6 strangers and the hangovers from hell...up a Corbett!!!

The following story is true in it's entirety...except for the slight embelishments that are part and parcel of every other contributers input to the telling of the tale...bar my own!!

Our story starts on a stormy Saturday November night...deep in the wet environs of Crianlarich...at the local hotel...fueled by a large quantity of alcohol and too much dancing with the locals. We had just completed a climb of Beinn Oss and Beinn Dhubchraig, myself, Mike, Andy and a new addition to our ranks, young Angus Macleod. We would meet up with another of Mike's friends at the hotel, a young gentleman by the name of Paddy Rodgers, who would join us as we attempted Ben Lui the following day. Unfortunately this trip suffered it's own misadventures (previously documented) but not before we had all gotten well enough acquainted to arrange to meet up early in 2012 for (what was billed as) an introductory walk to the year.

As the regular walker among us it befell upon me to select a suitable location and mountain to ascend...with the remit that we would advertise it on our FB site and may expect some non walkers to show an interest if it was easy enough. With that in mind I raked through a list of suitable venues for a walk, where plans could be altered to suit the weather and conditions on the day...also the condition of any of the potential participants. I liaised with the others and together we came up with Garbh Beinn next to Loch Leven.

The logic was that it was a Corbett of some distinction (it nestles in behind the Aonach Eagach Ridge and provides excellent views of it) but not too hard for potential newbies to the group. There was also the added bonus of location near Kinlochleven...where Paddy is mine host at the world famous Tailrace Inn...meaning mates rates on the rooms!! With arrangements made, and posted, we awaited the replies...pleasantly surprised when quite a few said they would be coming...then less surprised when quite a few pulled back out...as happens regularly for any Caberfeidh Munro Bagger trip. The most devestating blow of all came with the withdrawal of our inspirational team leader...the esteemed Mr Charlton (I hate how work gets in the way of hills for anyone!!).

From the ashes of such distressing times can rise unbreakable bonds forged amongst strangers...this was to prove just such an occasion.

The date in February was chosen as a number of us appeared to be celebrating birthday's on or near the time...three of the main participants within days of each other...two of us on the very day of the planned walk. To get in the mood for the walk, and to acquaint ourselves with each other, it was planned to meet at the Tailrace on the Friday night (have a social drink and meal) get to know each other and what the walking abilities/experiences of the group may be...then stay down afterwards on the Saturday night to bask in the glory of our (potential at this stage) achievement. The eventual number reached six walkers and one coming along on Saturday after the walk just to be sociable as she was suffering from an injury that prevented participation in the actual walk.

And so it was that the following band of hardened walker (me), occasional walkers (Angus Macleod and Paddy Rodgers), lucky if they walk to the shops and back (Frank Kerr and Paul Steel) and why walk when you can row?? (Niall Iain Macdonald) gathered at the Tailrace Inn on the evening of Friday 24th February...to be joined on the Saturday afternoon/evening by injured walker (Justine Cumming). I knew Angus and Paddy from the trip to Crianlarich in November, and had swapped messages on FB since then, but had never met any of the others until now. To give the story a little background; I met Angus and Paddy through my friendship with Mike Charlton...Niall Iain Macdonald is friends with Angus...Frank served in the army with Angus and Paddy...Paul is one of Franks two best mates...I know Justine through Mike and FB but have never previously met her.

Phew!!

