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Most of the year has been lost due to injury, firstly a knee ligament tear quickly followed by tendon damage. My outdoor pursuits have mainly been cycling, recently I've also found myself back on the golf course. My physio informed me that I won't be able to run in The GSR Half Marathon this year, breaking the sequence of 15 straight appearances. Looking at the weekend forecast of sunshine and cloud free summits, plus reading about everyone compleating, sent the hill fever running through my veins. I would take a small risk and get up a mountain!! The plan was to take it easy up Vorlich and camp on the summit, well rested overnight I should be fine to toddle on down in the morning. Joining me on this mission would be fellow 40+ year old virgin (summit camping) Woodsy Boy - Stevie
As usual Stevie was running late, we eventually left Inveruglus car park at 5pm. I'd been buzzing for a few days and felt energized, I strode up the lovely single track and into a lush vista...albeit with some overhead pylons!
1km before Loch Sloy Dam we took a path and headed upwards. Being energized I blazed a trail to the summit without stopping or drinking water, I wanted to get the tent pitched before darkness you see! On summit @ 7pm!
Stevie was soon to follow. We both agreed to pitch just below the summit due to 25mph winds and a forecast of -2, and probably because as virgins we had to play it safe
. The camp site, anticipating the sunrise from the East.
With our tents secure we got the stove out and cooked up some delicious pasta from a packet, not unlike the wonderful pasta bake a certain friend had lovingly cooked me last week
With light fading I took a few more photos before retiring to my tent and reading Lem Stanislaw's The Futurological Congress... a wonderfully descriptive mind bender of a book, it provided some vividly entertaining dreams
Strangely I managed a pretty decent sleep, crawled out of the tent at 5.30am like an excited kid! Stevie was also wakened but did quip how my snoring had kept him awake most of the night...appears he still suffers from some auditory hallucinations as I never snore, ahem!!
Last night's sunset was marred by clouds, although the sky was a warming pinky glow at times, so I was hoping the sunrise would be slightly more appealing....it certainly was, big grins smothered our faces
Watching the sunrise from near the summit was spectacular, a thorough good buzz was had...high on life! At 7am we went back to our tents and lay for an hour, arising at 8am for a 90 minute lazy breakfast with the sun's rays belting off our near baldy nappers, - a consequence of the mature hill walker -, bliss!
My kit for the trip, managed it all in a 25+ 5L rucksack...no bad, eh Mr Alan Bellis - Mountainstar
At 09.40am we started the trek, all downhill, back to Inveruglus. Managed a few staged photos on route
High camping was great fun, we both agreed this would be on our agendas again very soon...well after I've rested my dodgy right leg that is, I did experience some slight pain later in the day, so easy does it for now. Cycling and golf anyone...
