The Paddler Magazine Issue 61 Late Summer 2021 | Page 34

ThePADDLER 34
HARD TO JUDGE I was concerned that the increasingly long fetch would make larger waves the further we went . However , the opposite was happening . The wind was easing slightly , and the waves were flattening . What I think was happening was the effect of two mountain-funnelled winds meeting , then easing where the hills fell back . So many factors come into play on mountain lochs ; it ’ s often very hard to judge what will happen even if you have a good forecast .
The remaining miles were far more relaxed , and we could enjoy ourselves again as we headed once more to the moorland end of the loch . We planned to head out via an alternative , easier , track and we ’ d put a car at Poolewe for this eventuality . Three-quarters of the way back along Fionn Loch , a small pier gives access to this track , which heads off across the fabulously named Bad Bog .
Here we stopped and lunched and then re-packed our canoes for trolleying . We were 10km from the car . Fortunately , the track is good enough for a proper trolley portage , and we could carry all our kit in the canoes , though most of us put at least one bag on our backs . At least we didn ’ t need to do any more ‘ thereand-back-and-there ’ portage legs . That doesn ’ t mean it was easy , though , and once again , we were glad the
Day five : on the summit of A ’ Mhaighdean kids were happy to help push and pull our heavy loads . The track was flat then downhill , but the little climbs felt more frequent than the short downs .
STEEP PORTAGE Eventually , we reached the edge of the moor , and the track dropped more steeply . Now it was a case of ‘ brakeman ’ at the back and careful not to let the loads run away from us . As we rolled onwards , the landscape became less wild , with plantations and then the site of the small fields around the estate farm of Kernsary . We ’ d once camped near here , and with time pressing , hoped to be able to do so again . In the meantime , I ’ d finally got a forecast . Unfortunately , this was for strong winds the next day . It , therefore , didn ’ t seem sensible to plan to paddle on Loch Maree , and instead , we would continue the portage straight out to the car .
Above : our route ( Copyright Ordnance Survey 2021 )