Because I Can

The weather has been great up here all week, and every day I see Ben Wyvis looming to the north as I walk in and out of work. So what better way to make use of the long evening (dark around 11pm) Friday than to climb the mountain? I debated the idea (and put my hiking gear out in case) but didn't decide to go for it until my last patient canceled and I was free at 4.40pm. A quick walk home,change, throw gear, water and snacks in the car and hit the road to miss the "rush hour" (it does actually back up getting out of the city, especially to the north.

4.58pm: On the road, the car thermometer reads 25°C (77°F) and after a brief delay at the roundabout south of the bridge I was free and clear for the scenic 30 miles to the base of the mountain, with the Wyvis massif visible for the later part of the journey.

5.40pm: The base car park is nicely developed by the forestry authorities with plenty of spaces and a well built path through young trees bringing walkers onto the lower slopes of the hill. Initially there are glimpses of the summit of An Cabar, the most prominent point of the massif from this direction, through the trees and the rest of the hill soon appears as the trees around are soon young and small. In the sun the upper slopes of the long ridge behind An Cabar shine brilliant green with their unique covering of moss.

6.10pm: I leave the wooded area (having passed 5 people walking down the hill) and now have uninterrupted views of the main hill with Little Wyvis also becoming more impressive on the right. It is possible to see the whole path up the slopes of An Cabar and a mighty steep 650m (2100ft) it looks. The path has been well made and a great deal of time and expense has gone into setting a line of small boulders for much of the way up to protect the surrounding flora and decrease erosion. I stop for a snack half way up the climb and admire the hazy view of mountains stretching west, with Little Wyvis dominating on the left, before resuming an immediately spotting two other hikers heading up just above me. I didn't expect to have company on the ascent this late! I soon pass them as they take a break, they decided to take a walk as the evening weather was so good. A bit more effort brings me to the summit of An Cabar, from where a distinct path leads across a long, relatively flat, mossy ridge to the actual summit.

7.00pm: The wind is blowing pretty hard from the east, and the views in that direction are fairly murky, but I enjoy the long easy walk on the ridge with views over a steep edge into a coire on my right before reaching the summit trig point and taking a rest in the shelter of a low wall built around the top. The wind is really howling now and the clouds are gathering around me, making it difficult to perch the camera for the obligatory summit shot, before heading back swiftly to warm up.

7.30pm: The wind is generating cloud as air is forced up over the lip of the Coire which makes for an unusual effect, while I get interesting views of a distant loch to the west reflecting the sun. As I near An Cabar again I see the other couple sheltering in the lee of the summit cairn, brewing tea on a camp stove, and I greet them again before hurrying down to pick up calmer conditions and the warmth of the sun.

7.50pm: It is warm again on the lower slopes of the mountain so I take the chance for a rest and to admire the beautiful hazy views of mountains to the west.

9.00pm: Back at the car. The walk down is pretty easy on the well made track and the evening sun makes for some good pictures looking back at the mountain. All in all a great way to spend the evening.