Munro Summit Camp

[wilkiemurray]

Video:

Carn Liath Wild camp

In this spring and summer of rain and colder conditions , a few days opened up where a strong southerly air flow was providing us with a glimpse of what could be- a few days of temperatures over 16 degrees centigrade!!!
I suppose we cant have it all, after last years fabulous weather, we couldn’t possibly expect two years of good summery weather;)

With the forecast few days of good weather, I immediately started to think of a summit camp as I hadn’t done one since my camp in balmy conditions in February (in fact that weather spell had been more summery than most of the summer!!!). Having done numerous camps in Glencoe I decided I wanted something different and not too far away as time was short, so I decided on Carn Liath on the Beinn a’ Ghlo mountain range.

Leaving the car late into the afternoon I took a stroll up the short approach before starting the climb up Carn Liath. Path renovation work is currently being carried out to try and protect the mountain a little and I stopped for a while to chat to the workers putting this in place.

Further up the hill and the wind was whistling in from the south. It was certainly stronger than forecast I was a little apprehensive that it would be even stronger on the summit. However as I had been up here numerous time on day trips I was pretty sure I’d be able to find a sheltered spot somewhere close to the top.

Before long I was relieving my shoulders and dropping my rucksack at the summit cairn. The weather was good but the wind was still blowing so I set about looking for somewhere a little sheltered to pitch up. Luckily , just beyond the summit the lee of the slope gave me some shelter and I set camp.

Beinn a Ghlo by Scotland's Mountains, on Flickr

layers by Scotland's Mountains, on Flickr


With longer hours of day light I Ioitered around the summit taking photos and enjoying myself  I was really hopeful for a nice sunset but around 8pm the cloud filled everything to grey  rather appropriate for Carn Liath, the peak of the grey rock!

Disappointed at no glorious sunset, I retired to the tent, set the alarm for an hour before sunrise (early!) and caught a few hours sleep.

The disappointment of the prior evening was blown away (literally) the next morning as I was treated to a cracking sunrise  The wind was still blowing but it was a warm wind so I was enjoying watch the skies turn from pink to orange and finally yellow and blue as the sun rose into the sky 

summit camp sunrise by Scotland's Mountains, on Flickr

sunrise over Perthshire by Scotland's Mountains, on Flickr

sunrise cairn by Scotland's Mountains, on Flickr

dawn by Scotland's Mountains, on Flickr

A fabulous morning and I was on my way back to the car before 8am and home before 10am- a grand wee adventure and so glad I made the effort as the following months showed no signs of more summer weather!!