We enjoy going for walks and during the lockdown have done a lot in our local area. The beach, the dunes and a local forest walk have become very familiar and the two golf courses are enjoyable. All very flat, really. Could we do something more demanding? We decided to find out. Scotland has a fantastic network of walks: glen walks, hill walks, mountain walks, forest walks. They are well laid, extremely well maintained and marked, this way protecting the environment from erosion. They are classed on a scale of one to five boots. The most demanding we had done so far is two boots. So, four boots? Ben Macdui. How far could we make it? Ben Macdui is in Aviemore, it’s a munro, a mountain in Scotland with a height of over 3000 ft (= 914,4 m). It’s also the second highest mountain in Scotland at 1309 m. Bill showed me the map of the terrain and ok, the ascent at one point was pretty demanding, the gradient was high. But on top of the climb there would be a plateau so I thought why not. Bill’s done a lot of mountain walking as a younger man. My most strenuous exercise is down the Grand Canyon to Phantom Ranch and back up in one day, 46 years ago. The track is fairly busy which means it’s safe in case of accidents. It is also safe in terms of there not being precipices next to the trail. There’s gravel where gravel makes most sense, stones where gravel is not possible and hey – all that has been built by someone. I have a very high respect for those enthusiastic volunteers who maintain all these walks. The Forestry Commission also maintains a lot of walks. We were well equipped: proper clothing, sturdy walking boots, water, energy bars, lunch, walking sticks, even emergency whistles. There were people clearly more serious hikers than us, some coming down with tents on their backs, but also young people in shorts, t-shirts and trainers, the fools, the weather can change quickly. We stopped every now and then, to take in the view which is breath-taking any which way you look, to snack and have a drink of water. The weather turned, it got colder, there were rain showers, cloud mist, even sleet showers. There were snowpatches on a mountain side where sun doesn’t shine. We were pretty high up. We got out our raincoats and a little after that the sun came back out. We walked on, Bill having found his mountain gait, me slowing down. Finally I just ran out of energy. Totally and completely. According to my wrist gadget we got up to 1018 m. I’ve never been that high up except in an airplane, I think. We decided to turn back and stopped for a rest. A more experienced mountain walker walked by and said it wasn’t the day to walk to Ben Macdui, it would be best for us to turn around. You’d think going down would be faster and easier than going up but you actually need to watch your step at least as carefully as going up. After rain wet stones may be slippy, being tired your attention may not be as focused. It was an arduous 7 km we walked, 5½ hours. Absolutely knackered but happy we did it. We so very nearly made it to the top of Cairn Luchan at 1215 m. I wish we hade made it futher as we both want to do mountain walks. Alas, two boots I think it will be from now on.
EDIT: or three boots.
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AuthorI'm Piisa and I will be sharing with you my thoughts on this and that, maybe even on whatever. Archives
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