Halfway there. Meeting a Princess. And the true munro summit

[andrewdoggett]

So I was looking forward to this weekend... Meeting up with a few people I already felt like I half knew from Walk Highlands, and meeting Lucy

Polly had agreed to join me on the three munros to the east of Cluanie, good to see everyone isn't scared of the rain, this should be fun I'm thought... So I'm greeted by a text in the morning with Polly at the Green Welly in Tyndrum as she puts it 'horsing down a bacon roll'... She'll be fine I think; but for now I'm about 35 miles behind and need to get shifting... Foot down then

As it turns out I arrive before Polly... But Driving Miss Daisy isn't far behind, and she greets me with a big beaming smile, and a massive hug... This should be okay I think, she seems lovely...

A quick picture before the off... Walk Highlands Sticker proudly displayed in the back window of Polly's car... I didn't even know you could get them...

Greetings fair maiden...

20 metres into our walk we encounter our first problem... This way, Polly announces having shown off her phone navigation system... I gently point out the signposted mountain is in the opposite direction...

Directions...

We breeze up the first hill, getting to know each other, laughing about this and that, and by the time we've reached the summit of Carn Ghlusaid I've worked out why our nose is in the middle of our face, and it's because Polly cwouldn't be able to see if it was anywhere else with her jacket on...

The summit of Carn Ghluasaid

The cloud lifts a little... We see a massive herd of deer down in the cloud, difficult to photograph, but they were definitely there...

Epic views...

Onwards then to the summit of Sgurr nan Conbhairean...

The path to Sgurr nan Conbhairean...

We reached the summit fairly easily; tiny rounded hills these that won't cause you any borther.... THe ridges off to the right looked steep and looked like they would provide for some stunning views in better conditions...

The summit of Sgurr nan Conbhairean

So all of that took me on to 141 munros... Half way to a munro from the mid point of this quest to climb them all... Polly diligently help me pick the right spot on the map... So here is me exactly at the half way point of my journey, 141.5 munros...

My halfway point...

Now I'm pleased to be able to tell you that we've resolved a debate... The northern top of Sail Chaorainn is actually higher and the Ordnance Survey map is wrong... The reason I can tell you this is we carried a 500 metre spirit level up the hills and stretched it across both summits. Once secure, Polly cautiously traversed to the middle of the spirit level, and the northern summit is definitely higher...

The true summit of Sail Chaorainn

The cairn is also much better on the northern top and hosts a family of dalmations... So a lap of honour then...

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4TtL9FtaEA[/youtube]

And that was pretty much it for this walk... An easy descent; Jack Flap made an appearance for lunch... As did the trusty blue sky...

Blue skies...

And Polly fell over on the last step of the descent... What a fall from grace...

Thanks Polly for a good warm up walk... And thanks to everyone who came to Kintail, great to meet you all... And thanks for the guitar Monty; I certainly enjoyed the rendition of 'Who's that coming over the hill, is it a monster?' IT's become iconic!!

See y'all next year...

The Stats...

The Stats...

The Route...

2011 - 09 - 09 - Sgurr nan Conbhairean.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts

[monty]

Nice report Andrew. Now I understand why you struggled up the first ascent on Saturday, you were tired from the Fridays walk with Polly

"Whats that coming over the hill is it a monster, yes its Andrew"

Good to meet. Sorry I was not much fun on Saturday night. Must be getting auld

[victoriajarrett]

well it's good to see that i am not the only one who straightens my hair before a walk

i received regular updates on this walk and it sounded as though you were having a blast - glad Andy had some good company to celebrate his halfway point...

Polly i think you are a woman to be reckoned with - 1. keeping up with Andy, 2. being one of the 3 out of 9 to finish the south ridge - Girl Power

[victoriajarrett]

oh, and still having enough energy to run around the cairn at the top...

[pollyh33]

Had a fantastic time on this walk with my younger brother's doppleganger!!

It really was fun all the way. Can't remember.. was the lap of honour before or after the forced intake of pastrami, red wine and Wham bars??? Oh and POSH chocolate!

