...it's how last week I used up the title "Drookit". Hell's bells, if I'd known then what I know now, I'd have saved it for today.
There had been vague rumblings about putting our daft "Do Ben Wyvis As A Day Walk" plan into action this weekend, but for a variety of reasons that didny happen. So, as it transpired, as of 8pm on Friday the choice was either walking on my own on the Saturday, or (and after checking the forecast this was the clever option) no' bothering my tail going anywhere.
Swithering, I had a wee look at Robin Howie's stuff in the Scotsman. The self evident joy of his walk of the week is that it's designed so you can do it THAT PARTICULAR week! (Or within a scientific tolerance of a fortnight. Honest.) So, the decision was made that to try and keep in focus the target of 142 Munros by the end of the year, I'd have a go at Stob Coire a'Chairn in the Mamores. It made sense because it's a short walk. I couldn't face too early a start, and there's not, of course, an abundance of daylight about at this time of year, so it was fitting into the timescale allowed.
What can I say? Well, wet. I can say that.
You set off from the Mamore Lodge - one of the finest hillwalking start points in Scotland, as far as I'm concerned - and head left out the car park. Past the stalker's cottage muddy detour then down to the bridge. For the first time ever (well, my first time ever), it's a left turn and then follow the path up into Coire na Ba.
It was pouring.
The path is always pretty obvious. Shin deep muddy, but obvious nonetheless.
The rain started to get heavier.
As you near the corrie proper, the path takes a right turn and starts to rise a bit more steeply. This means that the rainwater flowing aff the hill uses it as an escape route, so the path is now a fairly vigorously flowing burn. Still, the increasingly violent rain, coupled with the rising wind, takes your mind off the water flowing into your boots.
Actually, I'm sure you get the picture about what fun it was as I got higher and the weather conditions got worse and then I broke from the relative cover of the corrie path onto the ridge proper. I'll therefore not labour the point, other than to say that I don't even think the Wee Black Dug was enjoying her walk.
;0)
Still - only took four hours. And five hours driving. See hillwalking? See carbon-neutral?
:0/
I had the undeniable pleasure of doing this one, in the dry, complete with views! I'll give you the link if you really want. No mud either, other than a tiny wee bit at the head of the corrie. Never mind, I'm sure the whole thing must have been...character forming.
ReplyDeleteI stayed near home this weekend.
I think that finishes today's gloating.
;0)
ReplyDeleteIn fairness, I've usually been lucky weather-wise in the Mamores on previous visits, so I suppose it's just the law of averages catching up on me. And Jorja's very nearly dried out now, so no harm done!