I would like to add a little bit about the banter and bonding that went on in the pub on Friday night...unfortunately I would be in breach of a number of sworn oaths, some in blood I seem to recall...so will just say that a mutual respect was forged amidst the alcoholic haze...and a number of potential nicknames were bandied about between drunken revellers...and thankfully no animals were hurt during the evenings bonding...that would all be saved for the Saturday instead!!! Angus, Niall and myself arrived at the Tailrace within minutes of each other around half four...to be greeted by Paddy and a welcoming pint. The drink flowed fairly steadily from here on in, only interrupted by a short meal break as we waited for Frank and Paul to join us (they were running late due to Paul not getting clear of work as early as he had hoped) at half eight...by the time they arrived we had drank dry the initial pot of money that I think Angus had deposited behind the bar for us. With the drink flowing freely and the group all together now we topped up the kitty considerably and battered into it with a gay abandon...Frank and Paul were typically gallus weegies, loud and brash, but the grew on me as the night progressed. Niall got increasingly embarrassed each time Angus showed anyone the video he made about his upcoming Atlantic ocean crossing...Paddy eventually stopped serving and settled down to join in...i just watched it all unfold and thought to myself "my you will have a lot to write in this blog"!!
Thankfully there was not a lot of camera action on the Friday night, but as usual there is always someone willing to snap you when you least expect it!!

Saturday morning lurched upon me like the drunken haze that it was...shit it was only half two...only been in bed for an hour!! Zzzzz

Saturday morning take two...no still feels like I'm rough as a badgers bum...double shit it's only four o'clock now!! I thought alcohol would temporarily cure my usual insomnia!! Zzzzz

Saturday morning take three...woo hoo slept till the alarm went off at half eight this time...head doesn't feel like I consumed my own body weight in Crabbies then vodka and ginger beer...but will still take my time getting up and opening my birthday cards...open the curtains...pishing rain, just as was forecast...shower helps...bending to pull on clothes doesn't seem too bad...let's risk breakfast.

Thankfully when I went down for breakfast everyone else was in the same condition...glad the walk doesn't start till eleven o'clock today (forward planning as it should only take four to five hours and still gets us down in time for the rugby later). A quick round the table to make sure that everyone is up for it and a resounding YES is returned. So off we toddle to get our gear on and sort out which cars we are taking to the start, what route we are actually doing (it has a number of start and end points to it, some of which would require cars at either end) and who feels able to drive the five minutes to the start point.

We settled on taking the same route up and down, with perhaps a scenic descent if the ground was too wet to descend steeply off the summit, with Paddy taking his car because he knows the road well and Frank following in his van. So off we set, the strangest collection of walkers you are likely to see on my blog!!

We arrived at the start point and are ready to hit the trail at quarter to eleven GMT...straight up and into an immediate climb of slippy wet boggy slopes (could it possibly be anything else with me around?).   

The slopes at the early part of this walk are unrelenting and wet...a real effort required from the novice walkers amongst the group to dig in, even at this early stage, as the mist was obscuring any chance we had of seeing the summit of Garbh Beinn (or anything else for that matter).

The rain had appeared to ease off just after we started, but soon returned as we gained height on the slopes, but not enough to deflect from the sense of achievement some of the group were feeling (I well recall my first ascent and the sense of satisfaction I got from managing it) at the effort they were putting in. We stopped on quite a few occasions on the way up, for some views of the Loch below and of the mist above, but mainly to keep the group together and motivated.

I think it's fair to say from the smiling faces that we managed that. Frank assumed a snipers pose from an early stage of the walk, notice the low crouch compared to the rest of the upright walkers, this is not to be confused with someone pooped, but he assures me is a technique he learned in the forces to reduce the opportunity for enemy snipers to take him out (I think he should be more worried about snipy comments from the rest of us, but hey ho he will learn).

The first target of the day was to pull up to the ridge of Torran nan Crann at 300m. The rain was picking up but thankfully not dampening anyone's enthusiasm for the slog ahead...indeed it would be fair to say that (in their own small way) everyone was really getting into it today. Frank and Paul were appearing to enjoy the challenge (which they would confirm with stories regailing everyone of their achievement back at the pub later) and Angus was managing to think less and less of the pain he was in from his hernia...christ we were all hoping it chose not to rupture or distend during the climb!!  

If the mist were to clear at any point during the climb up then I'm sure we would have seen some wonderful views back along Loch Leven, up to the rear of the Aonach Eagach Ridge and out to the Pap of Glencoe...but as it were it didn't so we saw very little of anything. I was particularly gutted to miss out on any views into the Mamores, as I still have four to climb from Kinlochleven side. As the rain got worse so did the wind...I think the technical term is 'blowing  a hoolie'!!!

