Glen Lyon Horseshoe - completed at last
Posted: Mon May 20, 2013 4:43 pmGreat gosh almighty - third time lucky!
I've posted previous attempts to complete this circuit, losing out to weather and bad luck, but finally seem to have gotten lucky, in a big way, this time.
Following the recommended route I have very little to add to the existing information, except for one or two highlights.
The barn in Invervar that marks the beginning of the trail is on the verge of collapse so there's a little signposted detour in place, easy to follow.
The bouncy bridge is getting more bouncy all the time, and the wooden bridge earlier on the farmer's track is showing signs of increasing wear and tear!
Carn Gorm itself was pretty much as expected, still some patchy snowdrifts near the summit.
As I was approaching the second summit(Meall Garbh) the noise of a jet engine caused me to look back towards Carn Gorm, where I had the surprise of a Eurofighter on it's side climbing up and over An Sgorr. Yes, between me and the summit of Carn Gorm, not overhead! Shame my camera was in my pack at that point as it scurried off to the North.
High winds across all four peaks, making the weird summit cairn on Meall Garbh vibrate ominously!
The approach to Carn Mairg is quite impressive, still collared in snow, but the weather damage to the descending path on the eastern shoulder means this is quite a tense ten minute drop, followed by a very welcome and flat ten minute traverse before the final ascent.
Great views down into Glen Lyon from Creag Mhor, followed by a quad-burning, knee crunching descent to the car park.
1. Fluids consumed - 4 litres mix water & isotonic
2. Pictures taken - 35 plus two short vids
3. Multi-million pound flying death machines sighted - one
I've posted previous attempts to complete this circuit, losing out to weather and bad luck, but finally seem to have gotten lucky, in a big way, this time.
Following the recommended route I have very little to add to the existing information, except for one or two highlights.
The barn in Invervar that marks the beginning of the trail is on the verge of collapse so there's a little signposted detour in place, easy to follow.
The bouncy bridge is getting more bouncy all the time, and the wooden bridge earlier on the farmer's track is showing signs of increasing wear and tear!
Carn Gorm itself was pretty much as expected, still some patchy snowdrifts near the summit.
As I was approaching the second summit(Meall Garbh) the noise of a jet engine caused me to look back towards Carn Gorm, where I had the surprise of a Eurofighter on it's side climbing up and over An Sgorr. Yes, between me and the summit of Carn Gorm, not overhead! Shame my camera was in my pack at that point as it scurried off to the North.
High winds across all four peaks, making the weird summit cairn on Meall Garbh vibrate ominously!
The approach to Carn Mairg is quite impressive, still collared in snow, but the weather damage to the descending path on the eastern shoulder means this is quite a tense ten minute drop, followed by a very welcome and flat ten minute traverse before the final ascent.
Great views down into Glen Lyon from Creag Mhor, followed by a quad-burning, knee crunching descent to the car park.
1. Fluids consumed - 4 litres mix water & isotonic
2. Pictures taken - 35 plus two short vids
3. Multi-million pound flying death machines sighted - one
