Right I’m back. No records broken, no fanfares, but a wonderful trip. The heat made it tougher than it looked on paper. Almost five days of sunshine with the temperature in the upper 20’s c during the middle of the day. I’ve got a lot of material to blog, both the trip, gear and some general observations, so for the next two to three weeks, that’s what you’re getting, even though it looks a bit junior compared to the TGOC! BTW thanks for the good wishes for the trip, which I only saw on my return.
I’m a bit sunburnt, especially on the back of the hands, a function of using walking poles. I did take some suncream but didn’t use it on the first day and paid the price. Doh! I should have taken the Tilley hat as well.
I had to change my route as it was clear that the Fords of Avon and the stepping stones were a figment of the cartographer’s imagination. The raging torrent was definitely not passable, especially as I was on my own. Fortunately I ascertained this on the outward leg as I camped by the shelter at the “Fords of Avon”. It was also clear that the alternative of walking around Loch Avon would be very arduous. So I decided to vary my route from Derry Lodge back to Aviemore via the Lairig Ghru.
Crossing rivers remained a worry for me until after the Luibeg Burn. My other concern was the paths which faded in and out of existence at regular intervals. However, generally, the route finding was easy, although I did go wrong in a couple of places by not paying enough attention to the map, but neither was disastrous.
Most of the gear worked well, although there were some surprise outperformers and disappointments. I will give some details later. However, I must mention what a fantastic find the Nike Mayflys are. Because it was so hot I walked in them where the ground was not wet for a while and they were surprisingly comfortable and grippy. They were also great for stream/river crossings and dried out surprisingly quickly. They weigh only 250g and fold flat. A must have for alternative footwear.
Overall it was a great trip, notable for its loneliness. On one day I met no-one at all and on another only one who drove past in a Land Rover. While the distances were not that great, the terrain and the heat made it harder.
It’s given me a better appreciation of the Scottish landscape and its challenges. It’s made me re-think how I might attempt the TGOC at some stage. I’ve got quite a few notes and photos. I’ll sort them into some sort of order and post accordingly. That’s all for now. The shower this morning was heavenly!
Posted in pictures & trips
But at least it isn’t just me who has ‘issues’ with river crossings. Sometimes you’ve just got to admit it is too dangerous. Glad the weather was good, and I look forward to photos.
