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Challenges, challenges.......I love them !!!
Getting new experiences, discovering own abilities...possibilities...testing the borders - limits if any...overcoming obstacles, learning from mistakes...it all can makes you stronger physically and mentally...it all moves you ahead to higher goals & targets, sometimes smoothly and sometimes harder, but there is a good point: You can't loose, because even in an unsuccessful case YOU ALWAYS GET A LESSON
Every harder reached achievement is more appreciated then and will stay in memories for a long time.
That's one way how to get unforgettable experience...but there is also another way how to keep an experience in your memories: Get a great day ! A clear day in the mountains with beautiful views around...a day full of mountain's feelings
I did The Three Peaks Challenge with my brother in 2014:
http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=49376
- Snowdon summit - the last top of the Three Peaks Challenge
I completed my own personal challenge - to climb Ben Nevis each month in a Year:
http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=51335
- Ben Nevis via CMD - April 2015
- Ben Nevis - December 2014
and hope some more still to do
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I love to climb mountains all year in any weather conditions. I faced gales, total whiteouts, heavy snow, ice, freezy conditions or rain, wetness & fog ( the glass of whisky taste well always after )
...but some areas I will always try to get in a good, clear day to enjoy & catch the beauty.
If there is not good forecast for most of the places and I have the opportunity to goout, then I prefer to walk some grassy hills with no special views around and keep the nicer ones for a clear day...
Torridon is definitely one of the places I want always to go when the chance of clear views is high.
Finally my 2 days off on the following weekend ( 30.4.-1.5. ) It offers more - wider possibilities to do something far away or more mountains in one route - it offers longer day in the mountains.
As the day is closer I'm keeping watching the weather forecast every day and by the way I saw that the next weekend does not look promising for views and I have not many more free weekends - often working on weekends and using my days off for hillwalking during short week days
It was saturday 23.4.2016, I got home afternoon after work and I started think about Torridon on the following day - sunday 24.4.2016 as the weather forecast looked great for that day: sunshine, visibility, no wind !
Torridon was one of more options along with Kintail, Cairngorms and Assynt
But...!!! the sunday was my one and only day off after working the days before...early starts...no rest...then monday back to work for another week with early morning's starts...the sunday was the one and only day to rest and to try get recovered as I was sick @ one week, but still going to work and using medicine - antibiotics !
After checking the forecast again I was focusing how to manage Torridon by all the negative circumstances which I changed to the big one positive: The big chance of views in such a beautiful place !
I prepared some routes, usefull info etc. and also plan B and C just in case...prepared most of my outdoor stuff and finally got to bed around 22:15 ( a long saturday since I woke up at 3:15 am to work ). Alarm set for 00:30 as I wanted leave home @ 02:00 am to be able get to Torridon area, climb two Munros there and then get back home in an reasonable time to prepare for early start at work on monday
Driving time just under or around 4 hours one way.
I am a Old school man - I believe that if you want get something then you must give something...a sacrifice if need !
...and I believe in the power of mountain's healing !
I was really looking forward to go, not sure if I slept at least the two hours...
Woke up at 00:30 I prepared my food for the way incl. fresh porridge and I checked the weather again.
Always checking the weather up to last mins. even morning before trips...ready with plan B and C to make the final decision...sometimes changing the destination where to go in the morning by the current weather to get maximum chance of success
It means to be flexible, ready with another option & also to improvize sometimes even during way...
Hard to join me for a trip
I was lucky on my previous trips there to Beinn Eighe: ( night start at 01:00 am )
http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=55463
and also Beinn Alligin: ( started at 02:15 am )
http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=57317
I trusted the forecast...with a big hope...but some worries during my way as it was snowing on the road between Pitlochry and Inverness
I arrived in the Achnashellach car park around 06:00 am, wet and misty conditions...no views from the innitial way.
I had some doubts and almost regreted if it was really the right decision...
But climbing the first ascent of Beinn Liath Mhor I got the higher level where all the views open for me Really great feelings and happiness !!!
