The mara was enthusiastically emptying itself over the lands of the Conmaicne this morning, but at least that meant the waterfalls on the way up Knocknahullion were looking good. Even though I knew it was coming the sheer bald rockiness of Lugbaun still came as a shock. You come over the lip of the last falls and it hits you in the face like a blow. Once into the hidden grassy coum behind another thing hit me strongly too - despite the rubbish weather there was absolutely nowhere else I'd rather be. In better weather the scrambles up the back of the coum are fun, but given the (non) friction of wet quartzite I opted for the steep grass up right to join the ridge heading up towards Knocknahullion main summit. At the ridge a third thing hit me, the wind, but at least the lumpiness of the Maum Turks enables you to duck out of it a lot of the time. After visiting the summit I retraced my steps to the col and continued over the North Top and Barr Log Riabhach, with the little lochans providing comforting indications that I was where I thought I was. The first bit of the ridge up to Letterbreckaun is nicely narrow, a reminder that I really must investigate those slabs down to the right one day. The main hill itself was blocking the wind nicely too. One day I will get a view from the top of Letterbreckaun, but realistically it was never going to happen today, and duly didn't. That's hill 4 me 0, but at least it wasn't snowing this time. Back down at the col with Barr Log Riabhach I decided to cut down directly westwards. I'd scrambled about here in the past and figured I could find a way down. All went ok, with a few zigzag sheep tracks to help, but it definitely isn't a recommended way off unless you're happy with commitment and exposure. Needless to say, the weather improved as soon as I got down, but I'd had a hugely enjoyable few hours despite it. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/260/comment/20078/