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Glen Etive Adventure
An amazing trip.
Can’t really start to put into words how good this was, the video goes some ways to capturing some of the moments experienced but as with everything the memories of being on top of Glen Etive, surrounded by some of Scotland’s most amazing scenery were just simply amazing.
Video report
I have been really active in the great outdoors over the last few weeks in an attempt to get “fed up” or “saturated with the hills. Why you may ask – well, for the next 5-6 weeks I aint going to be getting much outdoorsy stuff done as I have a large landscaping project which needs seeing to in the back garden!! So this was the last trip for a while – and what a way to round off two weeks of magic weather and incredible experiences!:
I got to the end of Glen Etive at around 17.00hrs and packed the tent in my bag and headed skywards (think I was the only person taking the tent away from Glen Etive as it was like on big campsite all the way down the road – can’t blame folks as it is a fantastic place with some awesome pools for a swim in the searing heat!!
The heat made the ascent to Trilleachan tiresome – made harder (and quicker) by a couple of over friendly clegs!! I was starting to dread camping as there was little wind and being on the west coast that usually means one thing – more beasties and more specifically – THE DREADED MIDGE!!
I made the summit in about two and half hours and the views were great – in addition there was a lovely dry spot about ten metres from the summit which was nice and flat and perfect for the tent.
Amazingly – there were no midges (a few fly’s right enough) but no blood suckers – couldn’t believe my luck. I spent the night taking pictures and enjoying the sunset- all in Mediterranean heat – t shirt was not cover by a fleece all night!
I eventually withdrew to the tent after sunset and set the alarm for 04.20 to hopefully catch a sunrise. I checked the Met Office forecast but it said the summits would likely be in cloud in the morning
Indeed when I awoke I immediately felt the wet dew and condensation on the outer tent and when I stuck my head out – all I could see was the inside of a cloud ;(. I hung around on the summit in the hope it would clear but after 40 minutes I decided to get off the hill and head home – I had planned on trying to do Stob Dubh but decided on binning that, as it was only getting done in good weather !! haha…
Then ………… on my descent and between the two peaks on the Ben Trilleachan – I started to notice more light! Then it happened – the cloud level seemed to drop – and from looking at the cloud from the inside I was suddenly above it- the next hour was incredible and a stopped and took as many pictures and videos as the cameras SD cards and batteries would allow!!!!!!!!!
I eventually pulled myself off the hill and re-evaluated my plans – Stob Dubh was on again. I was tired (didn’t sleep that well as usual, and legs were tired!). Anyway – got to the Starav car park – immediately brewed up a coffee and had breakfast – turned out to be the perfect tonic and my energy levels were back again
The heat was lower now as I was under the cloud (due to temp inversion) and I headed off with a spring in my step. This lasted until I reached the base of the hill. This is a definite – straight up hill and no matter how good I was feeling the ascent sapped the strength from me – jelly babies were devoured!!!!!!!!!
Didn’t take long for the cloud to burn off and by 10.00 I was sitting on the summit soaking up the views of all the iconic Glencoe and Glen Etive peaks!! An amazing trip!! The only thing that remained was the pool. I had spotted it at the base of the mountain and decided that if it was warm on the way home then I would go for a dip – and that’s exactly what I did (apologies for the skin shots in the video !! I did try and keep it respectable!!!! Haha)
Home by 13.30 and more memories to savour.
A great adventure….
