tanish999's Photobucket media

YMCA

tanish999 — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:02:56 MDT

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Gents, looks like AK must have joined that party with Vin when he was coming down the BIG BEN

The bridge from the hostel where the path to mountain begins.

tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 11:04:53 MDT

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This picture was taken at 8:00am, which was two hours behind the start time set for me by the rest of the crew. Not being as , fit and light as the rest, it was decided I should start two hours earlier than the rest so as to have a hope of being at the top at the same as everyone else.

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 11:04:45 MDT

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standing on the bridge prior to stepping off for my trek to reach the summit of Ben Nevis

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 11:04:37 MDT

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a feeble attempt to show the world i meant business------- later events would show otherwise.

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 11:04:29 MDT

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Having crossed the bridge across from the hostel, this is actually where the Ben Nevis path begins.

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 11:04:21 MDT

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A little plaque to indicate you are on your way to the ascent of Ben Nevis.

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 11:04:13 MDT

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The Glen Nevis Youth Hostel path is a very steep climb to join the path which starts from the Glen Nevis Visitors Centre.

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 11:04:06 MDT

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Just a little look back to the start of the path, from whence i came.

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 11:03:56 MDT

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A picture from further up the Youth Hostel path.

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 11:03:48 MDT

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Looking up the steep climb from the Youth Hostel path.

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 11:03:40 MDT

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Looking down the Youth Hostel path back to the starting point.

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 11:03:31 MDT

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Further up the Youth Hostel path which was to become a nightmare on my return journey.

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 11:03:22 MDT

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Here the Youth Hostel path joins the main path which starts from the Glen Nevis vistors centre which is a 1.5miles from here. At this point a huge party of 150 charity trekkers raising money for Kidney Relief were met up with.

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 11:03:16 MDT

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Walking up the mountain trail with the charity trekkers.

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 11:03:08 MDT

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Charity trekkers were very organised with lots of rangers guiding the group. The trekkers all had numbered labels strapped to their legs to help keep tabs on who went up and came down.They had regular stops to try and keep all the group together.

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 11:03:01 MDT

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It is 9:24 am at this point. My starting time was 8:40 am and I was about one six of the way up to the top.

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 11:02:54 MDT

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Turning the camera back to give you an indication of what the view looks like from one sixth of the way

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 11:02:46 MDT

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Why trekkers come up in their hoards up this mountain, there is no medal gained or prize money to be claimed is a question that baffles me. Mountaineers training for greater challenges I can comprehend, but trekkers like me and my companions, what drives us up here on these harsh challenges is one to ask each individual.

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 11:02:39 MDT

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Looking across at other hills in the area.

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 11:02:32 MDT

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The first of two metal footbridges to be crossed.

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 11:02:24 MDT

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More scenery of hills across the way.

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 11:02:17 MDT

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At this point I am nearly one third of the way, the scenes of the area below gives you an indication of I how high up it is. At this point I was sweating profusely and there was a chill wind in their forcing me to resort to putting on my hat.

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 11:02:09 MDT

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This point has been regarded in some internet photos I had previously seen being described as the halfway point. It is really only one third of he way according to my GPS data at the time. Still it is an achievement to reach here. I reached here about 10:40 am , two hours from the time i started.

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 11:02:02 MDT

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Looking up the ascent from the third of the way point.

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 11:01:54 MDT

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More trekkers reaching the third of the way point.

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 11:01:46 MDT

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I have now been caught up by two of my fellow trekking mates , who had given me a head start of at least one hour. The rabbit has now been chased down by the hounds.

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 11:01:37 MDT

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Manohar, the fittest of the four of us in our group today.

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 11:01:28 MDT

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Manohar and me . Very soon we were to be joined a third member of our group (Fiaz) who was not very far behind Manohar.

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 11:01:20 MDT

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Looking in good shape at this point, the honeymoon was not to last for me. Note the compass strap hanging out of my pocket inidicating a highly professional set of walkers---- the reality is some what different---- none of us having the skill to be able navigate with a map and compass properly. Shame shame !!!

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 11:01:11 MDT

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Manohar and Fiaz at the third of the way point. Fiaz was sweating profusely prior to this photo which had suprised me considering he trains regulary in the gym at least twice a week at a boxercise and kobo class.

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 11:01:01 MDT

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The one and only photo (i think) of three of us on the mountain at the same location. I did meet the boys again as they were coming down whilst i was still on my ascent.

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 11:00:51 MDT

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A zoomed in look at a waterfall which i believe is known as the Red Burn. It would be quite a while before i would get to the point where we cross the waterfall. It is 10:58 am at this point.

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 11:00:43 MDT

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Further up the ascent . This group had just walked across to the left to take a closer look at the lake that was up here. Unfortunately my earlier research did not reveal the name of the lake.

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 11:00:36 MDT

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A quick look across at the unknown lake.

