Mike's Natural Musings: Munro Bashing in The Mamores: Day 3; Disaster

Thursday, 27 June 2013

Munro Bashing in The Mamores: Day 3; Disaster

Woke this morning to low cloud, drizzle and even more sore quads. The usual routine was followed: shower, breakfast and Ibuprofen for the quads before launching off up the valley once more, parking at the far car park. It being a mild, still, drizzly morning, the Scottish midge was out in huge numbers and was voraciously looking for blood. Consequently we booted up and headed off up the gorge as quickly as possible. The plan today was to mop up the remaining four Mamore Munros. That sounds easy but we had plotted Cameron McNeish's route into the Garmins which came up with a horizontal distance of 16 miles. Knowing that the actual distance would be at least 20 it was with some trepidation that I put my best foot forward. As it happened two miles in and with not much climbing it was patently obvious that the legs weren't up to it so I made the decision to abort. It meant that Peter could travel more quickly and I could have a lazy day. Turning round I pottered back down the valley, indulging in some photography on the way and then retired to Fort William to research new winter day/short trip backpacking rucksacks. Currently I am favouring the 38L Osprey Kestrel. If anyone reading this has any suggestions I would be happy to hear them. After the fleshpots of Fort Bill I headed round to Corpach for lunch beside the lake and went to explore the lock ladder (is that the correct term?) at the beginning of the Caledonian Canal. I arrived here just in time to catch the Jacobite steaming its way towards Glen Finnan and Mallaig. I also found a good patch of northern marsh orchids here. Nice, as we only get the southern at home.
Soon it was time to head back up the glen to see if my 'bruv' had returned yet. We had made rendezvous for 4.30 and 7.30 depending on whether he completed the round or cut it short. As it happened he turned up just after 4.30 muttering "Ill murder that b****y Cameron McNeish!" It turned out that the river crossing suggested in the route descritption was unrealistic and so he spent five hours flogging up boggy, tussocky terrain and still had not bagged a summit. Only KIMM (OMM nowadays) competitors can know what Scottish tussocky, boggy terrain can be like!! Eventually, finding some sort of path he did manage to get up one Munro before heading back to the car having covered 17 miles. Anybody who knows my brother will realise that for him to abor,t the going must have been tough in the extreme. At least we live to return and fight another day but next time we shall tackle it from Kinlochleven. And those who know me may have heard me state "Just you lot wait till next year when I am fit and two stone lighter.....!!!" - a regular battle cry these days!!

Ah well beer o'clock called!!!!

The next day it was time to pack up and head back south; at least it was a wet day so we weren't tempted to stay on!! After a long drive home to Peter's in Lymm, Cheshire, it was magnificent to be warmly greeted by Linda and to relax with a beer (well it was beer o'clock!) and an excellent meal!

What will it be next year??

Walking back down the glen with the pressure off allowed me to concentrate on photographing the flora. The wet conditions made them even more attractive. As someone once said, "There is no such thing as bad light or good light - just light." To a certain extent I agree with that and if conditions are grey and wet close up and macro shots work a treat; and there is nothing worse than a bright blue sky for landscapes. I loved the richness of the ferns in the forests and the Nevis Gorge - so rich and verdant. The stream and waterfalls, ferns mosses and rich green colours in Scotland are amazing, but of course to get this there has to be rain; and lots of it!!!