In Glen Etive, last year, I was crossing a mountain stream raging steeply down a mountain side. It was in spate. I slipped and shot off at speed down a polished rock slab water slide for about fifty feet. I was heading for a thirty foot vertical thunderous waterfall I had seen on my way up. The waterfall terminated in a heaving pulsating pool of wild yellow foam with steep rock walls all the way round and the outlet leading to rapids and further minor waterfalls.
The only thought I can remember was saying to myself “well, I suppose this is it”. The force of water had created a deep rock bowl just before the waterfall and I found myself looking over the rim of this bowl and straight down the waterfall. This would have made a good photo from an angle not many people could have achieved, but unfortunately my camera had not taken kindly to this adventure.
The photo was taken as I set off for this Munro by a fellow Munroist who then went off into the hills. It seems somewhat prescient that
I elected to make this pose next to the mountain rescue vehicle. It was the last photo taken by the inundated camera; furtunately the memory card survived.
I have posted this story because there is a sequel to the bit about the camera so watch this space.
Good Grief! So how did you get out of the river? did you go down the waterfall? You don't say! I assume you didn't due to the fact you are alive, but I've heard of bigger escapes. Never mind the camera, how did you get out of the water??
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Redhead – There was no great difficulty in climbing out of the river. I was obviously wet through and had lost one of my walking poles. I was on my way to climb three Munros: Ben Starav, Glas Bheinn Mhor and Beinn nan Aighenan. The incident happened only about thirty minutes after the blog photo was taken. Although wet I was not cold and it was quite a mild day for October and I decided to carry on. By the time I reached the first summit I had more or less dried out.
ReplyDeleteRed Head - Sorry, I misspelled your blog name.
ReplyDeleteRed Head - Just read your comment more carefully and in answer to your question - no I didn't go down the waterfall. The deep pool before the lip stopped me.
ReplyDeleteWhat an adventure! Thank goodness you landed in the bowl.
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