Paul looked longingly over the water, through the mist, dreaming of Saturday afternoon's spent in the pub, not up a hill in the pishing rain!! Whilst Frank just wished I would put away that bloody camera when he was slogging up the steepest bits!!

Once on the steep ridge the going was a little easier for everyone not used to this...though I don't think they saw it like that at the time. Niall was enjoying the challenge, and the wet and cold, as he gears up for bigger and gnarlier challenges than this in the coming months. The frequent stops were proving popular, so long as they were taken out of the wind and rain, as they allowed for some stretching of muscles seldom used...and threats of boaking after too many tequilla's last night...

After half a mile of climbing along the ridge path of Torran nan Crann we dropped slightly into a bealach...then began to climb steeply again as the path followed a trail through some boggy patches then rose sharply up the side of Stob Coire Sgoilte...all the while we could see only the next rise through the mist so I indulged in some kidology to keep the troops going...telling them that each new top the saw was going to be the last one...sometimes it works positively...sometimes not!!

Following that last huge slog up the steep slopes it could have been disheartening for some to realise just how far we still had to go...but not these guys...I can't recall a proper moan coming from any of them about "how much further is it...or are we there yet"??? Especially when some of them were clearly tired and starting to fade...letting the stragglers catch up was just another good excuse for the rest to stop for a while.

For once today the weather was kind to us and the rain stopped, though only briefly, and the mist lifted high enough to get a glimpse of what was out there beneath the clag...and hopefully I managed to capture some of that with a shot back down the length of Loch Leven to Ballachuillish??

 Just after this shot the clag and rain and wind returned to bring us back to the immediate concern of getting up through a particular rocky section. We became strung out as a team, finding our own speed on the slippery rocks and scree of an occasional path, pulling up onto the split corrie and choosing to go around the path then up a mild scree chute (bit risky in the wet today we thought) or traverse up and over the block of rock before coming to another short drop prior to the final 100m climb to the summit...so we traversed up and over and let Frank do his "king of the world" impression...

From here we stumbled through the final remnants of the years snow, which allowed Paddy to stop and wait for Frank coming down off his "cliff face" as he checked how popular he was on his mobile...

The final 100m was a tough pull, but only through the wind that had picked up speed making it difficult to walk in. We pulled up onto the small summit plateau and located the cairn through the mist...standing up against the wind was proving difficult now and, whilst taking pictures, was blasting freezing against my fingers. But it was worth it to get the summit shot of Jelly McBaby.

The troops, though freezing and wet, were only too glad to pose for the camera as well as we got the summit shot we had all worked really really hard for...a big well done to each and every one of them.

Pic taken we hurried off the freezing summit to a little sheltered bit we had passed on the way up...Frank was desperate for a cigarette and could not get any shelter at the summit to get a light!! Unfortunately when we arrived at the sheltered spot he was still unable to get a light...try as he might the poor sod...I think it just gave up the ghost on him!! After a quick five minute stop below the summit we hauled tail down the slopes and returned via the same path we had taken up. This involved a lot more care on the downward route as the rocks were treacherously wet beneath our feet now...I believe that a few of the group slipped and fell over on occasion...thankfully there was no-one with photographic evidence of this!! The team split into two noticable groups on the descent...one led by Angus (even with a hernia waiting to explode with every step on the way up) and included Paul and Niall...whilst I kept tabs with Paddy and Frank a wee bit further back. We made really good time on the downward journey and were pleased to see the road hone into view, realising that we were going to make it back to the cars in three and a half hours...excellent timing considering the weather and underfoot conditions...not to mention the condition of some (if not all) of us at the start. The burning question as we had started full of smiles was would be all be smiling at the end?? Well, what do you think??

 It was a rather cold and wet bunch that reached the car, just after that shot at the bridge, and stood in the pouring rain getting out of wet clothes before embarking on the (thankfully) short trip back to the Tailrace Inn. Someone even had enough energy to practise for his future role as a coxwain on Niall's Atlantic row!!

