Beinn Eighe (western summits)
Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2010 9:26 pm
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.