if you're awake." It's an hour earlier than you intended to wake but the Goddess is waiting.
Hitting the road at 4.50 am you will arrive at the approach to my temple at 7.15, there is already several cars belonging to other worshippers here. When you arrive I will not be ready to show you my true form, I shall be masked from your view in thick clag.
Follow the track over the bridge until you reach the SMC hut. Here you will meet the gatekeeper to the temple. He will appear to you in the form of a collie dog. Approach carefully and show submissive behaviour. Before he permits you to pass, he will drop a stick at your feet. You may throw this and have a brief tug of war over it. Once the gatekeeper is satisfied you are worthy you may continue along the path and the road into the temple will be revealed.
To enter the temple you must climb a steep path - not for the faint hearted it will test your stamina and nerve.
As you approach the top, the ridge will be shielded from your eyes. But do not despair, patience is a virtue, have faith and I shall at last send a light to guide the way.
If you deviate from the already unstable scree path to "have a little scramble" I will test your faith by making both your handholds and footholds appear secure but often they will be loose rock and will plummit to the depths below. I will cause a loose rock to fall and glance a blow off your knuckles spilling a little blood in my honour.
Having proved your worth I will allow you to finally emerge onto the ridge. Views both sides are unavailable to you yet. To reach my highest point, Stob Deag, you must turn left and begin climbing again to make your way to the summit cairn.
Upon reaching the summit you will be rewarded as I shall finally draw back the veil of cloud and reveal my secrets to you.
You are now free to explore the temple and the rest of the ridge is lighted for you to take in my wonderous sights. Follow the track to reach the top of Stob na Doire.
But don't forget to look back at where you've just been...
On reaching Stob na Doire, descend to the right not SE for this way madness lies. Now attempt the steep descent, this will test you still as small rocks roll off into the depths.
From the ridge you may look across the glen and admire Buachaille Etive Beag. But do not covert my neighbour, for I am a jealous Goddess.
Eventually you will reach my futhermost point Stob na Broige. From here you will see other temptations but do not worship them, for they are false idols. Instead cast your eyes back on the journey you have made and revel in my warmth.
It is now time for worship to end. Walk back along the ridge to the bealach and leave the temple via the very steep path to the valley floor. Here you will need to lower yourself off rocks and be careful to avoid slipping but you may rest and cleanse yourself in my waterfalls.
Continue until you reach the path back to where you started.
Now you have honoured me, I shall reward you with the view that was hidden when you first arrived.
Your worship is now complete. I am the Goddess Buachaille Etive Mor
Hitting the road at 4.50 am you will arrive at the approach to my temple at 7.15, there is already several cars belonging to other worshippers here. When you arrive I will not be ready to show you my true form, I shall be masked from your view in thick clag.
Follow the track over the bridge until you reach the SMC hut. Here you will meet the gatekeeper to the temple. He will appear to you in the form of a collie dog. Approach carefully and show submissive behaviour. Before he permits you to pass, he will drop a stick at your feet. You may throw this and have a brief tug of war over it. Once the gatekeeper is satisfied you are worthy you may continue along the path and the road into the temple will be revealed.
To enter the temple you must climb a steep path - not for the faint hearted it will test your stamina and nerve.
As you approach the top, the ridge will be shielded from your eyes. But do not despair, patience is a virtue, have faith and I shall at last send a light to guide the way.
If you deviate from the already unstable scree path to "have a little scramble" I will test your faith by making both your handholds and footholds appear secure but often they will be loose rock and will plummit to the depths below. I will cause a loose rock to fall and glance a blow off your knuckles spilling a little blood in my honour.
Having proved your worth I will allow you to finally emerge onto the ridge. Views both sides are unavailable to you yet. To reach my highest point, Stob Deag, you must turn left and begin climbing again to make your way to the summit cairn.
Upon reaching the summit you will be rewarded as I shall finally draw back the veil of cloud and reveal my secrets to you.
You are now free to explore the temple and the rest of the ridge is lighted for you to take in my wonderous sights. Follow the track to reach the top of Stob na Doire.
But don't forget to look back at where you've just been...
On reaching Stob na Doire, descend to the right not SE for this way madness lies. Now attempt the steep descent, this will test you still as small rocks roll off into the depths.
From the ridge you may look across the glen and admire Buachaille Etive Beag. But do not covert my neighbour, for I am a jealous Goddess.
Eventually you will reach my futhermost point Stob na Broige. From here you will see other temptations but do not worship them, for they are false idols. Instead cast your eyes back on the journey you have made and revel in my warmth.
It is now time for worship to end. Walk back along the ridge to the bealach and leave the temple via the very steep path to the valley floor. Here you will need to lower yourself off rocks and be careful to avoid slipping but you may rest and cleanse yourself in my waterfalls.
Continue until you reach the path back to where you started.
Now you have honoured me, I shall reward you with the view that was hidden when you first arrived.
Your worship is now complete. I am the Goddess Buachaille Etive Mor
Re: Worshipping the Goddess Buachaille Etive Mor
by SMRussell » Wed Jun 27, 2012 4:33 pm
Truly inspired report!
May fav piece...
Hoped to do these a few weeks back but the cloud was low and thick and didn't look like it was going to shift so we headed home (thankfully the Beinn a'Bheithir Munros had been bagged the day before in great conditions so it wasn't a wasted trip). Can't wait to return for my own worship although the Goddess will have to suck it up as we'll definitely combine these with their stunning neighbours.

