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I've posted before about the memorable day in August 2010 when my friend Moira (gizmogirl) broke her ankle in the Cairngorms and was air-lifted to hospital. Her ankle was dislocated and broken in three places requiring manipulation, surgery to reconstruct with metal plates and screws and 8 days in hospital.
Recovery was sufficient to climb several hills last summer but never without pain. Then a stumble on a step fractured bones in the same foot as the ankle.
This enforced more rest but still the pain in the ankle continued so it was finally decided to remove the metalwork. This was done 12 weeks ago and when the surgeon was in there he found a torn tendon. The tendon was repaired but it meant another plaster cast and hopping around on crutches while it healed. It was frustrating to see the long daylight days pass without getting out into the hills.
Finally, after lots of flat walking, the physio said Moira could try a small hill! Great excitement - what should we do? We're not sure what the physio had in mind when she said "small hill" but we thought "Corbett" and more specifically Little Wyvis - wee brother to Ben Wyvis our local Munro.
We didn't leave the Ben Wyvis car park until noon but this was to our advantage as the weather was better in the afternoon. We chatted to a couple of Polish girls climbing Ben Wyvis for the first time, crossed the wooden bridge over the Allt a' Bheallaich Mhoir and followed the excellent path up its north bank through aspen, birch and rowan until we reached conifer level. For the first hour we walked in rain but it didn't dampen our spirits. The heather was in full bloom.
An Cabar - south west top of Ben Wyvis
The path looking back
Moira with shoulder of Little Wyvis behind
Nearing the point to cross the Allt a' Bheallaich Mhoir
We decided to cross at this point to find out if the ankle would cope with the rough hillside and if it didn't we wouldn't have so far to come back.
Faint path follows fence line up to ridge
The going was soggy and whenever we were out of the breeze we were under sustained midge attack so it was a fair test for one's first hill in 11 months!
View of eastern Fannichs from climb to ridge
Conical shape of Fionn Bheinn on left
Moira found the climb tough - due more to general lack of stamina than any problems with ankle
From the small cairn where we reached the ridge there was a vehicle track contouring the hill to the south west. Moira suggested we keep climbing in south easterly direction but I thought it would be easier to follow the contouring track, which is what we did. Moira was right and I was wrong as the track was waterlogged in so many places we were off the track more times than we were on it!
On a drier part of the track
But it did give some lovely views west.
View south west to Loch Luichart
Loch Glascarnoch and Beinn Dearg hills
The track turned back on itself in a north easterly direction and very soon we spotted the summit cairn of LIttle Wyvis. Shortly before the summit the dogs found a deer carcase which they thought was their Sunday dinner so had to go on lead to save them throwing up later in the car.
Well done Moira - after a run of injuries and surgical procedures a lesser mortal would have given up!
Ben Wyvis behind
South east to Dingwall, Cromarty Firth and beyond to Inverness
East up the Cromarty Firth towards Invergordon
We followed the path north east along the top of Little Wyvis until we reached a point parallel to the small cairn we climbed up to earlier. An option was to extend the walk by turning south east here to walk round the back of the hill but we decided for the recovering ankle's sake to quit while we were ahead and return by the outward route.
Heading north towards Ben Wyvis
We managed to follow the path more easily on the descent and apart from lathering ourselves in Skin so Soft there was no real difficulty. Note to self - the midge is capable of penetrating clothing and biting parts of one's anatomy they have no business getting to!
The poor dogs were covered with them and were glad to reach the burn for a refreshing swim.
Bliss
Careful crossing
Looking back up the path during the descent
Little Wyvis from below
This is the first time since the accident Moira has climbed a hill without pain from her ankle!
We are delighted with this progress and are planning another walk next week.
The sky above Ben Wyvis taken later from my house