Today I was working for Seren Ventures, guiding Catriona and Margaret up the Tourist path on the Ben to celebrate Catrionas' 40th Birthday (next week she insists!!).
The path was not as busy as previous weekends, but still busy enough! The weather was fine until about corner 6 on the zig zags, where we entered the cloud and felt that tangible drop in temperature. However, it was once we reached the snow line at 1200m that the wind really started to make its presence felt. Not hard, but very cold. After reaching the summit (well done guys!!) we waited in line for a photo opportunity, and then took a few photos for other people before having some lunch. At this point, Margaret appeared with some balloons and a birthday cake and candles! After a rather cold rendition of happy birthday (amid some strange looks from passers by) we couldn't get the lighter to work for the candles!!! However, we attached the balloons to Catrionas bag, and began to prepare to set off when it started to snow quite heavily!
We made a quick descent in the snow which soaked through us, but as soon as we dropped beneath that cloud it warmed up and we started to dry off. There was good craic and banter all day, the girls never grumbled once and we set a good steady pace, only stopping to catch up with a few fellow guides and MRT members. Overall a great day and a great time of 7 hours - with enough energy for the girls to go smash the town up tonight!! Good effort!
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| At the Half Way Lochan |
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| At the summit! Well done! |
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| Happy birthday Catriona! |
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| Dropping out of the cloud |
Hi Craig,,nice wee blurb and great to see you got the ladies up and down in one piece. Margaret and I were up there last year,,I hear you heard about my impassioned glances at the helicopter to pick me up with my gammy ankle lol
ReplyDeleteWell done again, GillC
Hi Gill - yes they mentioned your little escapade - the helicopter can look very inviting if you are struggling/tired/injured, but you can hold your head up knowing that you battled on to get safely off the mountain under your own steam - well done! Would you do it again?
Deleteyes,,,but pref with no snow lol (im thinking about August for a solo jaunt up the path,,unfinished business dont you know. Ive also sent you an enquiry about Aonach Eagach,,not sure if you do that one. Cheers Gill
ReplyDelete