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At last the pain is gone - Little Wyvis

At last the pain is gone - Little Wyvis


Postby dogplodder » Sat Aug 18, 2012 4:45 pm

Route description: Little Wyvis, near Garve

Corbetts included on this walk: Little Wyvis

Date walked: 16/08/2012

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I've posted before about the memorable day in August 2010 when my friend Moira (gizmogirl) broke her ankle in the Cairngorms and was air-lifted to hospital. Her ankle was dislocated and broken in three places requiring manipulation, surgery to reconstruct with metal plates and screws and 8 days in hospital. :o

Recovery was sufficient to climb several hills last summer but never without pain. Then a stumble on a step fractured bones in the same foot as the ankle. :shock: This enforced more rest but still the pain in the ankle continued so it was finally decided to remove the metalwork. This was done 12 weeks ago and when the surgeon was in there he found a torn tendon. The tendon was repaired but it meant another plaster cast and hopping around on crutches while it healed. It was frustrating to see the long daylight days pass without getting out into the hills. :? Finally, after lots of flat walking, the physio said Moira could try a small hill! Great excitement - what should we do? We're not sure what the physio had in mind when she said "small hill" but we thought "Corbett" and more specifically Little Wyvis - wee brother to Ben Wyvis our local Munro. :wink:

We didn't leave the Ben Wyvis car park until noon but this was to our advantage as the weather was better in the afternoon. We chatted to a couple of Polish girls climbing Ben Wyvis for the first time, crossed the wooden bridge over the Allt a' Bheallaich Mhoir and followed the excellent path up its north bank through aspen, birch and rowan until we reached conifer level. For the first hour we walked in rain but it didn't dampen our spirits. The heather was in full bloom. :D

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An Cabar - south west top of Ben Wyvis
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The path looking back
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Moira with shoulder of Little Wyvis behind
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Nearing the point to cross the Allt a' Bheallaich Mhoir
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We decided to cross at this point to find out if the ankle would cope with the rough hillside and if it didn't we wouldn't have so far to come back.

Faint path follows fence line up to ridge
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The going was soggy and whenever we were out of the breeze we were under sustained midge attack so it was a fair test for one's first hill in 11 months! :(

View of eastern Fannichs from climb to ridge
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Conical shape of Fionn Bheinn on left
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Moira found the climb tough - due more to general lack of stamina than any problems with ankle
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From the small cairn where we reached the ridge there was a vehicle track contouring the hill to the south west. Moira suggested we keep climbing in south easterly direction but I thought it would be easier to follow the contouring track, which is what we did. Moira was right and I was wrong as the track was waterlogged in so many places we were off the track more times than we were on it! :silent:

On a drier part of the track
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But it did give some lovely views west. :D

View south west to Loch Luichart
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Loch Glascarnoch and Beinn Dearg hills
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The track turned back on itself in a north easterly direction and very soon we spotted the summit cairn of LIttle Wyvis. Shortly before the summit the dogs found a deer carcase which they thought was their Sunday dinner so had to go on lead to save them throwing up later in the car. :sick: :lol:

Well done Moira - after a run of injuries and surgical procedures a lesser mortal would have given up! :clap:
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Ben Wyvis behind
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South east to Dingwall, Cromarty Firth and beyond to Inverness
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East up the Cromarty Firth towards Invergordon
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We followed the path north east along the top of Little Wyvis until we reached a point parallel to the small cairn we climbed up to earlier. An option was to extend the walk by turning south east here to walk round the back of the hill but we decided for the recovering ankle's sake to quit while we were ahead and return by the outward route.

Heading north towards Ben Wyvis
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We managed to follow the path more easily on the descent and apart from lathering ourselves in Skin so Soft there was no real difficulty. Note to self - the midge is capable of penetrating clothing and biting parts of one's anatomy they have no business getting to! :cry: The poor dogs were covered with them and were glad to reach the burn for a refreshing swim.

