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One nemesis down

One nemesis down


Postby apollo0815 » Tue May 23, 2017 11:37 pm

Route description: Stac Pollaidh ridge and circuit

Fionas included on this walk: Stac Pollaidh

Date walked: 10/05/2017

Time taken: 3 hours

Distance: 4 km

Ascent: 500m

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I have been to Assynt quite often(for a german....). The first time was in 1998, as a student, returning frequently until 2008, then there was a break due to lack of money and time.
Quite often I have been at the foot of Stac Pollaidh, always finding a reason not to do it. Bad weather, not sure the dogs can do it, my wife has a mild form of vertigo, she always gets wobbly knees , when walking down steep places, this can even happen on spiral staircases.

Not this time though, my wife was at home, the dogs too.( and yes the 14.5 year old male could not do this anymore.)
my company was my mother and my aunt. Since there is a made path, this should't be a problem.
We planned this ascent for May 9th, since would be coming up from Lochcarron on our way to Lochinver.
And when we finally arrived, in glorious weather about 2 p.m. on that day...........................the car park was full, some of the passing places already blocked. We decided to go on, and try the next day, early on.

At least looking was possible, after the right corner in the direction of Lochinver.

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A closer look, I have always thought, that it is looking very intimidating, as if it would crumble down, right on your head.
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For the 9th, we drove on, visiting another "old friend" Achmelvich Beach, with the Hermit's Castle.
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Some lambs were very relaxed, enjoying the sunshine on a rock, others were obviously laughing at me.
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In the evening we went to the Lochinver Larder and got stuffed with food. Citing a lady from a neighbourig table who had ordered a starter and was staring at her newly delivered plate in disbelief: THAT is a light bite??????

Okay next morning, waking up at 6 a.m., looking out of the window-> rain ....oh no.
It dried up until breakfast, but while we were passing Quinag, driving down to Stac Pollaidh, my aunt commented: Look, all the tops are in the clouds......
No no no, no more excuses. I was hoping, since Stac Polly is 200 m lower than for example Spidean Coinich, that it would work out ok. When arriving at the STac, there was only a light cloud crown on top. So, gear up and out on the quite excellent path.

Still hiding his head.
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There was an eerie light about, quite strange. A view over the Loch to Sgorr Tuath.
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The clag is lifting from the ridgeline
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Very in style for Scotland,
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At the point where the path splits up in the circuit and the ridgeline, we were orvertaken by some germans, who "just wanted to take the dog for a stroll for half an hour". The four legged friend was hopping happily up the steps, I was quite envious:)
The ladies opted for the circuit route, I was adamant that I wanted to go up

A bit of history on me:
I never stopped walking during the last years, but suffering from undetected sleep apnea until 2012, I was for some time just "functioning", working, having a nap after that, which got longer and longer over the years. working again. I was never lightweight, but through this and because I stopped smoking some years earlier, I went rather "blobby". This is in check now, and as I said I never stopped walking so I haven't turned into a "couch potato", and had a lot of muscles left. Still, If you want to imagine me, walking around here, just think of maybe Dooterbang, wearing a frontal baby carrying harness, with Jaxter sitting inside, strolling up a mountain:)
Sorry for that image, if any of you two reads this:)

That is what I am trying to do. This leads to one severe problem. The muscles are strong enough, but lung and heart never seem good enough to get the needed oxygen down:) So, while walking up the path to the ridgeline, I was thinking of all your walk reports I have read which went "I quickly hopped up Stac Polly, then had a break at the top"
Nearly the same for me, only I had a lot of breaks before reaching the ridgeline.
Some people coming down always encouraged me: "It's not far now".... No not far, just high :)

4x4 is always better here:)
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Back to the walk, Views opening up to the Stacs neighbours, all hiding in the clouds.
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The "spiral staircase" up to the ridge
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FInally reached the ridge and the tourist top. Using walking poles is definitely a big help for me.
Interestingly the hills in my home area are no less high than around here, but because they are heavily forested, you never get that exposed feeling.
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Finally up here, I was puffin' :)

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Great views in all directions
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On the way back down
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Looking back at the old nemesis
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Afterwards, we drove over to Kylesku and took the coastal road back to Lochinver.
Stopping at the "secret" tea garden in Drumbeg( I can really recommend that), we had some
reward: Reasonable coffee( hard to come by in Scotland), Tea and hot chocolate, and some orange chocolate cake.
And Fruit scones with cream for the ladies:)
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And some truth:)
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apollo0815
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Re: One nemesis down

Postby Graeme D » Wed May 24, 2017 12:51 pm

Lovely report, even if that description is a little disturbing! :lol:
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Re: One nemesis down

Postby apollo0815 » Wed May 24, 2017 2:15 pm

You are talking about that weight image? Yes, well ok, I wanted it to be a bit "graphic".
The truth might be even worse, who knows.... ;)
At least, in spite of stuffing myself in several places like the larder, or cocoa mountain, I am down 5 kg after the holiday.
So maybe I will fund a new diet movement: You can eat as much as you like, if you just climb one hill every day, or walk through pathless bog for 20 km :)
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Re: One nemesis down

Postby Cairngorm creeper » Wed May 24, 2017 10:02 pm

I love Stac Polliadh but have always found it a steep slog up to the tourist top and there are advantages to being there on a grey day as it is a killer in full sun all the way.
Superb photos :clap: :clap:
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Re: One nemesis down

Postby apollo0815 » Wed May 24, 2017 11:43 pm

Thanks for the compliments , you may be right. I have been on Spidean Coinich two days later, in full sun, and especially in the little dip before the final ascent, the wind was gone. This was like a baking oven.
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Re: One nemesis down

Postby rockhopper » Wed May 24, 2017 11:55 pm

Enjoyed that - good to see you got up finally - just not so sure about the description of yourself :wink: Good memories of various holidays throughout the '70s in Drumbeg, Nedd and Stoer - in the days when the summers were good enough to spend on the beach and swim in the sea including Achmelvich bay - cheers :)
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Re: One nemesis down

Postby apollo0815 » Thu May 25, 2017 12:29 am

Yep, quite convinced of the description, I am 1,92m but still 150 kg is quite a lot to go climbing.
Next week, I'll continue in the Austrian Alps ;)

I love Achmelvich by heart, have stayed there 2001 when the youth hostel had no showers, and you could stay there for about GBP 4,50. The warden offered showers with warm water and a watering can outside ;)
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Re: One nemesis down

Postby rockhopper » Thu May 25, 2017 12:14 pm

apollo0815 wrote:I love Achmelvich by heart, have stayed there 2001 when the youth hostel had no showers, and you could stay there for about GBP 4,50. The warden offered showers with warm water and a watering can outside ;)

Snap :wink: but in 1984 it also had cold running water only - that said the unpasteurised goat's milk we could buy (which I think I recall came in large empty coffee jars) at the hostel was still warm - cheers :)
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Re: One nemesis down

Postby apollo0815 » Mon May 29, 2017 10:26 am

Yep, and back in 2000 BC there wasn't a youth hostel at all, so everyone had to search for caves ! :D
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