Once back at the Tailrace we met up with Justine and left her to get the drinks in whilst we all headed off for hot showers and dry clothes!! Me and Justine ended up watching the rugby in the bar as we waited for the rest of the troops to pull themselves away from whatever they were up to upstairs...the rest of the evening was a heady mixture of fun and frollicks and regailing anyone unfortunate enough to be within earshot of our adventures on Garbh Beinn. It would be fair to say that I had a great time with a bunch of relative strangers over the two days...far too many happy memories to ever forget...and loads of ammunition which I have chosen to leave out of this particular blog on this occasion. Highlights of a drunken evening were finding out what was number one in the music charts on our birth dates...then going back nine months to find out what our folks would have been listening to when we were conceived (cheers for that idea Paul)...Paul doing a bad impression of a dog whisperer as a strange looking creature roamed the bar and got too close to him on one occasion..."what you looking at cunt" is hardly the stuff of Robert Redford fame!!! Persuading everyone that getting me and Paddy to down skittle shots was NOT a good idea...though I did accept the large brandy that was offered later...Watching Angus and a regular customer compete in guessing the malt (god Gus is good at it)...Discussing the merits of taking more than one pair of pants on a three month Atlantic row...or at least getting adult huggies instead (I'm a big boy now!!) with Niall..........................all of this pales into insignificance when compared alongside the shocking image that was presented to us, by Paul, of Frank after his shower earlier...grooming the teddies in his room for sexual favours!!!

The rest of the evening was a blur as tiredness kicked in for some and the effects of two nights on the batter took it's toll. Breakfast in the morning was a subdued affair, before fond farewells and promises of returning to do it all again in the future...FULLY CLOTHED THIS TIME FRANK!!!

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As mentioned above, Niall Iain Macdonald is rowing between New York and Stornoway, a total of 3400 miles, on a route never before attempted solo, in May this year. His diary can be accessed here for those interested in reading more about his challenge and who he is raising funds for. I would implore you to give generously for a worthwhile cause folks...I know I will be.

Below is also a link to the video promoting the challenge, which I hope works in this format...
http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=ny2sy&source=video&cd=1&ved=0CDcQtwIwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fvimeo.com%2F35948614&ei=3kVNT-DJOcyd8gOmo8DgAg&usg=AFQjCNEfISP5fdxp3sWxfo3eFNoMk4tGoQ

Until the next time folks...thanks for all the support in my first year of blogging...here's to many more to come x

Day two from Old Blair...still nursing THAT blister!!!

After the strenuous walk of yesterday I was grateful for the five minute drive back to the hotel and a lovely warm shower (though the benefits of a hot bath would become apparent after the 2nd day of long slog!!). I had spent the evening trying to relax with some lovely supper and a bottle of Crabbies (well deserved if I do say so myself), but instead got increasingly frustrated at my inability to log onto the wifi that the hotel had advertised (and had been one of the main reasons for choosing it) as it meant I could not do my blog as I had hoped!! Small things, but they make all the difference when I'm away from home. An early bed beckoned after tea and the chance to have  a bit of a late start by my usual standard...the start point being a mere five minute drive away after all. I was anticipating a decent standard of breakfast, given the quality of the meal last night, but could not have got it more wrong!! Admittedly the chef serves a fine warm plate...unfortunately the contents of said plate were merely lukewarm!! Who wants slightly warm beans and potato scone with barely warmer sausage and bacon??? Certainly not me, but that's what I got!! At least they had a fine line in fruity tea and some decent homemade jam to spread on my toast...but between the breakfast and wifi issue I don't think I will be returning. 

Having settled my bill and packing the car I set off to the car park at Old Blair once more. 

Unfortunately the weather was less than decent today and had been chucking it down all night long...the strum of rain against my window had endeavoured to keep me awake most of the night. This meant I would require to wear my hardshell against the wet, but minimal layering beneath as it was still surprisingly mild for the time of year. I had also decided to dig out my comfortable old Scarpa ZG10's for the occasion...try to save wear and tear on that blister from yesterday.