Wasn't it fab having that huge herd of deer so close? I quite enjoyed seeing that one Ptarmigan and so many of its fellow species

As for the fall??? It wasn't a fall!! My rear end did not make contact with the ground!! And we wouldnt have had to take that slippery path if you hadn't been such a sissy about crossing that puddle!!

Cheers for the princess title (I assume you mean Princess Fiona- after dark!!)

In fact you were going to get upgraded to Prince Charming but you blew when you looked at me at the end of the walk and said 'Yes I've seen you look better'

Cheers again mate for a brilliant weekend.

[Graeme D]

Wasn't it fab having that huge herd of deer so close? I quite enjoyed seeing that one Ptarmigan and so many of its fellow species

Exactly how many of these things did you say you saw again??????

And we wouldnt have had to take that slippery path if you hadn't been such a sissy about crossing that puddle!!

Spoken like a true expert in the dark arts of river crossing!

Nice report Mr D. I guess one could kind of call this a semi-compleation????

[pollyh33]

Wasn't it fab having that huge herd of deer so close? I quite enjoyed seeing that one Ptarmigan and so many of its fellow species

Exactly how many of these things did you say you saw again??????

And we wouldnt have had to take that slippery path if you hadn't been such a sissy about crossing that puddle!!

Spoken like a true expert in the dark arts of river crossing!

Nice report Mr D. I guess one could kind of call this a semi-compleation????

Fortunately we only saw one ptarmigan at a time!!

Andrew did look like he was enjoying getting his semi in his photo!!!

Graeme, i was driving home and another one came to me ... Hemi!!!

[pollyh33]

oh, and still having enough energy to run around the cairn at the top...

Thanks for your lovely comments Victoria but I did look like train wreck at the end of the ridge walk. Thomas looked at me and said 'your hair has got really big!!!'

Remind Andrew to bring his trainers to the next meet up. I am going to win a lot of money off him

[Graeme D]

Wasn't it fab having that huge herd of deer so close? I quite enjoyed seeing that one Ptarmigan and so many of its fellow species

Exactly how many of these things did you say you saw again??????

And we wouldnt have had to take that slippery path if you hadn't been such a sissy about crossing that puddle!!

Spoken like a true expert in the dark arts of river crossing!

Nice report Mr D. I guess one could kind of call this a semi-compleation????

Fortunately we only saw one ptarmigan at a time!!

Andrew did look like he was enjoying getting his semi in his photo!!!

Graeme, i was driving home and another one came to me ... Hemi!!!

Enough already! Hemi???? I think I know him! Little Spanish guy????

[ChrisW]

Great report Andrew, glad to see you got a glimpse of a blue sky at least once. Looks like you Monty and Polly in the next 'Race to the top'

[mountaineagle]

Another enjoyable report from what sounds from a great weekend.

[andrewdoggett]

Nice report Andrew. Now I understand why you struggled up the first ascent on Saturday, you were tired from the Fridays walk with Polly

Yep, Polly totally shagged me out....

Remind Andrew to bring his trainers to the next meet up. I am going to win a lot of money off him

Nah, I'm a lot older and wiser now; hte last bet got me into a walk off with Monty, clearly silly, and the bet before that got me into a whole load of trouble aswell... I'm retiring...

Nice report Mr D. I guess one could kind of call this a semi-compleation????

She does witter on about semi's a lot doesn't she... Women!!

Polly i think you are a woman to be reckoned with - 1. keeping up with Andy, 2. being one of the 3 out of 9 to finish the south ridge - Girl Power

Yeah you go girl... Think you 'topped' the weekend with your 10... Well done you...

[pollyh33]

Yeah you go girl... Think you 'topped' the weekend with your 10... Well done you...

Cheers Andrew! You were pretty impressive yourself

[Merry-walker]

Excellent report Andrew. You guys looked like you had a good time. Weather looked a bit naff but who cares when you've got great company

Maybe meet you on the next meet up...

[Meatball]

Reading this report ruined my legs! haha
Thanks though!