Grey Mare's Tail

[Ken Rennie]

I had a day out in Southern Scotland yesterday, the forecast was for bright overcast in the morning and sunny intervals in the afternoon but that was not what happened. This is an area of rounded hills, approx 2,000ft high, with deep glaciated valleys and here a hanging valley with the countries fifth highest waterfall (200ft). I originally walked up the path shown on the lower left but a small landslide had removed the path. I thought that I could get round what was only a 10ft wide gully but trying to climb above it discovered that the rock was crumbling under my fingers so that wasn't safe. It looked possible to slide down the 45 degree rock face for 30ft but then I would have to stop before a 50ft sheer drop into the river so common sense took over and I retraced my steps. This shot was taken from the other side and climbing up further I found out the 10ft slip had a much larger one further on. I have noticed another way to get into a position where I can see the entire waterfall but I have never seen photographs showing this so perhaps it isn't that easy. I managed many more images which I am about to process so they will appear slowly as I am not a quick processor. Ken

 

[AlanLichty]

The trail gives a nice sense of scale to the scene. Beautiful falls and some incredibly steep terrain.

 

[Ben Egbert]

Love your back story, and you are one persistent photographer. Very nice results.

 

[JimFox]

Wow Ken! What a cool looking waterfall. It's interesting to walk in your steps there. Is there a way to go above that trail? It looks like an animal path curving right above it? Perhaps that you could get you a bit higher on that side?

 

[Ken Rennie]

Wow Ken! What a cool looking waterfall. It's interesting to walk in your steps there. Is there a way to go above that trail? It looks like an animal path curving right above it? Perhaps that you could get you a bit higher on that side?

Yes Jim I saw the sheep trail and will try it next time. There also looks like a flat grassy knoll above the splash pool. I thought that I would go an look this time but by the time that I got back down the hill my legs had reached the "jelly" ( jello?)stage. My total walk was only 5 miles but with 1,000 ft of, at times, very steep scrambling but it left me tired. I may need to get fitter. Ken

 

[Jameel Hyder]

Interesting terrain. Nice composition - has a long of angles to this.

 

[Douglas Sherman]

Nice, Ken. Don't endanger yourself. No need to do that.

 

[JimFox]

Yes Jim I saw the sheep trail and will try it next time. There also looks like a flat grassy knoll above the splash pool. I thought that I would go an look this time but by the time that I got back down the hill my legs had reached the "jelly" ( jello?)stage. My total walk was only 5 miles but with 1,000 ft of, at times, very steep scrambling but it left me tired. I may need to get fitter. Ken

A 1000 foot gain while carrying camera gear, will start to turn most any legs to jello. I turned down a hike last weekend that starts at a little over 9,000ft and ends up at a little over 10,500ft. With all of that in 3.5 miles because I felt I wasn't ready yet to do that yet. I hadn't been doing any uphill training to that degree and prefer to work up to that. So I totally get you with your legs. Especially as we get older, it's best to be smarter about some of these hikes.