2018

We planned a snowy walk today and were hopeful of another hilltop but it wasn't quite to be.

We parked pretty much opposite our cottage on the other side of the loch and headed up an icy forestry track for a fair few kilometres before taking a stalkers path more directly to our hill. 

That's where the trouble started!

There were drifts of heavy snow; snow that was on its way to being solid - but not quite.  Snow that when you stood on it, for a split second, gave the impression you were going to stay on top of it but then, just as you went to take the next step, your boot disappeared six inches under. 

We picked the best line we could (mine mostly being in Rich's footsteps! (I did have a dog to take care of!)) CJ was actually finding it easy; she had the perfect weight to paw ratio and stayed right on top of the snow. There was another herd of deer that we found early on and Little Dog made a point of sticking her nose down as many hoof prints as she could get away with. 

At one point, Rich had hysterical laughter as I watched his comical footsteps disappear at random depths up to a couple of feet into the snow. I managed a few supportive comments without sniggering and on he trooped.

We hate backing off anything. The views were magnificent and it was fabulous to be out in the snow but when we reached the end of the track and about a couple of kilometres from the top, the weather changed with cloud dropping, it snowing heavily and the views disappearing. On top if that, the snow became marginally softer and Little Dog was in trouble on every footstep. Now, it's funny to watch Rich but neither of us liked seeing our pooch struggle. We carried on for a bit to see if it changed, but no. 

So, round we turned and stomped on out. We both remembered the only time we've turned back on a hill in a horrific gale and snow storm. So today was a bit strange; it could have been done and maybe if Little Dog was in her teens we'd have continued but, our sensible heads took over. 

Getting to the top of something is always satisfying but it's still been a fabulous day out. And CJ is tired but not injured.

And then tonight, I read about blipper ASG having a heart attack. I've followed his inspiring journal and photography from very early on in my blip life, watching how his life has evolved. I'm stunned by his death. Shocked at my feeling of loss for someone I've never met and completely saddened for Poppy, his treasure, without her dad. The glimmer of light is in the Blip journal left behind for his family to keep in their hearts.