Sitting on the bus from Glasgow to Cluanie Inn on tues I realised I had forgotten my jacket, what an idiot, the bus stopped at Fort William so I ran to nearest charity shop and bought a kagoul, at least it would keep wind out. Got off at inn, walked over Am Bathach, up Ciste Dhubh then over Aonach Meadhoin, the rain came down as left the top so I put up tent(827m). Wed morning rain was still coming down, being lazy & not wanting to test kagoul I decided to wait it out, no hardship as always carry a book to read. Rained all day & I read, thought a bit, & read all day, just couldn't motivate myself to get out and wet on ridge.
Anyway wednesday passed and I woke if not to sun at least a dry thurs morning. Walked over Sgurr a Bhealaich Dheirg, Saileag and sisters, odd shower but fine - there is nothing like an early start on a fine day knowing you have got a great ridge walk in front of you - this is what I was born to do - at least thats the thought untill weariness sets in towards end-finished by walking down path beside Allt a'Chruinn, camped at Sheil Bridge got bus back fri morning.
So a two & half day traverse of North Glen Shiel hills, perhaps the slowest ever- thinking of a week long winter walk in for couple corbetts as corollary to this trip.
Thoughts from the tent:
-looking out over the landscape from the top of the hill gives me a visionary experience of geological time - my comparative insignificance is comforting - I used to get the same feeling when I worked on the boat & looked out at the vastness of ocean
-peakbagging is a strange game, arising (I think) in part out of victorian urge to categorise, list, explore & name nature - it gives form and purpose to our hillwalking but it is a bit perverse and I am not sure it should be celebrated quite so much...
some pictures
- Loch Cluanie from slopes Am Bathach
- Ciste Dhubh (tuesday)
- 6am summit of Sgurr a Bhealaich Dheirg (thursday)
- looking back
- ahead
- on to Sgurr nan Spainteach I think
- Sgurr na Ciste Duibhe
- looking back to rocky step on way
- dark Sgurr Fhuaran
- rock sentinel
- way ahead
- on to Beinn Bhuidhe
- Loch Duich
- at sunset