I followed the path out through the trees, crossed the small bridge over the access road, into trees once more and through the woods surrounding Old Blair. The path rises high above the river flowing through the town, wooden fencing erected along the way to fend off the risk of falling.

Certainly if the wooden fencing is not enough to fend off the risk of falling then the nifty sign with the coolest graphic imaginable should do the trick.

Follow the path through the woods, then out onto the road, back into the woods, then out onto the road again for a while...I was so glad of having comfortable boots on again, almost slipperesque compared to yesterday. Onwards and upwards through a variety of scenery, steep gorges to my right, rolling farm land to my left, then back into the trees again. There are tracks off to the left and right, notably to the falls of Fender on the right, but I continued on the main path until a noticeable branch off to the left through silver birches, eventually bringing you out onto a farm access road at the top. Follow this road for a while until you arrive at the edge of the firing range (which I had passed on the return leg yesterday).

If the red flag is flying then there are shooters about...but the information board back at the car park had informed me it was safe to walk today...phew...who wants to get shot at just for walking a Munro!!

I followed the track as it headed downhill, across cattle grid and over stone bridge, past the shooting range, keeping to the track on the right as any left turn would take you up onto the shooting range.

Eventually the path flattens out again and heads out towards Gilbert's bridge (not a clue who Gilbert is/was but he has a bridge named after him so he must be important around these parts). Just before the bridge there is a gate to the left heading uphill (with a stupid looking little diamond gate beside it for pedestrian access apparently) which is the route to take outbound if you want to admire the scenery and beauty that would be apparent of there were any views through the low clouds!!

This path takes you high up through the woods once more, with expansive views of the river and glen floor below, including a large white farm that I would pass on the return journey. Then the path meanders gently to the glen basin once more...care must be taken in places as the path has eroded to such an extent that some of it more or less fell into the river. Thankfully there are tracks leading away from the river edge and are easily followed out along the valley floor adjacent to the river. There was a high rise in the path which brings you out at a small gate amongst a rocky patch of ground as the path crosses the Ach-Mhairc on a stone bridge...don't know why but all I could think of was "carry on up the Khyber"...very surreal moment in the mind of a lonely Munro bagger.

The path to the left is to a view point, presumably of the beautiful Glen Tilt, whilst the path I followed was to the right and headed back downhill to the glen floor once more. As I walked along this route I passed marble lodge at the other side of the river...arriving at Gaw's bridge. From here the walk carries on along a farm road for a while, crossing Allt Craoinidh on a small bridge.

Once over the bridge look for a faint track through the grass rising up the slope (there are around four or five boulders here to look out for if you cant see the path). Continue to rise steeply for a couple of hundred meters, leaving the bridge and glen floor far below, on the right side of the waterfall, eventually pulling up to join a bulldozed track at 400m. From here the path is well defined and bloody long!! It rises very gradually in places and covers a fair distance until you top out at Glac a Bhuic Eairb at around 750m...from here the track turns NW through increasingly boggy terrain and soft ground on the track (probably from all the rain and melted snow in the past week or so) until it pulls up onto the stony plateau of Carn a' Chlamian. I had to pass through a few patches of icy snow, carefully I might add, and then hauled up through the rocky scree to reach the summit cairn 963m...it took me 3.5 hrs to reach the summit cairn today (yesterday was 3hrs bang on and was a mile longer).

The wind had picked up speed and ferocity as I had gained height along the way...so much so that when I reached the summit cairn I was almost blown backwards by the blast of wind coming across the stony plateau...when I took the pic of Jelly McBaby I was actually lying flat on the ground for fear of being blown over!! There was absolutely no chance of seeing anything from here today, which is a shame as Beinn Dearg is so close, as is Beinn a Ghlo, and the hills of Drumochter...not forgetting Schiehallion of course. Picture taken and getting increasingly cold I headed off to find the path once more...returning via the exact same route as I had ascended until I reached the glen floor once more. I stopped at the bridge to have a sandwich break and was surprised that even at this lever (200m or so) the wind was still managing to buffet me around. Thankfully the rain had long since stopped on the descent and visibility had returned at around 500m, and the temperature had increased as I had lost height.

