Kintail Brothers & 2 neighbors, Great morning in Glen Shiel
Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2015 4:06 pm
It was unusually long time since my previous mountains trip - over one month and the last trip was in the same area: Glen Shiel - South ridge, where I reached my 100 Munros, but because of bad cloudy, misty, showery weather with poor visibility, I promised myself to return back to Glen Shiel one day and catch the missed views from opposite side - from Five Sisters or The Kintail Brothers. The gap between my walks I enjoyed two weeks of holiday outside of Scotland, visited and had a good time with my Family in Czech Republic, then after return back home here I got busy with a lot of things and also busier schedule at work as more work mates are on holiday during the summer and the work must be done
Also the weather this summer is really not friendly to us - hill walkers, can't remember any summer before with rain so often... It was really different on my holiday there in Czech, sunny days, tropical weather, temperature between 32 - 37 deg.C and raining shortly one day only - refreshment These hot days makes you lazy, spending the time by sitting in garden, barbecue, drinks and small swimming pool , but atleast two days from the time we used for two walking trips as the area is well situated in the mountains. One day it was the highest mountain of the area ( 2nd highest in Czech Republic ): "Praděd" - 1.492 m above sea level and the other day another nice one: "Šerák" - 1.351 m above sea level. Even both of the mountains are higher than Ben Nevis ( 1.344 m ) by the altitude, the ascent is only about 600 m as the start point is in higher level the walk there is easier, by well maintened and signed paths, walking mostly throught forest which is protection against any wind or heavy rain...some summits you can even reach by car It was nice and different walk there, beautiful mountains, surrounded by forest and great view points, but somehow I missed the reall rough walk in the scottish mountains, where you need to overcome the terrain and weather conditions
So finally weekend free - out of work as I am working mostly on weekends, watched the weather forecast every day - long time in advance and it was nice to see that the West, especially the Kintail area is promising on the saturday as most of areas in Scotland looked rainy again. Happy that there is a hope to go somewhere where I will be able to do more Munros in one route and big hope that there is an opportunity to get some nice views from the Glen Shiel area
After busy and long working day ( friday ) I prepared all my mountains stuff and then slept about 2 hours as the set alarm at 00:05 am woke me up with no mercy Checked the weather again and after all the "morning's" necessaries I started my car at 01:40 am Hungry for the mountains, looking forward to feel the hills again I headed to north-west to Glen Shiel via Stirling, Perth, Dalwhinnie, Spean Bridge and Invergarry. It's a quite long way from home if you want get back the same day ( I know is still too short compared to Alteknacker's or Simon's distance from their home ), but is good to do it during summer as the daylight is allowing it...one month later the daylight will be two hours shorter and going worse and worse...
Even after the shower in the morning I started feel sleepy on the beginning of my night start trip until I heard a song on radio...the song "Daddy Cool" from Boney M at 02:14 am !!! I dont know why, but i love the song from my teen-age and the song made me awake totally and I started feel that the day will be great
I got to the start point at Glen Shiel about 5:15 am, parked at the layby - 1 km east from Cluanie Inn. Silent fresh morning welcomed me there then I started my walk at 05:23 am full of great feelings and expectations
Since started the walk all the time was dry without any rain ( just the ground was still full of water and some parts very boggy and mudy ), here before the second Brother started light rain shower for a short time...
At 11:50 am reached the last summit, 4 Munros and one nice Corbett done...looking at the Five Sisters...big dillema now...would be nice to continue and add also the 3 Munros of the Sisters, but counting the time and thinking about the distance which need to drive back home, does not look suitable this day. If I had someone who is there with me, then could be easy get lift back by car and still get home in the good time, but my friends I asked they was busy with something else on the saturday ( mostly is problem to arrange the same free day off for a trip ) and the last bus I have found ( can stop at Cluanie Inn ) is going at 16:48 from Shiel Bridge...decision...decision..and a big dillema, risky, but still a chance to get the bus...If not chance to get the bus, there is about 25 km walk on the road back to the start point and in case of not any willing drivers who can pick me up it means another extra 4 hours after finish in the mountains...it would be so late then... Then started rain - light shower again and some clouds coming...and I remember the wet stones - difficult unsafe steps on, which makes you slow in walk and it made my decision - going down to the car park at A87 by the usual path between Five Sisters and The Brothers and try to stop some cars or walk on the road to the laybe where I left my car with spare time to get there.
I got down to the parking area at A87 safely, removed my waterproof jacket and put back into my rucksack as the rain shower stoped, then I started my walk on the road back to my car. I tried to stop some cars unsuccessfully while walking until I was lucky when some driver stopped later With many thanks and the some saved time I got back to my car and turned to the Cluanie Inn to splash the great day by one well deserved pint of Beer refreshed by some food I drove home full of great feelings from the day...just a little disappointed about the Five Sisters, but I found also some positive points on it: I will return back to the beautiful area to walk the Five Sisters and also select the limited amount of photos in one report will be easier from this trip and then from the separate trip to the Sisters than chose a little pictures from all of the mountains...and I guess there will be a beauty to catch by camera