14 December 2012
Now, I've seen a lot of dead sheep in my time, and rescued almost as many, but never before have I come across a carcass like this. It looks as if this poor soul tumbled down the slope, landed on its back, died and was then stripped, piranha-like, by hungry creatures. The freezing weather of the past week would have made this a welcome feast.
3rd January - Birthday
Today was Lynne's birthday and obviously had to be celebrated on a hill, so off we went to Innerdownie and Whitewisp Hill. About half way along the ridge to Innerdownie we came across five elderly walkers reclining and sheltering by the wall, enjoying a break on their descent to Glen Devon. They were a cheery bunch and during exchanges of 'Happy New Year', it transpired that their cheeriness was, at least in part, explained by the fact that their beverages were being fortified at regular intervals with Highland Park! They kindly offered us a dram but since we were on the way up, we said we'd settle for the angels' share.
This photograph from Innerdownie was the only photograph taken all day.
After a brief stop we found the shelter and dug out the tea and sandwiches. The sun intermittently attempted an appearance but never looked likely to win the battle with the clouds rolling in from the west so, donning more clothing to combat the ever-increasing wind, we sauntered off to Whitewisp.
Hamish Brown describes the section between the two hills as 'interminable' but I've never found this to be so. In fact the tramp across Bentie Knowe is rather fine I think, but in fairness to HB he did made the comment during a 22 mile day on a west to east traverse of the Ochils.
Conditions like this soon please.
It is now three years since I started this blog but unfortunately I find that only a fraction of outings have been recorded from January 2010 so I really must do better, even if some posts are kept brief.
3rd January - Birthday
Today was Lynne's birthday and obviously had to be celebrated on a hill, so off we went to Innerdownie and Whitewisp Hill. About half way along the ridge to Innerdownie we came across five elderly walkers reclining and sheltering by the wall, enjoying a break on their descent to Glen Devon. They were a cheery bunch and during exchanges of 'Happy New Year', it transpired that their cheeriness was, at least in part, explained by the fact that their beverages were being fortified at regular intervals with Highland Park! They kindly offered us a dram but since we were on the way up, we said we'd settle for the angels' share.
This photograph from Innerdownie was the only photograph taken all day.
It was rather different scene a few years back.
Hamish Brown describes the section between the two hills as 'interminable' but I've never found this to be so. In fact the tramp across Bentie Knowe is rather fine I think, but in fairness to HB he did made the comment during a 22 mile day on a west to east traverse of the Ochils.
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| Good ski-touring from Innerdownie to Whitewisp, left |
It is now three years since I started this blog but unfortunately I find that only a fraction of outings have been recorded from January 2010 so I really must do better, even if some posts are kept brief.
8 comments:
It's interesting that supposedly like minded people in the category of appreciating mountain country have such diverse views. Here is an extract from my journal of the GR10 from 21st July 2003:
“There was a section towards the end of the day called the Crête des Izards for which my guide gave the following description,
“…a tiring traverse at the end of a long day”. For me it was a superb bit of classic ridge walking and one of the jewels of the trip.
As you say, poor old Hamish was, "...at the end of a long day" as I think my Cicerone guide writer, Paul Lucia must have been also.
Happy birthday Lynne.
That poor ewe looks like it has been clean butchered. Fox’s usually pull it apart and take bits back to the den. All the bones look intact. Very strange to be so clean.
Birds picking it clean, perhaps?
That looks like a lovely walk. What does Hamish know, eh? Amateurs!
:-)
Hello Conrad
Hamish was on this west to east jaunt during Braehead School days when he must have been at his fittest, so I was a bit surprised that he thought this part of the walk 'interminable'. If I were going to his Literary Lunch at Pitlochry Festival Theatre this month I'd ask him about it.
It did seem odd Alan, but we thought birds had picked it clean, as Alan S has said below. However there are lots of foxes about so it's difficult to imagine that they weren't on the scene at some point.
That's what we thought Alan, but foxes must have also visited I'm sure. Maybe you can ask Hamish if he's at a Challenge dinner. I'm looking forward to reading his new book 'The Oldest Post Office in the World', "a compilation of the weird, surprising and unconventional" which will "surprise even those who think they know the country well". I wonder if tickets are still available for his Literary Lunch?
Happy birthday Lynne, and happy birthday blog - have a great 2013.
Martin and Sue
Hello Martin and Sue
Thanks on both counts and have a good one yourselves.
Lynne and Gibson
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