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 11:00:29 MDT

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The father -in -law and son -in law at the rear were a feature in quite a lot of my ascent . The father-in -law had recovered from heart bypass surgery and had a special desire to do this climb.

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 11:00:21 MDT

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The start of the famous zig zags, from where i thought there would be some respite on the trek in terms of constant incline. At this point Manohar and Fiaz had stormed ahead of me . The fourth member of our trek , Dr Khan was soon to catch up with me at this point.

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 11:00:14 MDT

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Looking further up the zig zag trail,apparently there are eleven of these bends along the way fof varying lengths. This is where I felt the trail started to get harder for me. The onset of the mist dropped the temperature significantly, and, now i was no longer comfortable trekking in my shorts.

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 11:00:07 MDT

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A glance back to the lake from the start of the zig zags.

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 11:00:00 MDT

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At this point there was light relief on the track as the trail here was a cinder track--- very welcome relief from the steps and boulders I had experienced earlier and what was to come ahead.

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:59:53 MDT

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The fourth member of the crew , Dr Khan (Asif), not a real doctor by the way--- but another blooming accountant --- see guys I don't swear all the time.

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:59:46 MDT

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The first time in my life I had seen evidence of how much hair I have lost in recent times. Baldness is not a feature in the males of my family. So how come nature has gone wrong with me? Oh well, cest la vie.

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:59:38 MDT

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Posing for the camera! The extra baggage really must go in the near future, or , else all these treks in the future will be a real struggle.

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:59:30 MDT

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A familiar pose if you have seen any pictures of my past treks.

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:59:22 MDT

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The Red Burn ( waterfall) as featured in an earlier shot.

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:59:13 MDT

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Posing by the Red Burn . Ok so its not quite Niagra or the Angel falls, but still a pretty sight.

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:59:04 MDT

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"Play it again Sam"----comment wasted on any anyone under 40 or lacking in culture--- haven't you seen Casablanca ?

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:58:54 MDT

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Looking down the Red Burn. It must be must be a beautiful sight in full flow when the rains come down.

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:58:45 MDT

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Enjoy.

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:58:36 MDT

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Another part of the zig zag trail , an easier part of it , the horrible bits are to come.

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:58:27 MDT

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Bags of stone carried up to maintain the path--- get real who's going carry all that weight. They get flown in by helicopter.

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:58:19 MDT

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:58:13 MDT

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Having a break along the way. A this point it was nearly 12:40 am, so nearly fours into my journey. I believe, judging from what the boys had told me, Manohar and Fiaz must have reached the summit at this point .

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:58:05 MDT

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Look here dad, there's no signal up here !

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:57:58 MDT

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It's now pretty damn cold up here. People have reached the summit and are on the way down, whilst the likes of me are yet to have that pleasure.

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:57:52 MDT

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Look at this path, very difficult to walk on with any comfort. Any thoughts of great views from summit are dashed by the thick fog or cloud line.

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:57:44 MDT

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Its 2:00pm and am now bumping into Dr Khan who has reached the summit and on his way back down. From here he claimed it would take me two more hours to reach the summit, which considering I had reached the summit at 4:00 pm was a very good estimate. Most people would have reached in 30 to 60minutes.

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:57:37 MDT

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Dr Khan taking a breather.

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:57:30 MDT

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Stopping for refreshments and to put on extra layers, by now its really cold and my back was getting very stiff. I think the extreme cold and delay in acting on it is where i really lost a lot of time. sitting down for these breaks caused my muscles legs to stiffen.

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:57:21 MDT

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At long last I have reached the Summit of Ben Nevis. But the cost has been high , my fingers were close to frost bite , my legs had seized up, and the journey down was going to perilous as the rains had come in and made the stones on the path wet and slippery.

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:57:14 MDT

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This photo is what this trip was all about. The "Holy Grail."Right now there's a bitter sweet taste to this photo. May be later I will enjoy this photo more, once all the aches pains , both physical and mental have healed.

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:57:07 MDT

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Totally fatigued, having a a few minutes rest before starting my descent. My legs were cold and wet and as a result had seized up, thus making the descent extremely difficult for me. Five layers of clothing just about kept the body warm.

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:57:00 MDT

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tanish999 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:56:52 MDT

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The last photo taken, I was on the descent and it was 5:45pm at this point. After this progress was extremely slow due to the slippery conditions of the trail and the fact that darkness was soon to arrive. Without the aid of my head torch I would not have got down safely.It was 10:30 pm before my tired , bedraggled and shattered body reached the comfort of the hostel where I had started from.

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tanish999 — Sun, 2 Aug 2009 06:21:17 MDT

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tanish999 — Sun, 2 Aug 2009 05:32:35 MDT

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view looking down into valley from the car park---- very thick low level mist

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tanish999 — Sun, 2 Aug 2009 05:32:21 MDT

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parked up at Pen Y Pas car park at 7.45am after having driven up from London at 1.30am. If you get here after 7.30am usually no space and you have to park miles away ----hence the need to leave at the ridiculous hour. Very difficult drive up to Snowdonia with no sleep except a half hours rest at Telford Services

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tanish999 — Sun, 2 Aug 2009 05:32:04 MDT

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Proof of where i was.

