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Like a silverback gorilla it looked, with the sunshine reflecting from it's quartsize greyish ridge, that has a bump looking like the shoulders of the ape standing at ease. Seeing the kolossus, I decided I would bag it next year.
I didn't know it's name yet, didn't know it's status either. But it looked impressive in May '17, driving back from a beautiful walk up and down Beinn Alligin and it's horns.
September '18 was a different story. Hard winds and low cloud reveiled little of what had appealed to me a year and a half ago. And then there was some physical discomfort (
https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=84278 ).
I didn't like sitting still in the youthhostel, so no matter the state of my foot ("it's fine" I said to myself, "two days of rest is moooore than enough", ignoring the mac 'n' cheese look the blister had by now), I decided to head into the hills again. Not from the north, Glen Torridon, southwards, as in my original plan, but from Achnashellach trainstation up, as per WH route.
The morning started with me giving a lift to a lady I met in the youthhostel to Beinn Alligin carpark, and then I made the more than enjoyable ride south, via Shieldaig and Lochcarron.
Walkhighlanders who know me a bit will know I love to complain. So heading of from the carpark, not only did my foot ofcourse hurt more than expected, I also, quite stupidly I laughingly will agree, missed the first turn to the left the path makes after a few hundred meters, which very soon resulted in me cursing, swearing and fighting my way through bog and forest, along a fence, trying to find out where I can get over the fence.
Until I was greeted by a black labrador who apparantly mistook my swearing for cheers of joy, as it was wagging it's tail like a fanatic. I saw it's owner a little further on, realised there was a path I must have missed, climbed the fence and joined on the path. Me having stopped swearing, the dog soon lost it's interest in me, and after a short chat with it's owner ("are you sure you're allright?", haha) I continued towards the goal/goals of the day.
I say goals, because my original plan included Fuar Tholl and Sgorr Ruadh, oh youth where are thou?
Anyway, to make a long story slightly shorter: strong galeforce winds blew over the ridge, making it hardgoing and difficult to balance. By the time I had reached the bealach between Beinn Liath Mhor and Sgorr Ruadh, I realised I wasn't going to make the other two summits, so I headed down into Coire Lair. Not finding any suitable wildcampspot, with the ground being soaked and almost floating no matter where I looked, a hurting foot and a growing concern over the gale force winds i.c.w the lady I left at Beinn Alligin, I decided to spend another two nights at the youthhostel.
I hope that through the clouds, the rain and a windshaken camera you'll still enjoy these photos: