Super Spectre Saturday

[tomyboy73]

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Woke up saturday morning, after a few sherbets on friday night, before the alarm went off (this is a first) and walked zombie-like into the kitchen, kettle on, bread in the toaster, through to the living room and switched on the p.c. I could see it was a beautiful day anyway, but checked the weather for crianlarich area, lovely. I really did try to stay in bed for all of....20 seconds, I couldn`t help it, I just felt drawn to the hills, I am an addict. After tea and toast I crept back into the bedroom and whispered (more like mumbled) in my dearly beloved`s ear, " I`m just nipping out to the shops to get a couple of things" and then very quickly, "...then i`m goin hillwalking"
Within an hour I was on my way, with Ben Challum my goal for today. I parked the car on the layby at the WHW crossing on the A82 taking me down towards the River Fillan. Across the bridge and towards the remains of St Fillan`s priory, and fallowing the very excellent WH guide took a sharp exit behind the first, old cemetry and by the 2nd, newish one, up to the level crossing over the train track.

railway

Note; do use this crossing, i met a couple of guys on the hill who had gone up the hill a longer way and by the way the spoke i think they were put off by the signs.

crianlarich hills

Anyway, back on track, don`t follow the landrover trail to the left but just walk straight into the bracken and head for the deer fence up to the right. As the WH report states , this is very boggy and my new lined craghoppers were wet n dirty before i knew it, so the gaiters stayed in my bag, might as well christen the new breeks. It was a really nice day and as i started to make height the sweat was running off me, so the jacket got bagged and how I longed for a pair of shorts. I had great views around me but the walk was a labourious bogfest and i took the opportunity to follow a stream up the hill which looked like it had a craggy top to it. I walked up by this till i got to the top and had a little scramble over the rocks, the only hands on climb of the day. Eventually i could see people coming down from the first top and as i did the cloud started to come in, with a little bit of rain. At least the ground below me was a bit better now, the meandering rocky, path snaking up the hill didn`t at least try to suck my boots off. The fence posts all the way up are not pretty but at least they provide safety in the cloud or fog. I followed these uphill and spoke to more walkers on the way down, the last two telling me how lucky i was having the place to myself. I stopped at the false summit cairn for some nosh and wrapped myself up a bit. I was now completely covered in cloud. A wee bit of compass practice time. I followed my compass over towards the summit and this led me to a wee ridge, which i thought was great and the clouds began to clear and i could see the true summit hill before me. what i could also see before me pleased my very much. My shadow grew longer as the sun burst behind and i could see the clouds forming down below me. Broken spectre time ! I`ve had a couple before but this one was brilliant, the rainbow rings seemed to pulse as the clouds moved by.

spectre 1

spectre 2

summit spectre

I had long given up on my camera which is a bit tempremental these days and just watched it for a few seconds. Eventually i got both my phone and camera out and managed to get some pictures.
There was also great views around as the clouds drifted in and out and come 3 oclock i decided it was best to head down before dark.

ben more

clouds

cairn

hills

sunset

[tomyboy73]

Got back to the car just before dark

[pollyh33]

Cracking report Tommy

Much better day than when I did it....rubbishy driechy bog weather


I'm a wee bit worried that Alien Spectre guy has followed you all the way to the summit


PS did you remember to bring in milk and rolls?

[lomondwalkers]

Sooberb Tomyboy!! Love the broken spectre shots, can't wait til I get one of my own What a great weekend we had for walking!

[Fudgie]

Having experienced a broken spectre for the first time at the weekend I know just how much fun you'll have had with it. Looks like there were a record number at the weekend going by the reports on here