A want, a need, a #microadventure

I have spent mair time than is healthy scared about move to the south for work. Everything else around should be fine but the overwhelming feeling about a new role in a new office with a new team on a new project has caused an almost panic need for the familiar.

To me …familiar, meant a solo hill trip with a bivy night on a remote part of the Scottish Highlands i.e. a #microadventure

Had tried for an ascent on the Corbett of Sgurr Gaorsaic and some Munro tops last July, but a failed freehub on my mountain bike put an end to that before it started. Drove up to Killian on a gorgeous late afternoon stopping in Fort William for supplies. Folks were arriving back at the small car park as I was leaving – it was nice to start a trip as others ended theirs.

Took my Thorn Sherpa bike up the track towards Iron Lodge and quickly remembered why front suspension was a good thing. Hid the bike above the lodge at Carnach and continued on the stalkers path. As happens in the last light of day, the place was mobbed with deer who appeared surprised to see someone heading up the hill.

Over the summit of Creag Ghlas, I briefly considered continuing into the night and over at least one of the Munro tops but found a perfect spot to sleep out of the light winds. Inside the bag, the big Zzzzs came quickly (must have been needing them). Slept well and woke just as dawn approached. Standing on the summit of Stuc Fraoch Choire, I was treated to the most incredible sunrise and temperature inversion I have experienced.

As the sun slowly started to burn off the mist low down in the glens, I continued on the round and onto the Corbett summit of Sgurr Gaorsaic. On the descent, I startled a herd of deer (and many young calfs) but one hind seemed very anxious …turns out Bambi was only a few hours old and couldn’t run away. Stayed only to grab a quick photo before leaving them to it.

The spin out along the track was easy …easier than getting my head around the long journey south anyway …