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It had seemed like months since I was last out with my camera, I've been itching to get out and take some winter photos for weeks! The last few tips I have focused on the actual walk, but this time I wanted to focus on photography.
On Sunday night, I decided to go on a winter wild camp on the summit of Ben A'an in the Trossachs, Aberfoyle. As usual, I was in a mad rush and didn't arrive at the car park until 5pm. There is a diversion in place due to forestry work going on and an alternative route has been added starting from the Ben Venue car park.
I set off the very boggy path about 5:15pm and was worried I wouldn't get to the top before sunset. I wasn't feeling 100% fit due to having the cold, but I managed to make good progress and arrived at the summit just a shade after 6pm. The walk itself was pretty straight forward, there are plenty of signposts on the diversion and once out of the forest, there is a boulder staircase (quad killers) all the way to the top.
I quickly set up camp and managed to pitch my tent just as the sun had set: (quick phone snap)
By the time I had set up camp, the sun had set without event and it very quickly became bitterly cold. I set about making myself some dinner and quickly retired into the sleeping bag where I stayed for most of the night! It was a freezing cold night, easily bellow -5 and it even snowed a little. I had a terrible nights sleep and woke up every 30 minutes shivering, regretting my decision to camp and dreaming of my warm bed! (my bad nights sleep was due to a leaking sleeping mat, meaning I was sleeping virtually on the ground). I eventually got out my bed just after 5am, brewed up a hot chocolate and waited on the sun rising.
People ask me why I would want to spend the night in a tent, in winter, in the middle of nowhere when I have a house to stay in. I often wonder if they would understand if they too woke up to a view like this:
First light by
Steven Fergus, on Flickr
That image was taken just as the sun had started to rise bellow the horizon. Everything still looked very blue apart from the bright orange glow in the distance.
The sun continued to rise behind the mountains and light up the sky
Ben A'an Sunrise by
Steven Fergus, on Flickr
Once the sun was up, Ben Venue looked incredible
Ben Venue by
Steven Fergus, on Flickr
And finally looking back down towards the Loch
It was a beautiful morning but bitterly cold on the summit, I would've like to have spent more time taking photographs but my hands were numb! I made myself a coffee, packed up and had a lovely walk in the sunshine back to the car.
I definitely need to invest in a new sleeping mat!
