Hello again to you all, I joined the site about a year ago, as I was interested and flirted with the idea of doing the 3 peaks challenge. So came across this site, and a great site it is too. I had done snowdon, during my army years, but thats really about it for hill climbing. Why the 3 peaks challenge entered my life, I dont know. I work out of Inverness and every day I see Ben Wyvis, on the drive to and from work. I kept threatening to get up the thing. However, after an injury during the Baxters 10K, that was all shelved.
Then this year after a few false starts, training and fitness wise, I have finally got my head in the right place, with weight dropping and fitness getting better by the week, I decided that the time was right, and last thursday I climbed my first MUNRO : Ben Wyvis.
At first I was a bit apprehensive about the whole thing, not done this before, and being on my own ( apart from the dog ), and trying to remember what very little map reading skills I can remember from my army days, but that was over 20 years ago that I last looked at a map and compass in anger.
I know that Ben Wyvis isnt the hardest of Munros, especially if you go up the footpath, but its a start, and the most important thing I think is that I ( and the dog ), had a really great day. As far as I know the dog did.
Here`s the thing. The mist came in pretty thick and at the trig, spent 5 mins giving the dog water, a quick bite to eat, sorted myself out and satrted to head back. For some reason, god knows how or why, I sarted to follow iron posts that I saw on the way up. When I came out of the mist, or low cloud, which ever it was, it turned out, that I came out on the other side of Ben Wyvis, I knew then that I was wrong, as I live in Invergordon, and saw damned cromorty firth and oil rigs.
I tried to get back to where I was, by following those damned iron poles, and got lost again. I gave up, and turned back, and headed down Ben Wyvis, to what I believed to be Strathpeffer, through forest,onto what I think was a forestry commision track. Down onto a the railway track, through someones back garden, and into Strathpeffer. Once in Strathpeffe, got the other half to come and collect me, and drop me off at the carpark so as I can drive home.
I can hear all you lot laughing, dont blame you.
God knows how far I trekked that day, apart from getting lost, I was chuffed att the sense of achievement of completing my first Munro.
My issue now is to gain experience in map reading and compass skills, I cant do with getting lost again, especially in places I dont know. Is there the possiblility of going out with one of you fine gents at one point, and maybe gain the basics of map reading ? I know that sounds a wee bit cheeky, if you dont ask you dont get.
