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Beinn Eighe (western summits)

PostPosted: Mon Sep 06, 2010 9:26 pm
by chaserjay
As every responsible mountaineer/hillwalker knows the right gear on the Scottish Mountains is highly recommended, and so say all of us. One should always consider the right and proper footwear.
I like a challenge though.
So for my hike up this spectacular Torridon Range, I decided to try out a pair of brand new Tesco walking shoes.
Cost £14.99.
I thought it ony right that I trail-test one of the lesser quality hiking shoes on the market. Of course, an additional reason for carrying out this trial, was the fact that on arriving in Inverness, after driving up from Grantown on Spey, I realised I had forgotten my walking boots. They were right at the front door, I put them there, so that when I walked out I would see them, I put them right there, no kidding!!!
Plonker!
Nobody said it, but I felt it.
I informed my friend, Nidhi, of the impromptu challenge.
It was our first outing together, since meeting earlier in the year at a Navigation Skills course at the Glen Affric Walking Festival.
Did they mention having to bring boots? I think they may have.

Anyway, we arrived at the Coire Mhic Fhearchair car park, on a beautiful end of Summer Saturday morning.

Within a half hour of being on the trail, I knew these boots were not made for walking, not on Torridon anyway.
Nancy Sinatra, she was great.
I had ventured out on this trail earlier in the year, on an April sunny day with my friend Maryann, but there was a fair depth of snow around the peaks, back then, so we settled for the magic of the Coire Mhic Fhearchair pools and singing of the trickling quartzite scree.
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Me and Nidhi eventually arrived at the base of the chute heading up to the bealach between the top and Coinneach Mhor.
We avoided the scree chute and we took the opportunity to scramble to the top, which was quite exhilerating.
I had by now discovered that the soles of my feet were mostly being padded by my walking socks. I was aware that the Tesco treads would probably struggle walking over a a terrain of Smarties, but with my nimble foot work I avoided as much tenderfoot impact from the rock, as possible.
The sun shone, and Nidhi and I embraced the sheer spectacle of where we were.
One can assume that by now and henceforth, my feet were much on my mind, but the annoyance of my bad choice of footwear mostly faded into insignifigance when my eyes were fixed upon the astounding landscape that we were surrounded by.
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We walked the two Munros contained therein on the Ben Eighe range. This was breathtaking ridge walking, scrambling and soft underfoot patches of grass all inclusive.
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The sun shone....on and on .

The descent was a trepidatious careful placing of all of our feet, not just mine.

I carried out my ritual submerging my hot hot tootsies, in the cool cool stream, taking in a dip of my head to calm down the firey bites from the early evening midgie attack parties. Nidhi done likewise.
At last we reached the wonderful flat tarmacadam road, and with a two kilometre hike back to our car, it was like winning the lottery when an a couple, more mature in years, stopped to offer us a lift in their unique old Volvo. How very very kind. I thank you.

My first outing with Nidhi was an awesome, inspiring, stimulating day. I think now he believes I have been up a mountain before?

The Tesco shoes?
Well, one could write a song about them.


Re: Beinn Eighe (western summits)

PostPosted: Mon Sep 06, 2010 10:13 pm
by LeithySuburbs
Ha! I walked Beinn Dearg (Atholl) in trainers a few years ago - not the same sort of ground but a helluva long walk. Looks a good day for you dispite the unconventional footwear :D .

Re: Beinn Eighe (western summits)

PostPosted: Thu Sep 09, 2010 9:38 am
by Salahuddin
I forgot my shoes once on a walk to the Falls of Glomach and had no choice but to wear trainers and after 10 minutes of walking we came up to a stream i slipped a little and both feet straight in...

The rest of the 4 hour journey was done to a rythmic squelch squelch noise which my mates were annoyed about and insisted i walk 20 yards behind them so that i not ruin the ambiance of the surroundings... :lol:

Oh and i hear you when you talk about the rocks under foot, OUCH especially on a decent its like walking barefoot on glass.

Re: Beinn Eighe (western summits)

PostPosted: Mon Sep 13, 2010 2:32 am
by mountain coward
I've done quite a few of the Lakes hills in trainers and found them pretty good actually - and they weren't expensive ones either. I think they're usually very well padded and the only time I don't like them is one scree or mud (in mud, as there are no cleats, they're very slippy). The 'hi' ones also usually have reasonable ankle support. Having said that, I've also done an awful lot of mountains in 'low' approach shoes and find them better on the knees as they let your ankles bend more so put less pressure on the knees going uphill and suchlike. As for we rock, it depends on the sole compound - some are grippy, most are not - but then you can probably say the same for walking boots!

Great pictures. You had a lovely day - wish we'd seen it when we did it!