Weather/Conditions: Overcast, windy
Distance/Ascent/Time: 6.6km / 790m / 2h 15m
Accompanying: Alone

A low-key day on the Buachaille. I drove up in the early hours of the morning, and slept in the car shortly down the Glen Etive road. At first light, I saw the Buachaille out the window with cloud breaking up against the buttresses. It was magnificent, and defiant. I think I'd hoped for a view from the hill, or decent weather of some sort. But it never entirely came throughout the morning. I was up in 1 hour 20 minutes, to a misted summit cairn, then headed back down Coire na Tulaich, the way I'd come. It's amazing that even at this point, I felt an aversion to going on to the east face in case I wouldn't be able to get up one of the routes. It is amazing that as late as this, 2014, I had an aversion to scrambling or big drops, lest it get in the way of my desired summit! How things change. Maybe I was just not in the mood for it at the time.



When I was back at the car, I headed to Glen Orchy, a lovely and odd experience. It was a road I hadn't driven before, nor been down in a long time whatsoever. So it was strange to be somewhere that felt so alien, different and new, meanwhile being right beside the A82, a place I know so well. The sun broke out and the hillsides turned golden colours; perhaps a highlight to the day, and certainly memorable. Emerging out the south-western end of the glen, I drove to Tyndrum where I met mum and dad, who had just been away on a weekend to Corrour.

Writing 2017 - I'm starting to wonder if I really did ever write up the autumn of 2014 in full.