I crossed the river Tilt at Gaw's bridge and returned on the opposite bank of the river, passing marble lodge and the white farm from earlier (the dogs wer going mental as i approached but were thankfully locked in pens) before eventually crossing Cumhann Leum bridge to take me back to the diamond gate once more.

The remainder of the walk back passed through the same route as outward, once more through the firing range, along the road, through the woods, along the bank high above the river and finally crossing the little stone bridge leading back to the car park. After taking so long to get up to the summit I was pleased to find that I had saved some time on the return route and completed it in exactly 6 hours. Because of the heat in the sun on the return my jacket had more or less dried out also...bonus!! Once back at the car I took time to consider the two journeys I had undertaken over the past two days...upon reflection I would not be adverse to doing either again, though only on a very clear day to guarantee views from upon high.

On the drive back up to Aberdeen my legs seized up after so many miles walked, though the good news is my blister has subsided enough for me to not feel it any longer...roll on Saturday 25th and a chance to catch up with the guys out at Kinlochleven...the Crabbies are on them!!

      

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2 days + 34 miles + 1 huge blister = 2 remote Munro's from Old Blair!!! (Day one)

A week off work...my first of the year...and not only that but it included both weekends (9 days off in total)!! Now what was a young single man about town going to do with all that time off?? God only knows...but I was going walking!!

Initial plans were a little weather disrupted, we had terrible forecast for the weekend, which included snow and gales higher up, leading to thawing and mildness at the start of the week. Given that I was involved in a car crash two years ago, on the 19th Feb, and still have vivid memories of it, I avoid doing any driving on that date. So with that and the weather against me anyway I settled for trying the 21st and 22nd instead...but where to go?? I had heard that Beinn Dearg and Carn a'Chlamain were not really much more than elongated walks, with a little steep rise near the end of both, and as I was going alone and did not quite know what to expect from the weather, I settled on them (it was also in my mind to get them out of the way as they were such looooong isolated Munro's, and as it was still winter I could justify only doing one summit per day).

With all that in mind I headed down the A90 and up the A9 to Blair Atholl, arriving at the car park at Old Blair just before ten on Tuesday 21st Feb.

There were already a few cars in the car park...it's a popular walking area with a variety of routes for all abilities (but as I was to later discover there was only one other hill walker out that day...the rest were dog walkers taking advantage of the surprisingly mild conditions). As I was still expecting snow and freezing summits I dressed accordingly...baselayers (top and bottom) warm new winter trousers (what an asset they are proving to be, I should have bought them long ago) and my thick soft shell jacket and fleece hat...most of which I had to discard in the opening half an hour!!! The start of the walk follows a road out of the car park and out towards Banvie woods, some slight uphill incline as you follow the route of the burn and ignoring any branches off to the left or right...unfortunately wearing rigid soled four season boots on this terrain was to prove a nightmare as my shins were burning very early on and I could feel the start of a blister (can only remember having had three previous blisters in 152 Munro's).

As I left Banvie woods I stopped to remove my Jacket and hat, in the hope that it would be enough to cool me down as I continued my walk...within half a mile I had to stop again and remove my baselayer trousers (thankfully no-one was around to see me in a state of half-nakedness cursing the mild weather as I stripped down to my pants and socks) as I took time to reassess my attire. 

Once dressed again I set off again...on what felt like the road to nowhere...mile after mile of desolate moorland stretched out in front of me...cloud hanging so low that there were none of the hoped for views of what is apparently a lovely area for walking!!!

The track was monotonous...save for a cairn in the middle of nowhere for no apparent reason...most odd...and a few cairns I could see on some of the surrounding low hills. After two hours of trudging (and indeed that's exactly how it felt today) I arrived at the bothy at the bottom of Beinn Dearg.