May fav piece...
laconic surf wrote:Here you will meet the gatekeeper to the temple. He will appear to you in the form of a collie dog. Approach carefully and show submissive behaviour. Before he permits you to pass, he will drop a stick at your feet. You may throw this and have a brief tug of war over it. Once the gatekeeper is satisfied you are worthy you may continue along the path and the road into the temple will be revealed.
Hoped to do these a few weeks back but the cloud was low and thick and didn't look like it was going to shift so we headed home (thankfully the Beinn a'Bheithir Munros had been bagged the day before in great conditions so it wasn't a wasted trip). Can't wait to return for my own worship although the Goddess will have to suck it up as we'll definitely combine these with their stunning neighbours.
Re: Worshipping the Goddess Buachaille Etive Mor
by monty » Wed Jun 27, 2012 5:03 pm
Interesting tale. Nice. Moody set of photos getting better towards the bottom. Good effort. 

- monty
Re: Worshipping the Goddess Buachaille Etive Mor
by L-Hiking » Wed Jun 27, 2012 5:12 pm
Nice One ....I wish all those Temples would reveal themselves like this one
Well done

Re: Worshipping the Goddess Buachaille Etive Mor
by Lenore » Wed Jun 27, 2012 5:22 pm
Cool report, Laconic!
Re: Worshipping the Goddess Buachaille Etive Mor
by weescotsman » Wed Jun 27, 2012 5:38 pm
Cracking effort, we'd planned this walk for last Saturday but the weather intervened. Re-scheduled for July and hopefully a clear sunny day...............
Re: Worshipping the Goddess Buachaille Etive Mor
by jonny616 » Wed Jun 27, 2012 6:33 pm
While you were there did you say to the Goddess ' you're just a big herdsman'
Nice report & a clear day mostly.



Nice report & a clear day mostly.

