Walkhighlands

We went up and down by your ascent route after our friend came back to the hostel the night before covered in cuts on his face that he got fighting his way through the woods to the road via your descent route.

sultan wrote:We went up and down by your ascent route after our friend came back to the hostel the night before covered in cuts on his face that he got fighting his way through the woods to the road via your descent route.

Now that I can understand - although I wouldn't much fancy going down that steep scree either!

kath098 wrote:Thanks for another great day in the hills. Looking for a walking buddy on WalkHighlands (and finding you!) was the best thing I ever did!

Sadly, although not our last walk together, this was our last Munro. Kath died in an accident walking alone in Glen Carron on 28th May 2013.

This was taken of us together on Beinn Eighe on 26th May 2012. She was a great companion.

A lovely photo of the two of you and wonderful memories for you to cherish.

SusieThePensioner wrote:A lovely photo of the two of you and wonderful memories for you to cherish.

Thank you Susie. There's part of me not wanting to set foot on a mountain ever again. Not because I think the dangers are any greater than I did before - but out of respect for Kath. But I know Kath wouldn't want that and ironically I'd arranged 2 weeks respite care for my mum starting from yesterday to do some walking. Moira and I are heading out tomorrow on what I suspect will be an emotional day. xx

Beinn Sgritheall from Sgurr Mhic Bharraich


Yesterday Penny married Tim - so congratulations to them.

And not forgetting Kath's family as they approach a second Christmas without her.

Kath

Thank you for bringing back such happy memories of what was the best day on a mountain I ever had - this was way back during Easter in 1970 (I seem to remember). We climbed from the north (joined by the warden of Ratagan Youth Hostel who managed to bag himself a pair of antlers from a long dead deer). At about 1200ft we hit the snow line and the white stuff got deep and deeper. Walking along the north ridge at about 2500ft we realised there were huge snow cornices off each side of the ridge. Getting to the summit at about 1pm it was a glorious sunny day completely cloudless. Eating lunch on the summit we became aware of two golden eagles rising in the thermals then swooping down into the Loch Hourn only to rise about ten minutes later back to the summit. Totally mesmerised by these wonderous animals which came to within about 30 - 40ft of where we were sitting. We set off back down slightly to the west of the north ridge coming down into the Cirque which contained so much snow we were able to slide on our ruckscks down about 1000ft using our ice axe to steer and maintain a safe speed. The only draw back was crossing the stream where we'd parked the car (about a mile or so past Balvraid), this required us to use a twin rope one above the other which I managed to fall off all I can say is it was icy cold. Still the VW camper soon managed to warm me up. Clearly for me my favourite Munro.