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The weather looked stunning for the weekend needed to stretch the legs tick the book. Texted Doogz to enquire of his availability, but alas I was destined to be on my lonesome
Started work on Saturday at 5am, finished at 2pm headed home to pack the car and walk the dog. With Pearl Jam's lyrics-
Have a car, have some gas, gotta get out of here, get out of here fast, bouncing out the speakers I headed northwards. Booked a bed in the Rattigan Youth Hostel, lovely place with a nice view.
Woke up at 6am, caffeine intake and off to the car park under Faochag. Before getting out the car another walker arrived after driving up from Doncaster that night. Hi Robin
, we chatted for a couple of minutes. We were both doing the same Munros ,but in opposite directions
.
We parted company and I set off up Faochag, dressed for the nip in the air. It did not take long for me to de-layer due to the fact I was 'drookit' with sweat, it was going to be
scorchio.
It was a bit of a slog, and eventually the summit of Faochag was in sight
Tme for a rest ! Take a few photos, camera started playing silly beggers again. Changed batteries and tinkered a bit and hey presto;
Set off for Sgurr na Sgine, 'happy-happy,joy-joy', singing loudly and out of tune- who cares nobody heard me
The views are fabulous and will be better during the rest of the day I'm thinking to my self.
The heat was now starting to power up and the respite from it was more than welcome as I wound my way up the path to the sub top.
Across the ups and downs and there it was,
YES !254. What a beautiful place to be
More singing Pearl Jam -
Alive, I thought very apt indeed
Could have stayed there for ages ,time to head off. Marching onward to the drop off point for Bealach Coire Mhalagan, down some slippery rocks, on and off the path till the point between the two lochans. Refreshment break and struggle with camera again
, Finally in working order.
Up and off again with renewed vigour, spot a familiar figure coming down the path, Robin from the car park this morning
stood and talked for a wee while and on with the job.
Followed the path as it veered left , well under the wall at this point, in to the opening corrie under the Forcan Ridge. Decided to follow a line just left of the now snow covered wall.
The snow was deepening here and decided to head nearer the crags and steep moss/grass, after I was up to my 'sex pistols' in a hole
The view of the Forcan was awesome, will go back and do it one summer.
The moss was iced up and at this point It seemed resonable to elect for crampons. The snow wasn't as deep,but taking no chances with ice underneath. Climbing up pushing hard with the sun beating down began to take its toll. My thighs were screaming , no time for singing now
. Head down and push hard-
You are a machine ! Then a fantastic sight;
The necessary impetus required,
To the trig point and beyond , I had arrived
(well at the Trig)
Another refreshment stop and finish the job, a hop, a skip and a scramble and the summit, YES ! 255. Picture time, and you will have guessed that the photographic implement I had clipped to my waistband would not work. be better off with a hole in a bloody shoebox
I did not let it faze me(up here nobody heard me scream, well maybe the guys on the ridge i saw on my descent
)
Took the easy route out by the wall and the stalkers path. Guess what , met Robin again. he was a little wearier than the last time we met ,so the cold R*d b*ll (no advertising!) I offered him went down a treat. We shook hands and headed off.
