Pictures

I still owe you some pictures from our Friday adventure. Unfortunately the wi-fi on the bus wouldn't publish my post with pictures so I just uploaded the text. Back home now I can provide you with visible proof :). So here you are.

Strathfarrar

Two more and some adventure

Went to Strathfarrar yesterday to climb another munro on our last day. The valley is only open at certain times and only for a limited number of cars. 25 cars would've been allowed and we were number 4. The valley was really beautiful and we began our ascend of Sgurr Fhuar-thuill with a nice mix of sun and clouds. The path went along a small river with countless waterfalls ever going up to a traverse along a slope up to a pass.  Up there heavy winds set in as we climbed the last bit up to the summit cairn.
Down we went to the next hill and had a quick picknick break with bits and pieces just being blown away by the heavy gusts. At the next minor hill the group split. While the guide and the majority of the people started to go down me and six others went on to bag the next munro. Down and up the path wound its way.
Along the ridge we went and the heavy gale force winds were really dangerous when maneuvering the narrow path. We reached the next summit quickly but had not much time since heavy clouds came in and 10 minutes later we were caught and a heavy fog.
We stayed close together and cautiously worked our way back to where we were supposed to get down. In the thick clounds and heavy winds we decided to just trace back our steps and go again over the first munro's peak since there was no view at all and it could soon go from serious to dangerous. We were totally caught in the thick clouds and really had problems navigating. At the last hill before the munro we had climbed first all of a sudden the path was gone. Shit. No one was sure about the direction we should take.
We had the map our guide had given us before we had split up but it was pretty useless when you could only see a few meters ahead. When you're travelling with a group why should you take things like a compass or gps device with you? There we stood at a rim of the ridge that shoudn't be there. We decided to go back to where we had lost the path climbing up that last hill again when one of us remembered that she and her husband always tracked our day's walk with their mobile phone.
We could see our mistake on the gps track and traced our way back to where we had strayed from our track. Headed out into the right direction now and double checked with the recorded track every 100 meters. Eventually we found the path up the munro again and everybody was cheering with relief because now we should not encounter any difficulties anymore.
We quickened our pace again as much as we dared because by now we were sure to be late enough to be missed. Checked our cellphones to call our guide but there was no chance of getting a connection.
Luckily the path that led down the traverse was marked with a cairn big enough to be seen in this weather. Another cheer went up and we could finally leave the ridge, the heavy wind and drop out of the clouds.
We were sure that our guide must be sick with concern by now so we hurried down the muddy slippery path. Out of the clouds and the wind I felt the fatigue now in my bones. Two thirds down we found our guide sitting on a stone hoping for any sign of our group.
We were not sure if he might be angry with us because we had not taken the way down he had said we should. But under the circumstances we had just done everything right by going back exactly the way we had come take some extra time but be safe. His relief was written on his face and he was just too happy to see us back safe and sound.
At the parking area I stopped the recording of today's "workout" on my watch. The whole walk up and down had taken us 7 hours and I had burned more than 4000 calories. Whoa!
On our way back to the lodge I reflected on today's events. We were in no real danger but we had learned some lessons. Weather can really change within  a few minutes. Never go without decent means of navigation even if you're in a group and just want to quickly go over to the next munro in clear conditions. Always have some food with you.
This day is one I'll certainly remember. It was fun after all and it was really great that all of us in our little group kept thinking and coming up with ideas and we made our decisions together. No crisis.
What a worthy last day of my Scotland holidays that was! There's two things I realized: I really enjoy the challenge of hillwalking be it just the ordeal your body has to go through or the demanding going in bad conditions. And if I do easier walks I'd rather go alone or with just one or two people. After enjoying that on the Kerry Way and Beara Way earlier this year I was a little stressed out with so many people around me even if it's such nice company.
Heading back to Berlin on Monday morning. It's so weird to think of being back there in this big city. I know right now that my mood will darken as soon as I'll take a seat in the S-Bahn and my mind will go back to Scotland blocking all sensory input from my eyes, showing me pictures of my time in Scotland.

Two walks

Last night I finally found a way to sleep here. My bed is a little bit too soft, the pillow is too thick and there is too much light streaming in from the windows. Put a t-shirt over my eyes the second night to block the light, tried another pillow the night afterwards and now just put my towel under my head folded twice and it's perfect. Bed is still too soft but it's not that bad really.
Had another very easy day where walking is concerned.  First went to the Dogs Falls near Loch Beinn a' Mheadhoin which were not that impressive but the walk of 7 kilometers through the woods felt like a Sunday afternoon stroll with some nice views of a little Lochan and Glen Affric.
Climbed a pathless steep slope of a low hill through thick heather and fern. It was quite strenuous and we had to grab small trees sometimes to support our next footstep but the view from the top was worth the hard work. Though the further away mountains were hidden in cloud and mist we could still see the two munros we had climbed earlier this week and a few more.
The way down the thicket covered slope was not as bad as I thought still I was very happy when I stepped onto our path again.
Our second walk led us through park-like woods and meadows nearby to a 40 metre waterfall which again wasn't very impressing but I really enjoyed the walk back to the bus through knee high grassland bristling with yellow,  white and blue flowers I don't know the names of. It almost felt like summer.
Had a pint at a beautiful pub in a tiny village but it was just too cold to sit outside for long. Back now at our house with the fire cracking and half of the group sitting here with me in the living room reading quietly. It's a bit weird being here and nobody talking,  haha.

Hillwalking and relaxing

Just another relaxed day today. Went up Meall Fur-mhonaidh which is a 699 meters high freestanding hill and quite easy to climb. The weather was getting better and better as well as the view of Loch Ness, the Great Glen and the surrounding hills. Had a very long picknick at the top before we decended and spent quite some time outside a tea room sitting in the sun and drinking... well, tea.
Watched Andy Murray's quarter final match back at the house which was quite exciting. It was time for Haggis at tonight's dinner. Luckily I wasn't really hungry, so I just had a tiny bit. In fact I still feel quite energetic. Could really do some workout.

A day off

After yesterday's strenuous walk we just went for a stroll at the coast. Left the bus in Fortrose and walked along the waterfront to the lighthouse on Black Isle (which is actually a peninsula) to watch out for dolphins as this was said to be the best spot. Didn't see any but the wind and the salty air were quite nice and we stayed for quite a while until we kept on walking to Rosemarkie and then through some dense thicket back to Fortrose with beautiful views of the coast.
After our picknick we went halfway back home and stopped at Reelig Glen to take a walk under towering Hemlock trees. It had started raining so the whole wood was rustling from thousands of raindrops hitting the leaf canopy.
Back home now with a fire cracking in the chimney just relaxing until dinner is served.

Two more in the pocket

As the weather was going to be very much ok today we headed off to climb the two munros Tom a'  Choinich and Toll Creagach. Took us like 20 minutes on our mini bus to the parking area. Weather was really nice with  few sunny moments and just short spray rain showers.
The path led through a wood and then next to a river with a beautiful view of our two peaks as well as the ridge of Mam Sodhail and Carn Eige. After roughly more than 3 kilometers steep climb up Tom a' Choinich started. I was lagging a little behind  at first cause my legs felt a little tired supposedly because I didn't really sleep well. But halfway up before the path opened up to a broad ascend to the summit. Took up speed and ended up third at the cairn enjoying he view a lot until the rest of the group arrived.
The traverse to Toll Creagach was quite steep on he way down but broad and easy on the way up. Had a lot of fun getting my body into the hard working steady high pulse zone and talking to two of the group who werd with me.
The way down from the top was mostly  steep grassy slope before we hit the gravel road and the river again. After all just a very fine day with two of the easier munros.