Bliss
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Careful crossing
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Looking back up the path during the descent
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Little Wyvis from below
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This is the first time since the accident Moira has climbed a hill without pain from her ankle! :clap: We are delighted with this progress and are planning another walk next week. :D

The sky above Ben Wyvis taken later from my house
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Re: At last the pain is gone - Little Wyvis

Postby gammy leg walker » Sat Aug 18, 2012 7:37 pm

Glad to hear the pain has now gone,looking forward to reading about bigger walks you may have planned.
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Re: At last the pain is gone - Little Wyvis

Postby Johnny Corbett » Sat Aug 18, 2012 8:29 pm

A brave choice to do Little Wyvis after 11months out and with a recovering ankle, it's a tough wee climb on very uneven terrain. Well done :)
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Re: At last the pain is gone - Little Wyvis

Postby gizmogirl » Sat Aug 18, 2012 10:00 pm

It was a great day on Little Wyvis. I can't begin to tell you how pleased I am that I got up and down this hill with no pain in the ankle and particularly that it coped with uneven ground, heather, bogs and a river crossing! The big challenge now, along with building up ankle strength, is to build up my stamina and fitness so that it's not such a struggle in other ways! Dogplodder has been an absolute star over the last two years since the accident, encouraging me not to hang up my boots and being patient with my slow pace. Looking forward to lots more hills with her (and of course Jack and Tess!)
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Re: At last the pain is gone - Little Wyvis

Postby monty » Sun Aug 19, 2012 8:56 am

Great report ladies. Love the purple color of the mountain due to the heather. Well done on getting back out and good news that the ankle is recovering. :D
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Re: At last the pain is gone - Little Wyvis

Postby dogplodder » Sun Aug 19, 2012 2:31 pm

gammy leg walker wrote:Glad to hear the pain has now gone,looking forward to reading about bigger walks you may have planned.


Thanks Gammy. We were thinking of Creise and the other one in Glencoe for Wednesday but forecast not too good. :? If we drive all that way we need the views! :D
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Re: At last the pain is gone - Little Wyvis

Postby mrssanta » Sun Aug 19, 2012 9:28 pm

so glad to hear of the ankle's recovery hope it continues and never gives a further moment's trouble.
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Re: At last the pain is gone - Little Wyvis

Postby dogplodder » Mon Aug 20, 2012 10:20 am

Johnny Corbett wrote:A brave choice to do Little Wyvis after 11months out and with a recovering ankle, it's a tough wee climb on very uneven terrain.


I'm thinking the Aonach Eagach next? :lol:
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Re: At last the pain is gone - Little Wyvis

Postby dogplodder » Mon Aug 20, 2012 10:23 am

gizmogirl wrote: Looking forward to lots more hills with dogplodder (and of course Jack and Tess!)


Can't wait! :D
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Re: At last the pain is gone - Little Wyvis

Postby dogplodder » Mon Aug 20, 2012 10:27 am

monty wrote:Great report ladies. Love the purple color of the mountain due to the heather. Well done on getting back out and good news that the ankle is recovering. :D


Thanks Monty. It's been a difficult time and we're so relieved the ankle is now pain free. :D
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Re: At last the pain is gone - Little Wyvis

Postby basscadet » Mon Aug 20, 2012 11:38 am

Those pics you got are superb! Wyvis used to be my local hill too, so its grand to be reminded of the bonny views you can get from this area :)
Must be a great feeling to be back out on the hills with an obviously much loved walking buddy.. Thats cheered me right up to hear :clap:
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Re: At last the pain is gone - Little Wyvis

Postby kath098 » Mon Aug 20, 2012 5:37 pm

Well done, Moira. :clap: What a stunning view from your house, Kathleen.
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Re: At last the pain is gone - Little Wyvis

Postby dogplodder » Mon Aug 20, 2012 9:35 pm

mrssanta wrote:so glad to hear of the ankle's recovery hope it continues and never gives a further moment's trouble.


Thanks Mrs S!
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Re: At last the pain is gone - Little Wyvis

Postby dogplodder » Mon Aug 20, 2012 9:39 pm

basscadet wrote:Must be a great feeling to be back out on the hills with an obviously much loved walking buddy..


It was the best! :D
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Re: At last the pain is gone - Little Wyvis

Postby dogplodder » Mon Aug 20, 2012 9:40 pm

kath098 wrote:What a stunning view from your house, Kathleen.


Still can't believe we've got this view - and it changes all the time.
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