Re: Worshipping the Goddess Buachaille Etive Mor
by laconic surf » Wed Jun 27, 2012 7:06 pm
SMRussell wrote:Truly inspired report! Can't wait to return for my own worship although the Goddess will have to suck it up as we'll definitely combine these with their stunning neighbours.
Thank you

Combining the two will be an epic - I look forward to reading a report on it
monty wrote:Interesting tale. Nice. Moody set of photos getting better towards the bottom. Good effort.
Cheers Monty, the photo's reflected how much better the day got as it went along
L-Hiking wrote:Nice One ....I wish all those Temples would reveal themselves like this oneWell done
Cheers. It was just one of those magical moments when you reach the top and the clag disappears - rarely seems to happen but I got really lucky

Lenore wrote:Cool report, Laconic!
Thanks Lenore
weescotsman wrote:Cracking effort, we'd planned this walk for last Saturday but the weather intervened. Re-scheduled for July and hopefully a clear sunny day...............
Cheers, hope you get better weather on your next attempt

jonny616 wrote:While you were there did you say to the Goddess ' you're just a big herdsman'![]()
![]()
![]()
Nice report & a clear day mostly.


Re: Worshipping the Goddess Buachaille Etive Mor
by morag1 » Wed Jun 27, 2012 10:04 pm
Great report Laconic, really enjoyed reading your account of climbing one of the great icons of Scotland, well done


laconic surf wrote:I will send a messenger in the form of your 2 year old daughter to wake you at 4.15am. If at first you do not respond, she will prise your eyelid open "to see if you're awake



- morag1
Re: Worshipping the Goddess Buachaille Etive Mor
by thehawk_3 » Thu Jun 28, 2012 7:24 am
Great Report.......... hold you as the tale weaves its way up the mountain side. Keep them coming.
Re: Worshipping the Goddess Buachaille Etive Mor
by Higherthanhigh » Thu Jun 28, 2012 4:56 pm



Brilliant mate. She is a beauty isn't she?
A walk report with some imagination - fantastic, well done

- Higherthanhigh
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Re: Worshipping the Goddess Buachaille Etive Mor
by laconic surf » Thu Jun 28, 2012 8:09 pm
morag1 wrote:Great report Laconic, really enjoyed reading your account of climbing one of the great icons of Scotland, well done
Thanks Morag, just a wee bit of fun

thehawk_3 wrote:Great Report.......... hold you as the tale weaves its way up the mountain side. Keep them coming.
Shucks

Higherthanhigh wrote::clap:![]()
![]()
Brilliant mate. She is a beauty isn't she?
A walk report with some imagination - fantastic, well done
She really is. Cheers

Re: Worshipping the Goddess Buachaille Etive Mor
by brodiedillon303 » Fri Jun 29, 2012 8:24 am
I will send a messenger in the form of your 2 year old daughter to wake you at 4.15am. If at first you do not respond, she will prise your eyelid open "to see if you're awake." It's an hour earlier than you intended to wake but the Goddess is waiting.
Excellent report LS. Really enjoyed it.Reminded me of one of those text adventure games I bought for my sons Amiga in the late 80s. Like then i was sucked in by the text. So much so that i paid no attention to the photos as i wanted to see the next text. Great stuff well observed (particularly the eye prizing and stick ritual hee hee) and good entertainment. !0 out of 10.
Excellent report LS. Really enjoyed it.Reminded me of one of those text adventure games I bought for my sons Amiga in the late 80s. Like then i was sucked in by the text. So much so that i paid no attention to the photos as i wanted to see the next text. Great stuff well observed (particularly the eye prizing and stick ritual hee hee) and good entertainment. !0 out of 10.

- brodiedillon303
Re: Worshipping the Goddess Buachaille Etive Mor
by pollyh33 » Fri Jun 29, 2012 8:55 am
Oh I'm liking your style LS!
So glad the weather improved as your day progressed. Must confess to reading this report a couple of times because I enjoyed it so much !!!
P xx
So glad the weather improved as your day progressed. Must confess to reading this report a couple of times because I enjoyed it so much !!!
P xx
Re: Worshipping the Goddess Buachaille Etive Mor
by meangarry » Fri Jun 29, 2012 11:56 am
Good report as usual LS, found myself reading it in some weird demonic voice much like trying to read a paragraph of text next to a picture of Morgan Freeman. 

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