Snow on Ben Wyvis
October 3rd 2008
Ben Wyvis has its first snowy blanket of the year. It’s more of a delicate white throw than a twenty-five tog duvet, but it’s extremely fetching nonetheless. The hill stands out beautifully with the sun catching the snow, making it appear nearer than usual.
It’s so pretty, it almost makes me want to climb it again. Almost. It’s a straighforward mountain, with a great path and no long walk in, but of all the Munros I’ve climbed this one took the most effort – both times. It felt like there was something in the hill itself draining my energy down into it through my feet. I wouldn’t have made it to the top at all last time if Lee hadn’t bullied me on step by step.
There may be a clue in the name. There are several versions. The Gaelic name, Glas Leathad Mor means ‘big green slope’ which is fairly innocuous. The other meanings recorded are much more sinister, including Terrible Hill and Hill of Terror. Obviously the Big Green Slope version was given by someone who looked up at the hill one sunny summer’s day from a comfy picnic spot down at sea level. Whoever came up with the others had definitely been to the top.