2 Claise to call

I decided to head up and see the foax up in Aiberdeen and rather than the bore of the A92, I headed via Glenshee to hit the hills. The weather forecast was abysmal but I had 4 planned, namely Carn an Tuirc, Cairn of Claise, Tom Buidhe and Tolmount. It was surprisingly nice and I padded over the burn from the car park and headed along the well-trodden path. I was fair pinging it along when I began the steep climb towards the boulder face of Carn an Tuirc and the views began to open up for me from the barns of Bynack More to Cairn Toul. I was at the summit within the hour and was pleased by my fitness for a change. I then decided upon Cairn of Claise next as I figured if the weather got worse, I could come off at this stage. After having a near defecation experience due to a ptucking farmigan, I set off towards the 2nd Munro of the day by which point a large black cloud was descending upon the summit. Not only that, a rather vociferous crack of thunder blasted across the glen. Pant-piddling time. I stood looking at my walking pole and wondered whether I should leave it - momentarily, I considered my last thoughts and if I would know that I was about to be zapped by lightning. The thunder was getting closer. I began running for the summit cairn and bizarre wall of the hill and once tagged, didn't hing aboot. A high level walk round Garbh-coire and I was looking at a herd of deer of about 60-70 pelting it away from me - a lovely sight and the stags voiced their disapproval. I headed round to Sgorr Ghaibre, a Corbett (!) and then began my descent back to the car as the thunder boomed once more and the heavy rains came. It was a fine wee day out and made the journey back to the 'deen so much more pleasurable but it was definitely too Claise to call.

Beinn a Bheithir

Forecast - mince. Enthusiasm - total. Shaz and I proceeded to head for Ballachulish without the flu-stricken duo of Fraser and Dave C. We had long admired these 2 hills and both felt the pressure of the book's description "these 2 Munro's are ALWAYS done together". Failure was not an option. We decided to tackle the two M-points as described in the SMC guide, not as Shaz had read in Cameron McNeish's guide. Shaz doesn't have a copy of the former (hint to any Rannoch members about potential Xmas presents). We headed up the forest road and arrived at the posts which would indicate the path through the forest. Excellent. A scramble up the red scree and we were on the ridge, 1 km West of the actual summit of Sgorr Dhonuill. The views down to the Atlantic were stunning, wisps of cloud and turquoise waters making for a beautiful panorama (quelle bollocks). We ascended to the first M-point of the day and were told by a couple of FEBs that "it was a bit scary further on". Pah! No mention of this in the book so on we went confident in our abilities and supreme experience. What was this? A path right beside a 200 ft drop, straight down? Exposure, here, with my reputation? Indeed, a very dramatic vista and on we proceeded to the bealach between the two hills. Lunch was had and on we climbed towards Sgorr Dhearg while Shaz was convinced she saw a duck in a lochan, which turned out to be a stone. Perhaps influenced by the hill just descended (Donald's peak?), perhaps too many Nurofen for the arthritis-riddled toe? Who knows what goes on in Shaz's mind? We disappeared into the clouds of Sgorr Dhearg and eventually summited to meet a couple who had a stove going for a cuppa?!! Tea anyone? The descent was straightforward enough until we took an interesting meander* through the forest but eventually got back on track and hit the road for the car. *got lost. All in all, a great day out and some good craic. Once again, my sandwiches won the 'sandwich du jour' competition with cajun chicken breast and dijon moutard on 'la fierte de la mere' bread. To top it off, a fine pint in the Lade Inn before I got in at 2100 but nae tea made! 'Twas enough to make you go quackers.