Walkhighlands

For many years I have wanted to climb Ben Wyvis as I see it almost every day. With my good woman away on hols with her sister I thought that there was no time like the present so after a hearty breakfast of porridge and a generous helping of sultanas it was off to the car park, arriving at about 11 am, 2 hours later than I had wanted.

Here's me on the wrong side of 55 and at the base of the hill with a good stock of food / water and a few bars of chocolate, an old pair of work boots, a jacket I thought was waterproof and a walking stick cut from an old apple tree branch.
The first part of the ascent went well and as I reached the start of the steeper part I wondered about the sanity of it all. Being a stubborn old git I soldiered on reaching the stone staircase / steps taking them a bout 10 at a time and stopping for a rest. Onwards and upwards and by now I was starting to meet people on their way down. "If u have reached this far u will manage the rest ok" said one chap.

The scenery was stunning and with Loch Glascarnoch away in the distance I continued upwards hoping that the weather would clear a little.
With Little Wyvis now below I new I was within reach of the summit but the old body was beginning to creak a little and I thought of doing an about turn when I reached An Cabar as the visibility was quite poor.

I had gone this far so why give up now I thought. How long to the summit? 20 minutes replied another couple on their downward journey. The visibility was not great but I carried on, suddenly the trig point loomed up and I had done it.
Stopping briefly for a bite to eat and make a phone call or two I set off on the downward journey. My left knee was beginning to give a little bother but my trusty stick saved the day.

The downward journey was slower than I anticipated reaching the carpark at 5.30 but it was all worth it. Now I will just have to suffer the aches and pains for a day or two.

Maybe I will do it again on a better day to get some good pics.

Excellent! Well done! Didn't realise there was stone-pitching up An Cabar

Hi Taxi....,
Excellent choice of Breaky

quote walking stick cut from an old apple tree branch.

Very innovative of you. Looking at that stick on the trig point, are you sure you didn't borrow that from harry potter

The climb up an Cabar looks quite steep from the map so no wonder you were a bit tired but after that it becomes easy walking. The aches and pains get less with each outing well done.

Excellent pictures of little Wyvis and the "staircase to hell"

hi there Taxi

Well done. Did you enjoy it enough to plan another trip?

jonny

Thanks for the positive comments folks.

I made a little mistake with the time as it took me 6.5 hours up and down including all stops.

My daughter was a little miffed that I did not ask her along so maybe I might have to do it all over again but a better pair of boots will be on the shopping list along with a good stick.

On the decent I was a little surprised to see just how steep it really was.

I doubt I'll be descending that way when I do it - partly 'cos I'm scared of steep descents, and partly 'cos I intend to do the whole ridge to the end and descend over Tom a' Choinnich and walk back underneath the the start path...

You're not a taxi driver are you? (just looking at your monicker on here)...

Yep. Spend all day sitting on my backside, possibly the laziest job in the world.

that makes it ever better that you've started going up the hills then!

taxi3528 wrote:and as I reached the start of the steeper part I wondered about the sanity of it all. Being a stubborn old git I soldiered on r

I think most regular users on here can sympathise with these thoughts! Well done Taxi. Excellent will power and perseverence.

Yeah - there's always a part on every Munro on the way up where I question what I'm doing... I keep reminding myself of my mantra - "There's no such thing as an easy Munro!"

were any of they phone calls for a taxi?? many a time when completing an ascent my body has been begging for a lift back to the car! great effort.
go on start planning your next challenge this is how the bug starts....

You better not be an Edinburgh cabbie . U-turning, signal shy barstewards

LeithySuburbs wrote:You better not be an Edinburgh cabbie . U-turning, signal shy barstewards

I see not much has changed in the last ten years then......

Nope, not Auld Reekie, just good old Inverness. Left my taxi at the bottom of the hill so I got a free ride home. Just mulling over the next one, thinking about going Aviemore but my sister inlaw wants to do the big daddy at Ft. Wm. when they are up here later in the month.

Well done on the walk...if you are thinking of doing the biggy the tourist route is enough to put anyone off.. Lots to do around Cairngorms and scenery can be awsome. good luck on the walks and the more you do the easier it will become....although as said previously there are no really easy munros.