An opportunity to get away presented itself, and on my birthday no less! I shut down the laptop on Thursday evening (2nd June), made the dinner, then loaded the car ready for a wee overnight at Glen Shiel.
It was my birthday eve and also the Royal Jubilee, which the radio reminded me all the way up the road. By the time I got to Glencoe about 1845, there were hints of heavy showers on the horizon. I stopped in at Fort William for petrol, figuring it would be cheaper than Glen Sheil and was right (£2 a litre up there!).
There were heavy showers and thunder heading out of Fort William and over the road into Glen Shiel, but by the time I got there, it had all passed and I was left to the sun setting under red clouds and big mountains.
The camp pitch by the Cluanie was busy when I arrived at 2140, but I found a space for the wee Mazda. I unpacked my camp kit, then walked along to the bridge where there was a cracking wee camp spot. I was set up and ready for a pint at 2220.
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| Campsite at Loch Cluanie |
I got back to the tent after last orders and fell into a deep sleep straight away, but my body clock was completely confused and I awoke a couple of hours later and just could not drift off again. I ended up having a rubbish sleep despite the nice conditions and when I did decide to get up about 0630, I didn't feel fresh. I got packed up, got the stove on for coffee and porridge and put the tent away, then headed back to the car for the short drive down to the start of the walk. A wee happy birthday Whatsapp from Toezi kicked off the day.
I was ready at the little car park and started walking at 0741. I couldn't quite believe the mucky track I was on initially was an Old Military Road - you dropped the ball there, Wade, but eventually it became more obvious I was on the right track. By 8am, people had started waking up and I got a few nice birthday messages. There was a cold breeze coming from the east but the sun was coming out and the hills were starting to lose their overnight cloud cover. I pressed on up the path around the side of Meallan Odhar and eventually got my first view of The Saddle.
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| First View of The Saddle |
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| Cloud cover starting to drift back |
I pressed on again, and tried to keep an eye out for the path. I could only see one so followed it round the side of the hill. I figured there would be a path up the side at some point, but it was quite misty up there and I must have missed the track.
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| Still can't see the high path |
I realised I had taken the low path, beneath the ridge, and from below, it looked terrifying.
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| The Forcan Ridge from below |
I decided to get back onto the ridge, if only to get one extra top in Strava, so I followed a line of fence posts from Bealach Coire Mhàlagain up Easter Buttress onto the top of Sgùrr na Forcan. It was fairly pointy up there.
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View from Sgùrr na Forcan
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| The Forcan Ridge |
I was on my own and I have to admit, with the drops and the amount of descent and reascent, I was feeling a bit uncomforable. I knew I was on track, and I was glad it was dry and there was good visibility.
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| Looking back to Sgùrr na Forcan |
I made the summit of The Saddle at 1110 and it was starting to get quite warm.
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| Summit of The Saddle |
I had great views to Skye, Eigg and Ladhar Bheinn. I met another chap and chatted for a bit but I really wasn't in a sociable mood so I finished my sandwich and pressed on.
I had been conserving water because I knew it was going to be a long day, but as I relentlessly chewed that brown bread, I had the first inkling that I wasn't feeling that great.
The descent from The Saddle was a good track and I made decent time back down to Lochan Bealach Coire Mhàlagain. However, the climb up from there to the ridge of Faochag was a hard slog. I was surprised to feel my legs so tired, even though it was only 200m of ascent. There were folk behind me too so I felt I had to press on.
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| Sgùrr na Sgine |
It was starting to get quite warm and my strength was sapped. Pushing on, I made the summit for 1240 and stopped to check my water levels.
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| Summit of Sgùrr na Sgine |
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| Summit Selfie, with The Saddle in the background |
It turned out by conserving my water, I had dehydrated myself quite a bit. I knew I had about a litre left, so I just started drinking a bit more liberally. Symptoms (purely so I can kick myself in future for this stupidity) were a lack of interest in my surroundings, being unsociable, and eating bread was like chewing my own leather boot. I also ate loads of sweets and a snickers as well and rested for 20 minutes. That got me back on track.
I headed along to Faochag where I got my best views of The Saddle.
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| Faochag, foreground |
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| View of The Saddle and the Forcan Ridge |
It was a steep descent, as everything Glen Sheil seems to be, but I made it back down to the Allt Mhàlagain for 1500 bang on. I did't see anyone behind me, so it was into my slinky trunks and into the river to cool off and get the sweat off.
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| Swim spot |
I made it back to the car about 1520 and headed back down the road for the remainder of my 43rd birthday.
One other thing to note - that's the end of my first pair of Scarpa Deltas - probably about 10 years.
Here's the Relive of the walk:
Hike Distance: 15.08km
Hike Time: 7h 18m
Hike Ascent: 1,382m
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