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Forecast checked and decided that Sunday was the day to get back out and try to bag another Munro or two, having considered what I thought my knee might be up to, and ideas from friends, Ben Lawers via Beinn Ghlas was the decision and how glad am I it was!
Arrived at the car park, paid the (voluntary) £2 donation to park and was about to start off towards the lovely nature trail until my wife spotted our first wild beast! (Any Lepidopterist's out there know its name?)
- The beast of Ben Lawers
Anyway - sun was shy but rain was off somewhere else so we hiked on in earnest glad to be back out in the wild and away from work and the city. After the initail graduall hike in through the nature reserve we began the fairly indistict inital ascent (apart from the views!) . Beinn Ghlas becomes fairly steep faily early on but the path is fine (well preserved!) and we were soon on our way and meeting some folk on the way down (and up ) - reminded me again that I truly believe you meet the nicest, most polite, good natured people (and dogs) on hills! .
We ascended a little slowly to be honest, still getting hill fit, but made not bad time to the craggy final ascent of Ghlas - just in time to almost be blown over the edge by a 30mph gust.. this was the start of things to come
- My intrepid and patient wife Sam
Still no sun but the wind was keeping us nicely "air conditioned".
- Looking East to Loch Tay on ascent
We then realized why this Munro is so popular the view down to Loch Tay and across the ridge to Lawers is truly spectacular .. after a quick look we set off down towards the ridge that looked narrow at a distance but soon became a wide motorway of a path. As we stepped onto it tyhe sun broke out in all its glory and we couldn't help but cheer and grin like idiots, camera out for the usual snaps
A lovely passing Canadian on her todd offered to take one of both of us - a rarity!
- On the ridge looking west to Meall Nam Maigheach
- Sam and I in our element
- Sam sets off to bag Ben Lawers
We reached the base of the next top (Ben Lawers ) where the lower path meets the ridge path and after shooting the breeze (gale) with some folks we headed upwards.
If im honest the going was becoming tough - we're pretty fit but the legs were not enjoying it to as we reached the flat area below the summit we eagerly broke out the sarnies (my wife makes a mean hearty sarnie) and rested our legs for a bit .
Onwards from here and up the steep craggy final ascent, last couple of hundred feet were tough .. legs were heavy but the final push was done as a skip - mountain goat style as I got my second wind! (see what I did there)
- Cairn at the summit looking NE
Summitted into a what felt like a 50mph wind that almost pushed me up and over the top but we got our pics (at 45 degree angle) , took in the astounding views .. considered headed on to An Stuc but decided as planned to come back down and follow the low path back to the car.
- Beinn Ghlas had now lost its top to cloud!
As I have been suffering a VERY painful IT band issue in my knee this was the moment of truth , usually as soon as I have gone 5 step on descent it kicks in like a knife but..5,10,50... 1000 and nothing!! WOOHOO! im cured
The physio and exercises paid off!
And I can realize my new passion sfor hills..a great relief I tell you!
Great day , great pictures and no pain - Happy Hillwalker!