Bla Bheinn (Blaven)

A slug eating some sheep poo.

Sgurr Nan Gillean

Was quite windy, nearly got blown off here.

Aonach Beag and Mor

Aonach Beag means 'small ridge' and is the 7th highest Scottish mountain. Aonach Mor means 'big ridge' and is the 8th highest. Totally original names them.
I knew it was gonna rain today, drizzle, totally forgetting that on the top of a mountain it's a whole lot worse. The walk started with this nice greeting.

On the way there was this cool rope bridge.

The bulk of the walk was over a generally flat bog following a river with a few rocky steps up. At the end there was a steep grassy cliff to climb up, leading to the plateau that divided the Aonachs. When i reached the bottom of this cliff it had started to rain and was quite windy. The cloud had lowered and decreased visibility. I thought i was pretty close so no point turning back now.

It was actually quite difficult and took a while to get up because it was so steep. The weather was getting worse.
At the top it flattened out into a huge grassy plateau. You could only see a few metres in any direction. I decided to go for the easier peak first which was pretty much a flat walk.

The weather was now quite severe, horizontal rain and strong wind, but i was still enjoying it.
On the way to the second peak i was now soaked to the bone and freezing and actually struggling to move. This one was steeper but not difficult apart from the weather. There was also some snow up here as well. When i got to the top, i didn't hang about and headed straight back for the path down the cliff.
Only problem was, i couldn't find it. Now is really not the time. I am dying here.
Luckily i have this gps app now. To be honest, i wouldn't have done half the things without this app. Cause when you're up a mountain in fog, there is no hope of finding the path. These paths aren't even clear when there's no fog.
The gps app isn't perfect though and gets it wrong enough so i jus had to hope it was right. Eventually i did find the path and had a nice 4 hour wet and windy slog back to me van.

Ben Nevis and Carn Mor Dearg

Ben Nevis is the Highest Mountain in Scotland and the UK. Carn Mor Dearg means 'great red peak' and is the 9th Highest in Scotland.
I took the tourist route up Ben Nevis and it was pretty busy. I went up quite quickly to avoid the tourists only taking about 2.5 hrs. It was pretty much an escalator.
At the top it was the usual complete fog, visibility only a few metres. Freezing as well, there was still snow up here.

I was gonna go along a ridge to Carn Mor Dearg but because it was so foggy it took ages to find the thing.

There was supposed to be a route down from it but couldn't find that either.
Eventually i emerged from the cloud layer. It's always a relief to lose the uncertain feeling that i might get lost and die of hypothermia and starvation.

Then i met this sheep. They warn you about feeding meat to sheep cos people feed them ham butties then they get a taste for meat and sometimes attack and eat people.

Binnein Mor

Nearly stood on this little dude. That's why you should stick to the path!

The views from the top were stunning as usual.

Further down, the cloud cleared a bit.

Aonach Eagach

I went straight up the side of the ridge by the big pond. On the way up, I saw a plaque commemorating a woman called Stevie who had died on this ridge. I've read quite a few people die on here.
Near the top, the path completely disappeared and i was crawling up scree and steep grassy banks.

At the top i could see the ridge, it looked a lot more difficult from up here.
I started walking, everyone i went past was walking the opposite way and was with a guide. Reinforcing the idea that i might die. Most people would say things like take your time, or be safe. It was actually really slippery. I think because there's so much moisture, moss and algae grows on everything. Also all the hand and foot holds were really worn cos this is a popular route.
This has been the only day so far where the top hasn't been completely covered in cloud.
It was totally fine in the end. The way down was a lot more straight forward.
Next time i'd start at the opposite end, then go back across it and down the way i came up.

Buchaille Etive Mor

These kids were camping in the car park. The weather had been horrible all night and i could see them wringing everything out in the morning. They didn't even go up the mountain, jus drove home.