Tag Archives: wild camp

Five sisters, d1

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Sgurr nan Saighead , 929m;
Sgurr Fhuaran, (m), 1067m;
Sgurr na Carnach, (b), 1002m;
Sgurr na Ciste Duibhe (m), 1027m;
Sailag, (m), 956m;
Sgurr a’ Bhealaich Dheirg (m) 1036m;

Full kit, the Banshee tent, sleeping bag and food for 3 days. With water, it weighs in at about 16kg. It’s a comfortable bag so walking with it is not really so bad. Going uphill makes it noticeable. The initial climb was hard work. Fortunately, once on the ridge, the day will be easier.
The first summit was in cloud and a light breeze. Some breaks appeared quite soon.
Weight: the bag weighs roughly 16kg, but with water and the camera, considerably more. I felt this weight on the climbs. On the level, that is such comfortable bag that the weight didn’t matter.

Water,  became a real problem on Sailag. This is a more grassy mountain with no visible, or audible springs.Thirst was a serious problem for over 2 hours. Over the spur, a small Lochan and springs in the Glen to the north, not far.
It’s late, 8.30 and I can’t see there being time to make the next summit as planned. So make camp.​

An early picture, the day cleared up brightly by lunch.

Wild camp, d2.

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12°C, bright and fresh morning.
Woke at 6. It’s bright and dry. The geese are getting territorial on the lake. Two more arrived while I ate breakfast and the incumbents fought them off.

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It’s dry enough to reorganise my bag, check kit and fix up some food. I even remembered to bring a sachet of milk for the coffee.
For the remains of the day, I wanted to make the summit of Rhinog Fawr.
By 8.30, I was ready to set off. My progress was careful. Nobody knows where I am, and there is nobody for at least 5 miles. No accidents please.
I headed over to Llyn Ddu. This is where the first rain started. That’s it then, scrap the summit, there’s no point. In that case, I will use the day to carefully navigate back.

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Rolling hill fog occasionally blankets the surrounding hills. These are not great heights, perhaps no more than 500m.
Finally, returned to the car by 1.30 pm, in bright sun. The car was not alone, nor was it a burnt out shell.
A fine way to finish.

Wild camp: Loch Quoich

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14°C, light cloud, SW.
Wildcamp near Sgurr Mhaoraich near Loch Quoich, a man-made reservoir. Though it’s very remote here, there is some through traffic to the tiny village Kinloch Hourn. I found a spot by a small Loch on the watershed. It’s a bit more windy here so there should be fewer midges. Anyway, it’s beautiful here with grassy covered hummocky moraines. The sort of place that makes your heart feel big and swollen inside your chest.
I can’t help but be a little nervous though; there is evidence of deer, some droppings are fairly fresh. And footprints.
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Later- encountered a small herd of red Deer while driving along the shore. About 4 hinds, and one stag. He ran along in front of the car and then jumped to the side. There he stood, only feet away, eyeing me up. We made eye contact. It felt like a while, but not long enough to get the camera out. The image will, nonetheless, stay with me- I am sure.