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The order of the day today, after a hearty breakfast of eggs on toast, was a wee jaunt up Mount Blair. I was meant to be up Glen Shee Sunday passed with a group I’m joining, but having just finished the night shifts a couple of days before and not being able to turn my body clock around, it would have been unsafe and very unwise to walk on only an hour’s sleep!
The road up Glen Isla was pretty good and well clear of snow. Parked up at 15404 64209 in a lay by.
Headed back along the B951 road towards a wooden gate on the right just past the trees leading on to the hill. After going through the gate I had only gone a short way to find myself sinking into the biggest bog and soggy snow so decided to sludge my way back to the road to head along and find a different gate to go through where the ground was a lot firmer.
Went through a metal gate at 16335 64611, and with Mez now off her lead, we headed on up towards Mount Blair.
The ground was hard with some ice patches. There was still snow dotted around here and there and roughly a foot deep in some parts. However, it was quite compact and easy enough to walk on. Like walking on firm crunchy marsh mellows. I didn’t need my spikes for even where the ice lay on the path, I skirted around it easily enough.
About half way up, there’s a long fence which appeared from my left with another metal gate at 16308 63750. I wasn’t sure whether to go through or carry on up on this side as the fence seemed to head in roughly the direction I wanted to go but after a compass/map check, it seemed best to go through.
From this point it became slightly more icey but the going was still good and not too steep.
After a total of an hour’s climbing, we reached the summit.
Some views from the top.
Mez (Long name - Merry)
After exploring and a quick slurp of coffee, we headed home.
Mount Blair, a sweet hill...