Ben Cruachan - more inspiration

Today I had the best of walks up another of my favourite mountains, Ben Cruachan.  Ben Cruachan is a remarkable mountain, not least because it is known as "the hollow mountain."  Years ago, an electricity company dug out a vast portion of it's inside and installed a massive hyrdo-electrical plant to produce a large amount of electricity through the power of water.
I also found some more inspiration for my story, Worlds of Wonder.  If you've read The 13th Doorway you will know that a certain baddie becomes trapped and today, I found him and his prison.  Read on to find out more!

My walk started early and in mist, but I knew I would soon rise above the low cloud which lingered over Loch Awe.  When I emerged from the clouds, I was met with a wonderful view.

Truly beautiful.

I've only ever seen two Brocken Spectres in my life.  Today, I was priviledged to see my 3rd.  A brocken spectre can only occur when you are standing in sunlight while your shadow is cast onto cloud below you.  Here is the result.

Here is a close up - it's like being able to see your own aura!

It's quite a magical effect.

I soon came to Cruachan Dam wall, which holds back a reservoir of water used in electricity production.  It's an impressive feat of engineering.

I continued upwards and the views opened up behind me. Loch Awe is very beautiful.

I had to climb up some snowy sections today and then a very rocky section to get the summit.  As Worlds of Wonder is set partly in a mountainous world, Beinnarduum, I was able to think of scenes and pictured my characters interacting and getting into bother while ascending their own mountains.
Summit view.

A very happy me on the summit.

There were a couple of tricky sections after the summit and I had to put on my microspikes to cross some banks of snow.  On the way down, I took this photo of the ridge I used to ascend the mountain.

I love the contrasts in that picture.
I wandered down, happy as can be.  I'm always looking around for things I could use in my book.... and then I came to this old, gnarled tree.
At first I thought there was a doorway hidden in its base.

Then I realised something.  There is a bright, circular light emanating from within - you can see it on the picture.  This tree surely has to hold some life force.....
I looked upwards and could almost see the face of Mahasanyatu screaming at me from within.  The tree looks like it's some ancient evil being....take a look.

I could hear him, plotting his escape, plotting the demise of Mark, Megan and Andrew, plotting the end of time itself........
Don't worry.... I know it's fiction.... or is it??? :)
My last picture shows the sun shining over Loch Awe as I neared the end of my walk.

After all, light always winds in the end.......

A  wonderful day out, taking 6 and a half hours.  Hope you liked it and now, I'm off to write some more of my book! :)