Comments on: Days Like This, No 8: The Five Sisters of Kintail

By: McEff

McEff — Thu, 03 Jul 2014 12:44:26 +0000

It suddenly disappeared. I’ve hitched all round Scotland and down to Cornwall. It just died.
Alen

By: backpackingbongos

backpackingbongos — Thu, 03 Jul 2014 09:07:18 +0000

Long gone are the days when I used to hitch everywhere. Every weekend from Suffolk to Nottingham to meet up with my now wife. I would stop and pick folks up now but it is rare to see anyone with their thumbs out at the side of the road.

By: Jo Woolf

Jo Woolf — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 07:45:23 +0000

By: McEff

McEff — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 00:01:19 +0000

Hiya Jo. It was a strenuous walk, but it does us good to stretch ourselves at times. Wouldn’t like to try it in my present state of fitness, mind, but there you go.
Sheepy streams present other problems apparently, but I can’t say I’ve ever experienced any side effects from drinking out of them. Mind you, I do suffer from panic attacks when I see mint sauce and wellington boots so perhaps that has something to do with it.
All the best, Alen

By: Jo Woolf

Jo Woolf — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 20:40:51 +0000

Wow, Alen, that could have gone very badly wrong! Great retro photos – they really show how scorching hot it was – and I’m glad you lived to tell the tale! If that was a strenuous walk by your standards I reckon I would have flaked out half way up! I’ve been caught out before by not taking enough water (it weighs so much!) but it wasn’t nearly the same scale of risk. I think it was probably somewhere in North Wales and there are always plenty of streams, albeit some of them rather sheepy.

By: McEff

McEff — Sun, 08 Jun 2014 10:36:24 +0000

Thanks Loty. Yes, I am usually very careful. When I climb mountains in Spain I usually take two or 2.5 litres of water with me and that gets me through. You just don’t expect to get caught out in somewhere as wet as Scotland. I shall try the mind over matter thing next time I’m in a tight place.
Cheers, Alen

By: dabawenyo life

dabawenyo life — Sun, 08 Jun 2014 06:34:03 +0000

Extremely stunning views!
Yeah, when dehydration strikes we surely get ourselves in big trouble. Situations like this usually happens on mountains that we’re not familiar with yet, that’s why we do a background research first before the go and yet we can’t escape from situations like this.This could also happen even to our most visited places. Man has no power over nature. All we can do do is to take precautions and extra careful. In times like this, I do prayer,focus, and “mind over matter” way of thinking. :)
In the end, no matter how hard it was… the journey of experiencing the beauty of God’s creation still continues… Well, maybe until the day my bones will say ” It’s enough”. :)

By: McEff

McEff — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 10:50:46 +0000

I was dreading the Forcan Ridge but in the event I found it enjoyable and exhillerating. I latched onto a group of four people ??? three women and a bloke ??? and they had never done it either. Safety in numbers. There’s only one bad bit ??? the Bad Step ??? and that can be avoided if you cut down to the left about 50ft and come up under it. You’ll have a great day.

By: McEff

McEff — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 10:46:39 +0000

Hi John. Good to hear from you. The NUJ were great and we had a strike and won some concessions and saved a couple of jobs. Not mine though. Still, no regrets.
All the best, Alen

By: John

John — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 07:52:21 +0000

Wonderful Pictures and great post,thank you. Sorry to hear about your job.Did the NUJ not help?Oh well more time to write your great blog and get out in the hills.

By: mountaincoward

mountaincoward — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 00:33:07 +0000

I’ve also got the dreaded Forcan Ridge to attempt this next trip as well! :-o Then I really will be wondering why we do these things!

By: McEff

McEff — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 00:29:34 +0000

You’re up late again Carol. I was very impressed by Saighead because it had the most fascinating sloping crags that shot down into Glen Lichd at a crazy angle. They don’t come out very well in the picture, which is a shame.
I read your description of the descent from Bealach an Lapain and it made me laugh. The cars and vans beneath your boots that never get closer. Why the hell do we do these strange things?
Cheers, Alen