After a leisurely morning at home, Colin picks me up and we drive to Glencoe. Our cottage is right next to the Clachaig Inn, so we leave a note on the door and go to the pub. The pub has two bars, the Boot Bar for dirty hikers and the Lounge. I’m inclined to go to the dirty bar, but Colin is already going for the other one, so that’s where we’re waiting for the Germans.
Of course, knowing me they look for us in the dirty place first.
The next day, we decide to climb Buachaille Etive Beag, a straightforward walk on a good path, but steep. There is also quite a narrow snowy ridge from a bealach to the first top, which makes the walk more adventurous in the blustery winds. Too adventurous for some. Ice axes and crampons might be a good idea today but of course we don’t have any.
When no one gets blown off the ridge or the top we slide down the snowy slope on our bums, back to the bealach. There is really no reason to walk down a hill when you can slide it down on your bum. Especially when you have an audience. We climb the other top - the wind is getting stronger and helping us up. I have a vision of the first of our group arriving at the top and, caught by a gale, flying over it. This doesn’t happen. We take a quick break to enjoy the views of Ben Nevis in a cloud, the Blackwater reservoir, glacial features everywhere, and hills and snow. Walking down again I get a premonition of the muscle pain to come.
At night, Colin cooks up a lovely curry and we make a start on the puppy puzzle.
|
|
The U-shape that makes the geologist happy - a glacier came through here
|
|
|
On yer bum!
|
|
|
The top on the right was this day’s first munro
|
Comments