Are we there yet???
Following a hastily conceived idea to go back to Glen Etive this weekend, between Chris and myself, we booked accommodation at tyndrum lodge hotel and included Mark (Barnett) and Jock (McLachlan) in the team. Jock was joining us for the first time, indeed he had not been out in the hills for almost 15 yrs, according to local legend, but felt that his overall level of fitness would see him through.
Mark agreed to drive and pick Jock up on route in Peterhead and myself in Aberdeen. The route was plotted, the course mapped, full steam ahead should see us arrive at our destination at approximately 20:00, or thereabouts.
The journey down was full of nervous excitement about the challenge that lay ahead of us the next day (we had planned to finish off the Etive circuit by taking in Glas Beinn Mhor, Stob Coir an Albannach and Meall nan Eun), and wondering if Mark and/or Jock would be fit enough at this stage to manage (??).
Jock kept us amused on the way down with tales from decades past about derring do on the slopes of Scotland, wearing the type of gear that can only be found in natural history museums.....(more of that later)
Although he never actually uttered the immortal phrase "are we there yet" Jock did ask on a number of occasions "how much further"....which had to be explained to him each time we passed a sign with the mileage on it, that he had to add on another 5 miles beyond Crianlarich.....
Arrival at tyndrum was only 30 mins later than intended, not bad going really for us. We checked in and assigned the rooms, Jock and Chris in together, me stuck with the snoriest man in the world!!! A quick pint was consumed and decisions made about where to eat. They actually had a nice spread on at the hotel, a curry buffet for 12 quid, but it had already been half decided that we would hit the good food cafe for the best chips this side of Bridge of Orchy....
After mucho chip consumption...I didn't realise so many chips could be crammed into so few individuals until that night...we returned to Paddy's bar for a few aperitifs prior to retiring for the night. Unfortunately for us someone decided to put Dean Martin on the jukebox and that was all she wrote...."when the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie that's Amore...that's Amore"...ah the fun we had as Jock and Mark decided to provide some impromptu entertainment for the troops....cheers guys.
I would love to say at this point that we all retired sleepily for the night around midnight, but I don't do lies. Suffice to say there will be no repeat on future trips...it would also have been nice to say that Mark didn't keep me awake at all with his snoring...oh you get it by now.
We awoke early and were at the breakfast table by half seven the next morning, all showered and keen to get going (well almost all of us) and consumed our body weight in grilled goods before packing up and hitting the road.
We arrived at our destination and could see that it would be a frustrating day ahead weather wise, rain was evident in the skies above us and the boggy ground confirmed that it had been like this for a few days at least.
We agreed that the best route to take was following the Alt nam Mearleach (our return route the previous fortnight) to the bealach between Stob Coire Dheirg and Meall nan Tri Tighearnan. This would give us more of a gradual climb than the alternative route around Glenceitlein.
It became apparent rather early in the traverse that Jock was perhaps feeling a tad under prepared for the strenuous nature of the walk...he genuinely found it harder going than he had envisaged before setting off...but he doggedly stuck to task and pulled himself along as best he could...hardy old sod!!
The route was initially boggy on the lower slopes, drying out into a stony path further up, but was hardly recognisable from two weeks ago, when it was traversed in the opposite direction...possibly not aided by the thick mist that was following us up the hill and eventually engulfed us before we made it to the bealach.
Chris and Mark were waiting for us on the bealach, sipping on hot drinks and munching rock cakes, when we eventually made it. I don't think Jock has ever been so pleased to stop for a tea break in his life.
We now knew we only had a few hundred metres left to climb for the summit of Meall nan Tri Tighearnan...then the slight descent and ascent onto Glas Beinn Mhor. A quick check of the map to let Jock know how much further we had to go then off we set...admittedly at this point I may have burst into life and bounded up to Tighearnan rather quicker than I realised..only stopping to look back for the others when I could neither see nor hear them below. I waited in the mist for them to arrive, then set off again, the bit between my teeth, for the summit cairn. Not an altogether unpleasant climb, a few false summits caused by the thick mist, and a clear cairn on the summit.
Jelly McBaby appeared for the customary photo shot, then was joined by Chris...then Mark and eventually Jock.
A quick bite to eat then a discussion on the route required to head for Stob Coire an Albannach.
Once we had our bearings sorted out we set off towards our next target, onwards and downwards again, through a tricky descent for those less able, but thankfully there was only the one slight stumble heading down.
The mist cleared as we descended, giving us great views of the climb ahead of us...something which may account for the next discussion and eventual decision made. Given the time that it had taken us to get this far we realised that we were not going to achieve our initial goal for the day.
A decision had to be made that suited the team, not individuals, and had to be based on the speed of the slowest not the fastest. Whilst i agreed with the decision being made to return down the bealach we currently found ourselves on, I was still upset about it. But as it was in the best interests of the team it was the correct decision.
So off we toddled down past the robbers waterfall, taking in the views back to Glas Beinn Mhor and praying, without success, that the mist would clear off Ben Starav for a photo opportunity.
The rest of the descent was made in a strangely silent manner, perhaps we were all taking stock of our priorities for future trips, or evaluating our capabilities on this one...either way we were pretty spread out on the return journey...alone with our thoughts.
There was one last photo opportunity back at the car before we left, Baino took up the driving duties on the way back, and off we set into the civilised world once more.....
Aww doesn't he look so sweet and innocent when his eyes are closed?? No?? Thought not!!!
Till next time.....enjoy your adventures folks.
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