Out & ‘back’
After two weeks off which began with a painful back muscle spasm and was followed by 10 days of something which presented in suspiciously similar fashion to Covid-19, setting out to run the Sgùrr Thuilm Horseshoe beyond Glenfinnan felt at once alien, improbable and remarkably liberating.
Fresh snow covered the lowest slopes, and thick cloud the highest. It cleared as we gained height, giving way to blue skies and superb views across Streap and along the length of Loch Shiel. It didn’t last long. On the ridge above Sgurr A’ Choire Riabhaich the clag closed in claustrophobic embrace and by the time we topped out on Sgurr Nan Coireachan - the first of the planned Munros - the wind was whipping spindrift in blinding flurries across the tops.
All fairly standard stuff for a winter day on the hill, and not of any particular concern until I felt the same sudden tightening across my lower back, the same debilitating pain and immediate loss of mobility. Completing the short round was suddenly and very obviously out of the question. And down we went, lending new meaning to the familiar reference, Out and Back.
