 | Another spot with an apparently high density of Munros, the area to the south of Crianlarich, was next to draw me after the White Mounth. The day was beautifully sunny and the drive beside Loch Voil in the morning was stunning. Unfortunately it wasn't till I reached Inverlochlarig at the end of this long and sparsely populated road that I realised the petrol tank was almost empty! Trying to put this problem to the back of my mind though, I set off up the relentless slopes of Beinn Tulaichean. Needless to say I eventually reached the summit extremely hot and pretty exhausted. The ridge walk to Cruach Ardrain was a welcome relief but as I reached the summit my left knee began to hurt. Cramp, I decided, and sat down for lunch. But on setting out after lunch I discovered that my knee still hurt, especially on going up or down a steep slope. I had been hoping to fit in Beinn a' Chroin as well, but this was now a doubtful prospect. Painfully, I headed down towards the col between Cruach Ardrain and Beinn a'Chroin, having already been somewhat discouraged by the vast distance that appeared to separate them. At the head of the valley of the Ishag Burn my knee was still giving me trouble and I decided to abandon the expedition and head back to the car. Of course, the question of the petrol was still preying on my mind. It would have been a beautiful walk back along the track to Inverlochlarig if I had not had these difficulties to distract me - though my knee was fine on the level. I drove carefully along the Braes of Balquhidder, free-wheeling whenever possible, and thankfully made it all the way to the petrol station in Lochearnhead without running out. It was still early in the day, and I rounded off the trip with a look round Bridge of Allan on the way home. Only two more Munros bagged, and a knee injury that was threatening to curtail the whole season. In fact, that is exactly what happened. Two weeks later I set off to climb Beinn a'Ghlo, but the trip didn't work out. Eventually I ended up in Pitlochry, unable to find a bike for hire and climbed Ben Vrackie instead. My knee survived the ordeal but was clearly not in a fit state for any more climbs that summer. |
