In July we reached number 40 of the 70 Munro challenge on Buachaille Etive Mor, the poster Munro. This was a catch-up Munro since we’d not managed to do it during Christian Aid Week as planned, due to icy conditions. It was only as we were ascending it with Neil laden with bottles of bubbly and birthday cake for Catriona’s 40th that I realised this was also the 40th Munro of the challenge.
As we began making our way up through the clag I have to confess to being a bit weary of heart at starting another day in mist. The conditions from the last few walks were increasing justifying the ’70 shades of grey’ nickname that was beginning to stick to the 70 Munros challenge. I was weary not just for myself and the other frequent munroists but also weary for Catriona – no one plans to climb a Munro on a special birthday anticipating mist. 
Of course when the mist does roll away it makes the view all the more enchanting – and the timing could not have been more perfect. We had just reached the first of the two summits of the day, the bubbly had been popped and the napkins for the cake were being offered around when the curtain lifted and the drama of Glencoe was revealed before us.
The view remained vast and vibrant throughout the afternoon and it was deeply satisfying to be standing on top of the mountain that is so hard to drive past without stopping to photograph. To be on the summit of the mountain whose photograph had launched the challenge in earnest back in November of last year.
With Buachallie Etive Mor complete we were now only 1 Munro behind schedule.
Wendy Wandering 