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tanish999 — Sun, 2 Aug 2009 05:31:42 MDT

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other side of car park pretty full already

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tanish999 — Sun, 2 Aug 2009 05:31:28 MDT

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view of cafe and toilets --- cafe not yet open --- after Scaffel Pike i made sure i had a flask of hot coffee to start the day

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tanish999 — Sun, 2 Aug 2009 05:31:08 MDT

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People already walking up the Miners Track at 8.30pm.

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tanish999 — Sun, 2 Aug 2009 05:30:54 MDT

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Photo from car park looking back at the road from which i drove up---the Lanberis pass---- scary drive when your half asleep and have a phobia for heights

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tanish999 — Sun, 2 Aug 2009 05:30:36 MDT

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Little bit of desription about the Miners Track at start of gate to the path. You can read it better when viewing on full screen on Windows Media Player.

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tanish999 — Sun, 2 Aug 2009 05:30:13 MDT

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Huge contingent of Muslim Aid walkers raising money for Bin Laden --- justjoking if anyone from MI5 viewing.

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tanish999 — Sun, 2 Aug 2009 05:29:53 MDT

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Picture of me after having psyched my self up for the walk. I was overdressed here as i was to find out later when none of bad weather actually materialised. It didn't rain once all the way during my walk

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tanish999 — Sun, 2 Aug 2009 05:29:09 MDT

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Took a while for me to start the walk as had to be sure I had packed everything i needed.Also several toilet breaks taken due to nervousness and still being tired from the drive up. Sure as hell missed the rest of the crew---- but this solo effort had to be done to prove something to myself.

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tanish999 — Sun, 2 Aug 2009 05:28:24 MDT

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Started walking at 9.10 am ---- snapping already ---- little mini waterfall early in the walk.

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tanish999 — Sun, 2 Aug 2009 05:27:01 MDT

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Looking across from the path---still mist hanging around.

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tanish999 — Sun, 2 Aug 2009 05:26:42 MDT

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series of stupid attempts at a self portrait with camera held in front of me.

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tanish999 — Sun, 2 Aug 2009 05:26:19 MDT

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tanish999 — Sun, 2 Aug 2009 05:26:07 MDT

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tanish999 — Sun, 2 Aug 2009 05:25:56 MDT

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tanish999 — Sun, 2 Aug 2009 05:25:43 MDT

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The 'Choudary' family as I called them . My first pace makers..... soon I left was behind due to re-adjusing my clothing----- I was getting very hot !!!

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tanish999 — Sun, 2 Aug 2009 05:25:15 MDT

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From my path another look at the road leading upto car park---- earlier it was shrouded in mist ---- see how quickly it clears ( also comes out of nowhere very quickly if you're not careful).

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tanish999 — Sun, 2 Aug 2009 05:24:57 MDT

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The Choudary's getting away from me.

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tanish999 — Sun, 2 Aug 2009 05:24:34 MDT

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First little pond along the way---- doesn't merit Lake status.

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tanish999 — Sun, 2 Aug 2009 05:24:10 MDT

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Top left you can see the trail snaking away in the distance. All that to go and much much more

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tanish999 — Sun, 2 Aug 2009 05:23:29 MDT

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tanish999 — Sun, 2 Aug 2009 05:23:06 MDT

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tanish999 — Sun, 2 Aug 2009 05:22:27 MDT

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First site of a real Lake. Views like these make the pain to come worth it!

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tanish999 — Sun, 2 Aug 2009 05:21:58 MDT

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Lake No. 1.

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tanish999 — Sun, 2 Aug 2009 05:21:31 MDT

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Rangers vehicle by the lake

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tanish999 — Sun, 2 Aug 2009 05:21:06 MDT

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View of hill nad waterfall in distance.

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tanish999 — Sun, 2 Aug 2009 05:20:45 MDT

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A stunning path across the lake.

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tanish999 — Sun, 2 Aug 2009 05:20:14 MDT

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On the lake path looking across to one side of lake.

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tanish999 — Sun, 2 Aug 2009 05:19:56 MDT

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View the other way

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tanish999 — Sun, 2 Aug 2009 05:19:30 MDT

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Looking back at path just crossed.

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tanish999 — Sun, 2 Aug 2009 05:19:06 MDT

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Waterfall coming up.

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tanish999 — Sun, 2 Aug 2009 05:18:38 MDT

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Closer view of the water fall feeding into the lake

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tanish999 — Sun, 2 Aug 2009 05:17:57 MDT

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Another view of the same waterfall

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tanish999 — Sun, 2 Aug 2009 05:16:52 MDT

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Water from the fall entering the lake