2 middle aged wifies, a teenager & 3 dogs at Fersit
Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2014 8:47 pm
It's been absolutely ages since I put the paws to the keyboard and wrote a trip report, in spite of notching up 85 Munros in the 21 months since I moved in with Mum...but last weekend down at Fersit was so special that I thought I'd give my linguistic skills a little bit of a stretch this evening, so here goes.
The original plan was to be picked up by Travis et al on Friday after mum got home from school and head off to Fersit to have a weekend of 4 Munros. But given that mum was feeling a bit tired after work and the forecast for Saturday was apparently pants, it was decided we'd leave home on Saturday morning instead. And so it was that the dreaded van arrived exactly on time - I know everyone else loves Ivan the van, but I positively HATE it! And it was under extreme threats that I got in in the first place!!! But we were off, headed to Aviemore for shopping.
Now mum allegedly loathes shopping, but after a week of internet bargain hunting (new Berghaus waterproof trousers, new North Face trekking trousers, new Hagloffs jacket - she is obviously not brand exclusive) it was now the turn of the sale rails in the outdoor shops ! YAWN for us 3 dogs, but a new Osprey rucksack and fleece, oh, and socks, were purchased and mum etc decided it was finally time to head off down Loch Laggan's narrow, bumpy roads in rattly Ivan (no offence Travis!!!)
We arrived late afternoon, found the most idyllic spot on the side of the road to park up for the night, and the teenager was tasked with lighting a fire on the shore, while the middle aged wifies sampled beer and crisps LOL. Us dogs romped about and explored the camping spot - it was perfect! In spite of the rain and the midgies
After a great beef stew (thanks Dad) it was a night of music, dancing and wine, and hoping the rain would go forth before morning. IT DID!!!
A not too early wake up saw us having breakfast in tranquility, the cloud lifting before our very eyes - a whole lot better than the winter day we'd spent here earlier in the year, when we'd totally overestimated our fitness and the magnitude of the walk ahead. Also, my eyes actually freezing closed meant that day was cut short!
We set off to the car-park, and headed along the loch side before heading up right along a rough track to some sheep folds, below the memorial with no plaque - anybody know why it's there?
The going was wet and rough underfoot, but the steepness made it interesting, and the weather was improving all the time. Too hot to be honest, but plenty of water for us us 3 dogs.
The false summits on the way to the first Munro were apparently a total blooming pain in the posterior - even the teenager was giving up hope of ever seeing a summit, but eventually we got there, and then saw the drop to the beallach before heading up to the second Munro. The views were fabulous, easterly toward Loch Laggan, Newtonmore and the Cairngorms. Northerly into the Grey Corries, southerly to the Lawers range (last 2 weekends spent there) and west towards the heaps of hills that mum and I still have to climb.
The wind had picked up markedly, but it was sunny, and behind the shelter of the cairns, mum and her pal could easily light a fag (!!!) so they were well happy! (Health police, be warned - apparently it is still a free country...)
Having spent most of my walking career in the eastern hills, it was a delight for me to be in the west again, climbing from low down in the glens, feeling the ascent a bit, but thoroughly enjoying the rugged, steepness of the mountains here.
Mum's decided to leave the other pair at Fersit for snowy conditions - they look great! And she's already packed up for Kintail next weekend - these glorious Indian Summer days are sure firing up her enthusiasm for getting out and about as much as possible before our trip to the Fisherfields in October...Bring it on is all I say!
Woof! Woof!!
The original plan was to be picked up by Travis et al on Friday after mum got home from school and head off to Fersit to have a weekend of 4 Munros. But given that mum was feeling a bit tired after work and the forecast for Saturday was apparently pants, it was decided we'd leave home on Saturday morning instead. And so it was that the dreaded van arrived exactly on time - I know everyone else loves Ivan the van, but I positively HATE it! And it was under extreme threats that I got in in the first place!!! But we were off, headed to Aviemore for shopping.
Now mum allegedly loathes shopping, but after a week of internet bargain hunting (new Berghaus waterproof trousers, new North Face trekking trousers, new Hagloffs jacket - she is obviously not brand exclusive) it was now the turn of the sale rails in the outdoor shops ! YAWN for us 3 dogs, but a new Osprey rucksack and fleece, oh, and socks, were purchased and mum etc decided it was finally time to head off down Loch Laggan's narrow, bumpy roads in rattly Ivan (no offence Travis!!!)
We arrived late afternoon, found the most idyllic spot on the side of the road to park up for the night, and the teenager was tasked with lighting a fire on the shore, while the middle aged wifies sampled beer and crisps LOL. Us dogs romped about and explored the camping spot - it was perfect! In spite of the rain and the midgies
After a great beef stew (thanks Dad) it was a night of music, dancing and wine, and hoping the rain would go forth before morning. IT DID!!!
A not too early wake up saw us having breakfast in tranquility, the cloud lifting before our very eyes - a whole lot better than the winter day we'd spent here earlier in the year, when we'd totally overestimated our fitness and the magnitude of the walk ahead. Also, my eyes actually freezing closed meant that day was cut short!
We set off to the car-park, and headed along the loch side before heading up right along a rough track to some sheep folds, below the memorial with no plaque - anybody know why it's there?
The going was wet and rough underfoot, but the steepness made it interesting, and the weather was improving all the time. Too hot to be honest, but plenty of water for us us 3 dogs.
The false summits on the way to the first Munro were apparently a total blooming pain in the posterior - even the teenager was giving up hope of ever seeing a summit, but eventually we got there, and then saw the drop to the beallach before heading up to the second Munro. The views were fabulous, easterly toward Loch Laggan, Newtonmore and the Cairngorms. Northerly into the Grey Corries, southerly to the Lawers range (last 2 weekends spent there) and west towards the heaps of hills that mum and I still have to climb.
The wind had picked up markedly, but it was sunny, and behind the shelter of the cairns, mum and her pal could easily light a fag (!!!) so they were well happy! (Health police, be warned - apparently it is still a free country...)
Having spent most of my walking career in the eastern hills, it was a delight for me to be in the west again, climbing from low down in the glens, feeling the ascent a bit, but thoroughly enjoying the rugged, steepness of the mountains here.
Mum's decided to leave the other pair at Fersit for snowy conditions - they look great! And she's already packed up for Kintail next weekend - these glorious Indian Summer days are sure firing up her enthusiasm for getting out and about as much as possible before our trip to the Fisherfields in October...Bring it on is all I say!
Woof! Woof!!