Time for my annual trip up Carn Ghluasaid

I’m away for half 9, and have climbed Carn Ghluasaid by midday.  As I’m walking up I first of all see ice, then light settled snow, then big snow.  Woohoo!  The sun is shining, and it doesn’t look like snow will fall today, but there is light cloud around the tops of the mountains, which is preventing a view.

Aside from the fact that it’s mighty cold, the snow is fantastic.  It’s at least 18inches deep in places, and maybe a lot more in others.  I eat my lunch in it until I can no longer keep my gloves off, then sip hot Ginger, Lime and Apple from my flask.  I wait about a long time, to see if I can spot any Ptarmigan.  I have done on my previous two visits, in 2006, and last year, although both were a couple of weeks earlier in the year.  But this time they are away.  Maybe doing the walk on a Saturday, with too many other people about (6), is a mistake.

On the way down I pass someone who looks remarkably like Jonny Lee Miller.  I step to one side, and say, “Hi”.  He quietly says “Thank you”, as he walks by at a fair pace.  The sun is already dropping.  I wonder why he’s started so late in the day.  Maybe there is a better chance of seeing Ptarmigan at night…