On top of the world....

  

 This was the starting point for the day! Far in the depths of the highlands .... I was looking for remote and I don't think that I could have got anything more.... in fact it took me over an hour to find the start/entry point ... re-enacting Mr Bean map reading without a GPS .... ;o))  would sum that up  ... thank goodness for public telephones ;o)))

Sadly 2D photos don't really do the size justice .... eyes on the white in the distance ... the 'tent like' peak... Munro at its finest ;o)



However the views at the top were exhilaratingly stunning ... I felt like I was sitting* on top of the world... it's at moments like this that life is magically put into perspective and any life niggles or problems just melt away - if only everyone could have time out here - the best resolve to any war or argument! Nil winds, hot sun, blue skies and the best view to date..... I feel so lucky to have experienced this ....so lucky!

Window to the world ....

 * yes that's right 'sitting' .... on the tent like peak that was just wide enough to sit on ..... nope, I didn't stand (you must be joking!!) over 3000ft straight down remember!!?!?  ..... ;o)))))))))))))))

Ben Cruachan ..... ish

Life is decidedly about circles. Today was the day to head up Mr Cruggie .... from the base the day looked good.. the wind was low, cloud high and blue sky was trying to peep through. I was here nearly a year ago.

I understand the hills too well. Today I only went 820m due to needle ice rain that pierces through trousers, lifting winds that are not good for ridge walking and ice water underfoot that wasn't going to be warmed by the feet this time.  Indicators that warn not to go forth, no matter how much I enjoy, understand and love the views from the top; What I know is that there has to be a half way meeting point from the mountains weather that opens the pathway to the top. I also know the importance of listening to this unspoken communication.

I returned to base with the hope that tomorrow will be different (it wasn't - it just got worse!!)

Ben C saddle ....

Back to Glencoe mountains tomorrow ;o)

Bonfire heat

Glencoe ;o))

Today (090414) was ground hog day - the expected trot around the Glencoe hills were hampered by the low cloud!  Nae matter  - eyes to the ground and being 'at one' with the Glens, burns and water was good enough. At times like this, there is no point heading to the top as the rewarding view is not there.... without the view - there is no need, well as far as I am concerned.  

Ahhh but 10/04/14 was a different matter ... eyes to the sky (3575ft) and snow line ... of course at the start of the tramp:  grunge and thigh level burn crossing was needed (sets the feet up very nicely)! Its been raining quite a bit here ... and the force of the burn reflected it .... after several attempts to cross, I was lucky to find a 'crossing' that was shallow enough to keep the water off the rucksac.

it looks so small in 2D... ;o(.

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View from the near top ....  muscles by this stage were wobbling a bit ... didn't really help the final drag to the top!! Sadly the 2D pan photo doesn't quite do the justice of the drop to the left ... it looks almost flat!!!! not!   (but guess who  has found the pan button on the phone!!! ;o))))

 

Ok, so this was the last photo taken  before the top.... note the snow (that has a lot of water running underneath it!!).  There are drops either side ranging from ultra steep to mega stupid steep. The drop on the right side of this picture is sheer face and if I rolled to the left ... lets just say that it just wouldn't be good at all. Just after this point I realised that my fear of heights (not helped by thoughts of avalanches etc) was not over. Darn it!! But there was also a wee bit of 'I have blinkin stomped over 1000ft to get here ... etc etc etc etc.....' .... . so what did I do?   I crawled, yes crawled ... feet, knees, elbows and hands (pain!) the last 100000000000ft (ok so it felt like 100000000000000 ft but you can see the distance!) ... THE longest crawl I have done ..... and did you know knees can still wobble when crawling!!?!? they can ...

I am sure that you will be delighted to know that I did have the presence of mind to 'get' that this was ultra stupid ... but sadly at the same time so did the giggles .... thoughts of local press being 'baffled by a new mountain creature still not yet identified except for 'interesting' prints left behind!....  I nearly giggled myself off the mountain at one stage!! ... nonetheless if you think that I was going to swing my rucksack off and look for my camera?!?! .....(that would have meant that I would have had to sit up and I needed every knee, foot, elbow and hand on the ground!!!) Just in case I need anymore excuses or justification for my actions -  it was hailing and blowing a gale too!! Joy!

Always a rainbow or two in Scotland ..... MWOM :o)

Great couple of days!!