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After finally nailing down a place at a Walkhighlands meet, fate would have us bump into Tinman through the forum and a meet up with him was arranged to try and get a walk in on the road up the A9 to Torridon.
His plan was the Drumochter Munros of Beinn Udlamain and Sgairneach Mhor. Of course as you all know we`d had a glorious October up here but as we entered November and the meet up approached the skies had got a bit darker and with it, a bit wetter. We had checked the weather all week hoping it was going to get better, chasing round different websites for the best forecast, a bit of a common theme amongst us maddies I hear
We arrived at , what I know now to be, the infamous layby 79. I had just got out of the car to see Geoff`s approach, great timing. Jim and I had already made our minds up about abandoning this plan as although it wasn`t too bad at that moment we knew it was to get much worse. Geoff bounded out of his car , full of cheer and hearty handshakes were shared. I soon took the wind out of his sails, "Sorry mate, I know you`ve just drove up from Newcastle, but we`re bailing out" I said. He wanted to give it half an hour, but I told him we had a plan B, Fionn Bheinn at Achnasheen. He seemed ok about that. He followed us all the way up the road until we were approaching Achnasheen, when we realised he had disappeared from the rear view mirror.
We slowed down and crawled along the road looking for a layby that wasn`t hidden from the road until we saw his chrome grille shining in the sun rearing up behind us at great speed. He later told us he had to stop for a pee as he couldn`t hold it in any more !
- The road to Torridon
We arrived at the carpark at Achnasheen railway station and it was alright. Dry and pretty mild for a November morning. We set off across the road with only the Walkhighlands guide to follow, but it seemed a simple enough hill to do on a decent day. It`s a straightforward route,if a bit muddy, following the burn as far as you can really, until you come across more boggy areas where you tail off to the right and try to keep out of the bogs, Jim
As Jim went thigh deep in bog, we laughed and tried to avoid the steps he took and then took a lot more care jumping over and dancing around the soggiest bits. We headed towards Creagan na Laogh and just headed straight up to reach the ridgeline in front of us. As I said, straightforward but maybe more difficult if a foggy day as it`s quite flat all around. On our way up we got more aquainted with the Tinman and had a right laugh, a good guy
- looking back
- Me and Geoff cross the wet ground
The views were now beginning to come into view but so was the rain .It came on a bit heavy as we wrapped up and headed the short distance to the summit, but it didn`t last for long, and that helped us enjoy some time there.
- along the ridge
- on summit
We could see great mountain ranges in front of us , but could only guess at what they were and we were treated to a stunning rainbow.
- mountains
- clouds and mountains
- lochs and mountains
- Jim, Me and Tinman(Geoff)
We posed for pictures and Geoff did his little ritual that he does at the top of each Munro he completes. Which , like in the Masons, you need to be there to see it ! It`s ok Geoff, your secret is safe with us !
- letting out the rainbow
- Geoff, where`s George , Bungle & Zippy ?
- The Tinman at the end of the rainbow
We headed down off the hill quite happy with our lot and had some more laughs, happy with our little warm up to what was going to be a great weekend ahead.
Jim`s everytrail, which gives route info and many more photos.
http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=3247004