The Grey men of Ben McDuih

The Legend:

According to the legend, the Grey Man is a presence or figure that haunts the mist-shrouded slopes of Ben MacDhui. Those who have reported encounters with the Grey Man describe a sensation of being watched, an eerie feeling of not being alone, and a presence that seems to follow them in the dense fog. Some accounts mention a figure shrouded in mist or a looming shadow that appears briefly before vanishing into the fog.

Witness Accounts:

One of the earliest documented accounts of the Grey Man dates back to 1925 when mountaineer and author J. Norman Collie recounted his experience on Ben MacDhui. Collie reported feeling an unseen presence, a feeling of dread, and the sensation of being followed during his solo climb. He described the experience as deeply unsettling and unlike anything he had felt before.

Since Collie's account, there have been numerous reports from hikers, climbers, and mountaineers who claim to have encountered the Grey Man. Many of these accounts share common themes of unease, the feeling of being watched, and a mysterious figure vanishing in the mist.

Scientific Explanation:

While the legend of the Grey Man is steeped in folklore and mystery, some scientists and researchers suggest that these eerie experiences could be attributed to a phenomenon known as the Brocken spectre. The Brocken spectre occurs when a person's shadow is cast upon a cloud bank or fog bank below them, often appearing magnified and surrounded by a halo of light. This optical illusion, combined with the atmospheric conditions prevalent in the Cairngorms, could explain the sightings of a shadowy figure in the mist.

Mission Report

It turs out that this is a mixture of the science and the lore. There are indeed things in those hills who ill stalk travelers mostly unseen except for the shadows upon the mist. Violent contact was made and we doubt that there will be further incidents.

1st Lt. J. Harcourt.