My local Munro is Ben Cruachan – Mountain of the Peaks, aptly named as it is the highest point in Argyll and Bute. It seemed fitting that this should be my first Munro since moving to Dunbeg and by default my first Munro of the New Year.
Cruachan Reservoir is the real start to the walk and getting there involved a steep climb up past the Falls of Cruachan. Still, some good photos of my first fungi of the year.
Getting up to the col was aok – another steep slog and grand views make it all worthwhile. As soon as I stepped on to the col the wind hit me really hard. As I was turning north here, the wind was on my back pushing me up. Unfortunately really dense cloud settled and sticking to the path was difficult. Making my way over slippery granite boulders and scree was hard work and finding the (broken) cylindrical trig point on the main peak was a relief. My first white out of the year – and the worst white out I’ve ever been in. This was scary stuff as I lost the path and instead gained jelly legs. Had a seat (as my brother had advised previously) and thought things through. I knew if I kept going south I had to reach some part of the Pass of Brander. So that’s what I did until I got out from the cloud. Phew, I was then able to work out where I actually was once I had something to fix the map on!
While my brother reckons GPS takes the fun away and that scary sharpens the senses – and I agree in part with this - I am seriously investigating GPS now.
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