Misty Mount Keen
Posted: Wed Jun 05, 2013 9:50 pmHello from a first time reporter.
My boyfriend and I are keen walkers looking to get more into this Munro business, so as we are pretty local, decided to give Mount Keen a bash. The plan was to tackle Keen then do some camping around Glen Esk for a few days after, hence the big bags in the pictures! The forecast was looking pretty promising for a few days in the hills so when I woke up to thick mist I was nae impressed! We arrived in a very misty Glen Tanar around mid-morning and set off...so far so good, until I take us on a 4 mile detour through Glen Tanar Forest by accident...ooops.
So once we were back on the right track, things were going a lot better. The sun even started to make an appearance and I was almost forgiven for the detour. The landrover track through the estate would be pretty impossible to get lost on but always a relief to see a landmark and know we're heading in the right direction!
Turned out the weather man was right!
What a beautiful day it turned into, and soon we were glad of a rest at the side of the burn to paddle our hot feet and get some lunch. And apply a good slathering of factor 50 - curse you Scottish skin! The mist had now properly burned off and Keen was visible across the water.
Carrying on up the path, we crossed the bridge and set off up Mount Keen proper. The path steepens quickly and soon my poor legs were nae happy but not much choice at this point, keep going up. As the plan was 4 days camping, the boyfriend and I were carrying 22kg and 11kg respectively, so it was slow going. It is a long, unrelenting climb and with every step we became more committed to going light next time.
Had to cross through a patch of snow about 100ft below the summit, felt like I was on Everest! Once through it, just the last wee push to the top with the mist slowly rolling in around our ears. We had had cracking views on the way up but at this point Lochnagar was obscured by low cloud
But BOY was I delighted to finally see the top! Munro number 2 - done. So after a few photies at the top it was a jaunt down the Glen Esk side and set up camp for the night in Glen Mark.
So all in all a cracking trip, well worth my tired legs the next day.
My boyfriend and I are keen walkers looking to get more into this Munro business, so as we are pretty local, decided to give Mount Keen a bash. The plan was to tackle Keen then do some camping around Glen Esk for a few days after, hence the big bags in the pictures! The forecast was looking pretty promising for a few days in the hills so when I woke up to thick mist I was nae impressed! We arrived in a very misty Glen Tanar around mid-morning and set off...so far so good, until I take us on a 4 mile detour through Glen Tanar Forest by accident...ooops.
- Very misty Glen Tanar!
So once we were back on the right track, things were going a lot better. The sun even started to make an appearance and I was almost forgiven for the detour. The landrover track through the estate would be pretty impossible to get lost on but always a relief to see a landmark and know we're heading in the right direction!
- Burn of Glendui
Turned out the weather man was right!
What a beautiful day it turned into, and soon we were glad of a rest at the side of the burn to paddle our hot feet and get some lunch. And apply a good slathering of factor 50 - curse you Scottish skin! The mist had now properly burned off and Keen was visible across the water.- No more mist!
Carrying on up the path, we crossed the bridge and set off up Mount Keen proper. The path steepens quickly and soon my poor legs were nae happy but not much choice at this point, keep going up. As the plan was 4 days camping, the boyfriend and I were carrying 22kg and 11kg respectively, so it was slow going. It is a long, unrelenting climb and with every step we became more committed to going light next time.
- Looking back towards Glen Tanar
Had to cross through a patch of snow about 100ft below the summit, felt like I was on Everest! Once through it, just the last wee push to the top with the mist slowly rolling in around our ears. We had had cracking views on the way up but at this point Lochnagar was obscured by low cloud
- The boyfriend resting his bag above the snow
- The clouds rolling in
But BOY was I delighted to finally see the top! Munro number 2 - done. So after a few photies at the top it was a jaunt down the Glen Esk side and set up camp for the night in Glen Mark.
- Near the top
- Obligatory trig shot
So all in all a cracking trip, well worth my tired legs the next day.
- Sunset in Glen Mark