I stepped inside and read through some of the entries in the log book (ha ha ha we are the peepil indeed...not anymore son!!!) and left a mention of Jelly McBaby and where we were heading.

Beyond the bothy the track rises, following the route of the Allt Sheicheachan until you reach a point in the path where you can cross the stream. At this point the route continues on the left of the stream, heading in zig-zags uphill, as crossing the stream on the right is the return route. So off I headed, zig-zagging all the way up a steep path, in decreasing visibility, to a summit that I was going to see nothing off the top of...with a blister that was beginning to get to me  a little...all in the name of fun...canna beat it!!! Around halfway up the slopes the path splits, the main one off to the right, and a minor one to the left. I took the minor one as it felt like an opportunity to leave the clear path and head up grassy slopes...feels more like a hill I think. This path peters out and I was left finding my own way to the top, in poor visibility now, until regaining the main path as it arrives at, what appeared to be, a summit cairn.

Now I know what happens on the hills stays on the hills...however I feel it's appropriate to share this with you as I found it invaluable today...THIS IS NOT THE SUMMIT CAIRN...IS IT POLLY??? Having read her recent report, and seen pictorial evidence supporting this, I knew that the true summit lay another 50m higher and a few hundred meters further on...cheers for the pointer Polly. Out of the gloom came the only other person foolish enough to be out here today, an older English fella from Dundee who informed me that he had retired (lucky bugger, though it must have been early retirement by the look of him) and was going to do all the Munro's this year...good luck to you indeed. He informed me that the summit lay where I knew it would (sorry Polly, that's the last mention) and that I should stick to the left of the path as the snow had iced over and he had almost landed on his behind a few times crossing it. With this in mind I thanked him and forged on to the summit cairn, which sits on the middle of a field of rocks, a trig point surrounded by a shelter cairn at 1008m.

By the time I got up here I could feel the wind chilling me considerably as the wind picked up and was blasting me quite forcibly sideways. I took shelter behind the cairn long enough to get Jelly McBaby out and catch him posing on the trig point.

With the wind increasing it seemed prudent to leave, saving my ginger cake and custard for later...so I stuffed a sandwich in my mouth and left sharpish!! Mother nature had obviously decided to punish me for removing so much layers of clothing earlier...it was bloody freezing now...the wind was a nightmare as I progressed slowly back to the 'other' cairn and found my minor path down the slopes again. By the time I got to the main path again the wind had subsided and I was able to enjoy the rest of my sandwich as I stopped for a well deserved five minutes. 

I zig-zagged my way back down hill to the stream at the bottom, crossed it and headed steeply back uphill slightly on the slopes of Beinn a Chait before following the bull dozed track back along the headwaters of the Allt Slanaidh...eventually crossing it and following the path high above the firing range below in Glen Tilt...I even caught a brief glimpse of my target for tomorrow Carn a'Chlamain...

...arriving back at the car tired and sore (well parts of me anyway) after a gruelling five hours fifty two minutes of often monotonous plodding!! What a relief it was to get my boots off and let my feet breathe...and even better knowing that it was a mere five minute drive to my overnight accommodation in Blair Atholl...bliss!! At least the route tomorrow is two miles shorter than today's 18 mile epic...phew.

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Faulty gear (box) not enough to stop me...