I really enjoyed great day in the mountains, despite all the sacrifice, long driving, sickness and antibiotics I felt fresh and happy !
From my previous trips I loved An Teallach...I loved Aonach Eagach...Blaven...Glencoe mountains, Ring of Steall, Ben Hope, Torridon mountains before and many more.......but this trip I lived my mountain's dream in Torridon that day !!! Very happy and gratefull...
I know, nothing is for free, the sacrifice, no sleep, long driving no rest...etc. it is the price I will always happy to pay for day like this !
P.S. It was hard and difficult to chose from over 400 photos !
02:03 am - started from home, looking forward to spend another day in the mountains ! Despite the lack of sleep in last a few days, the drive was comfortable...listening music in the night silence, thinking about a lot of things and full of expectation of the oncoming day.
It was snowing between Pitlochry and Inverness, temperature changed between minus 1 - plus 6 degrees of Celsius, but wet roads there after. The almost 4 hours in the car took quicker than I expected and after meeting deers on the road several times I arrived safely just before 06:00 am.
Achnashellach car park, empty early morning...wet, wet, wet and not sure about the views
But determined, started my walk shortly after 06:00 am via the Achnashellach train station throught the forest. There is a junction short distance after crossing the railway, need to turn left a follow the forest track...there is a gate later.
First open view, but without a view ! The mist and the visibility made me worried about the day.......in such a beautiful area and can't see around ?!
Here suppose to be Fuar Tholl ahead !!!
Misty all the time, but some hill-shapes visible sometimes around gave me the hope
Started climb the ascent of Beinn Liath Mhor and it was nice to see more and more with every step up...
Sunrise and nice inversion from the higher level
...and I started believe that the day will be finally great and I will probably enjoy some views
Fuar Tholl, the Corbett looks great !!!
The 1st top - one of the three main tops of Beinn Liath Mhor on the East side
The ridge ahead...great views towards Torridon. Liathach and Beinn Eighe in the background
Fuar Tholl on the left and Sgorr Ruadh ( the 2nd Munro and my next target of the day ) on the right
Looking back towards the 1st top
Towards North-East
Looking ahead
All the Torridon giants ahead in the background
The ridge, the Glen, Sgorr Ruadh and the connection...
Another view of Sgorr Ruadh and Fuar Tholl
The ridge and some obstacle on the way...fresh snow , ice and stones...rock made the walk more interesting
Looking back against the sun
Another view back towards the first top, nice inversion still there...
Towards North-East again
...and towards West
inversion moved...hiding the mountains ahead
Another descent done
Towards South-West
Looking back again...the sun made it beautiful !
More clouds on the North now...
...and more cloud also on the East
The summit ahead
Sgorr Ruadh - the view of colours in the mist
Beinn Liath Mhor summit
Liathach closer...but hidden in the clouds
Summit self-timer selfie
Descending the summit
Looking to Sgorr Ruadh summit over the Glen...my next target
Clearer view...
Still on the descent...
...and further in the lower level
View of the Glen
...and once again
Descending here - the way down
Descended this
Sgorr Ruadh from the bottom
The view of the Glen
Maol Chean-dearg looks great
Towards Sgorr Ruadh
Maol Chean-dearg and An Ruadh-Stac
Towards Torridon...
Ascending the rocky Sgorr Ruadh
Beinn Liath Mhor - all the ridge and tops
Higher and higher...closer to the summit
Some scramble necessarry...Maol Chean-dearg and An Ruadh-Stac in the background
Towards Torridon - getting clearer
Liathach in the background
Final part to the summit
Beinn Liath Mhor over the Glen
Views from the summit of Sgorr Ruadh
Fuar Tholl from Sgorr Ruadh
...and again - closer from the lower level
The way back to the car park...
Beinn Liath Mhor from the South - all the ridge and tops clearly visible
a view over the water
Sgorr Ruadh on the left and Beinn Liath Mhor on the right from the South-East
Looking back towards Fuar Tholl and Sgorr Ruadh
Nice path in the forest along the water...
Looking back - clear view towards Fuar Tholl, something different from the morning