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So time again to organise what has become the traditional 2nd January walk. Basic requirements are not to taxing, close to Central belt and near a pub for late lunch afterwards. Lots of people claiming to be up for it and one friend, whom I last walked with 66 Munros ago, phoned and asked do you still go out on the 2nd?
Weather watch did not go well, torrential rain and high winds on the 1st resulted in a few call offs and some messages of good luck and be careful for tomorrow.
We all know the weather is very changeable, but as Dell boy once said 'fortune favours the brave Rodney''
So as the six of us sat in the green welly having a little breakfast snack and watching the snow blizzard outside with chat about buying a board game and staying put I uttered my usual motivational line 'trust me it'll be fine'.
As we drove past the black mount the summits were clear and we turned the corner to see a snow caped Bookle in all its brooding winter glory.
Parked up and ready to go later than anticipated we set of and after about ten paces we were in a blizzard. It only lasted five minuets and was the only one we experienced.
As we climbed the views got better and better in as I said before in a brooding way. Glencoe, Mamores and many others all there to behold.
Snow line about 600 meters, not much over wet grass. As we climbed the wind got stronger giving us a wee push and occasionally loosing site of each other in the spindrift. At the summit the wind was quite strong so a quick photo or seven and then we headed for the Kinghouse to keep the wind behind us.
One dodgy ice patch professionally negotiated by my pals while I wobbled about like a complete fanny.
From the base of the hill to the Kinghouse was pretty wet but no worse than usual I believe.
Too much malarkey earlier on in the day meant we didn't leave a car at the Kinghouse so a wee jaunt back up the road nearly resulting in loss of several limbs due to camper-van wing mirrors.
Top fun made funnier by the crap service in the Claichag and them trying to clear the place by stinking it up with dodgy fumes from the fire. Food was tasty though.
- Ready to go
- Summit