After a successful jig of the roster at work I had managed to get off on Tuesday 14th, which would allow me to meet up with Polly for a walk. Unfortunately, my intention to return to Arrochar and bag Ime (along with the Cobbler) was foiled by school holidays and no accommodation anywhere in the immediate area. We scratched our heads and came up with Beinn Mhanach (up beyond Tyndrum) as an alternative.
I booked overnight accommodation in Crianlarich for the Monday night and left after work on Monday for a leisuirely drive down from Aberdeen. A strange thing happened on the way down...my mobile fone kept receiving messages...more than is normal...and a quick check informed me that it was almost time for ice cream and jelly!!
I stayed at the Inverardran B&B, where I stayed on one previous trip down last year, and enjoyed an early night in anticipation of an early ish start tomorrow...
Polly text me early the next morning to let me know that she was on her way and would actually be early this time...There endeth the good news for Polly today!!
When Polly pulled up in her car she informed me that it had been in for a service yesterday and there was a problem with the gear box, though she had been assured that it would be okay to drive until getting replaced...clearly this information was generated by a trained monkey and not an actual mechanic working for arnold clark (doesn't even deserve capitals for the way they treated Polly)!! As we had decided to leave my car and take Polly's I started to unload my gear as she started her engine...DISASTER!! Apparently the crunching noise we heard was her gear box giving up its ability to enjoy a healthy life and basically die in front of us!! The car was stuck in reverse gear and nothing would shift it from its final resting place.
The alternative now was for Polly to attempt to sort things out with arnold clark (spit) over the fone and take my car instead...unfortunately this didn't work out as planned either...arnold clark proved to be less than helpful and Polly was left with no alternative but to head back to Glasgow by train and try to sort things from home...I had fallen behind, time wise, and would have to review my own plans now.
I settled upon the alternative plan of doing Ben Challum, as it was a shorter day and less of a drive, after I had dropped Polly off at the train station in Crianlarich. I drove the short distance to the layby adjacent to the start of the walk, only to find it chock full of cars.

So I headed back along the road for 250yrds to another layby, parked up, and then walked back along the busy road to pick up the path on my right.

Initially the path is on tarmac and heads out to farm buildings, crossing the bridge over the river fillan on way, not the easiest walk in four season boots. 

Once at the farm turn to the left and follow the path up to the cemetry, where you then turn left off the main path and follow a faint path through the grass to the railway crossing...unfortunately I veered slightly right and crossed at the bridge instead.

Once over the rail tracks the path heads off uphill, following a fence line for the majority of the way. This is a rather boggy route and I would imagine it's a nightmare in wet weather!! Thankfully the ground was quite firm in places due to the remaining frost, though it had its wet moments on the way up also.

I crossed a stile over a high fence and kept climbing, crossing another more awkward stile further up...

dignity goes right out the window when you cross these things...thankfully there is no video evidence of any slips or stumbles that may or may not have occurred!!
The views opening up of the surrounding hills were magnificent...all the way back to Crianlarich (and beyond)...out to Ben Lui circuit...and on to Tyndrum and Bridge of Orchy...and everything in between. Further up, around 600m the path flattens out and I caught my first sight of Ben Challums snowy top.

There is a short drop down then sharp re-ascent to the stony south top, very slippy with ice on the main path, far easier climbed on the grass further to the right through the patches of snow that remain. After around 90 mins of walking I topped out on the south summit, an icy stony plateau with a cairn encased in snow. The snow thickened as I proceeded towards it, making walking far easier. I initially thought that this was it, but I could see that there was another top further along and folk were heading to it.

At this point there is a cleft in the summit leading to a short ridge. Head left towards this ridge (which was covered in thick snow today) and follow it to a small bealach...then climb the sharp slope to the real summit cairn 1025m.

On my right there was a vast amount of snow that had collected and I stayed well away from that to the left of the slope up. I managed without micro-spikes and ice axe on the way up, using my poles shortened instead.

I met a young couple at the summit and offered to take their pic in a quid pro quo style...then got a pic of Jelly McBaby on the cairn. I snapped off a few of the surrounding hills and then beat a hasty retreat from the wind.

There were a few opportunities to practise ice axe arrests on the way down the slope between the two summits which I thoroughly enjoyed.
The rest of the way down was spent trying to keep my feet on the icy surface and plodding through patches of snow and finally boggy wet slopes further down...I will admit to slipping at one point and doing the splits (I thought I had done my knee some real damage as it twisted awkwardly beneath me, one pole sticking in the ground in front of me and the other behind me, but thankfully the pain was instant and left just as quickly). I carefully crossed the stiles on the descent and made it back to the railway crossing (again at the bridge) before heading back along the path to the car. After an eventful and unfortunate start to the day I had a really good time, albeit alone again, and am really enjoying the extra challenges of winter walking.

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