A Gaick Sunday ...

“Fresh” from the Justin Townes Early gig, I stumbled into the kitchen …kicked the coffee machine into life before remembering to my pick up my lunch from the fridge and headed downstairs to the van.

The Cumbernauld roadworks were empty due to it still being early and I was soon through Perth and onto the A9. Passed the Stanley turn off and thought back to a few kayaking trips (which always included more swimming than was necessary). Thankfully found the wee turn off which indicated the starting point for the day easily (I was not in the mood for any more driving than was required). Plugged myself into the ipod which was loaded with a selection of Americana, wriggled into my trail shoes which felt as if they had shrunk.

The route was simple – head north through the southern end of the Gaick pass to the sadly neglected Sronphadruig Lodge only stopping to get the waterproofs on due to the increasing rain and to watch a golden eagle soar for a while. Started up towards the first summit of An Dun with great views up Loch an Duin which was still frozen – it was easy to imagine the original glacier which formed the glen. As the rain turned to snow, I searched my pack in vain for a pair of goggles (which were later located back at the flat in Glasgow) before continuing over the summit and down the steep slopes to the head of the loch.

Sitting eating a cheese roll, I noted that I had put too much pepper sauce on it. Lunch over, it was time to motivate the legs into uphill mode. Wondered about the hallucinogenic properties of Tabasco sauce when a small patch of snow sprang into life and headed up the hill at a tremendous rate …thankfully the “patch of snow” was in fact a mountain hare who decided running away was preferable to getting stood on (a reaction I can identify with). Visibilty disappeared again above the 800m mark which made finding the tiny cairn good sport. Visited both tops to be sure before a great run back down the ridge to just above the lodge.

I usually am not keen on out and back routes but the view heading back to the car was impressive (in a kind of bleak way). Back at the van I checked in with folks to confirm I was off the hill again before starting the journey south and going in search of coffee and cake to end the day with.