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Ben Wyvis (my 1st Munro)

Ben Wyvis (my 1st Munro)


Postby HighlandSC » Thu Aug 06, 2009 11:04 pm

Route description: Ben Wyvis, near Garve

Munros included on this walk: Ben Wyvis

Date walked: 01/08/2009

Time taken: 7 hours

Distance: 14 km

Ascent: 935m

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Munro No 001

Date - Sat 01/08/2009
Munros -Ben Wyvis
Route - Parked car in the Ben Wyis cark park near Garbat. Plan is to ascend on the main tourist route: up the West ridge of An Cabar, and walk along the plateau to the main summit - Glas Leathad Mor (1046m). We will retrace our steps on the way down.
Weather - Good (no rain, some wind, cloud free summit (just))
Attendees - ScottC, ColinL
Time - 6.5 hrs
Distance - 14km/8.75 miles
Ascent - 935 m
Max Altitude -1046 m


A quick stop next to Loch Glascarnoch for a look at Ben Wyvis and the clouds above! (fingers crossed they wouldn't come down much more!):
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We parked in the Ben Wyis cark park near Garbat. Plan is to ascend on the main tourist route: up the West ridge of An Cabar, and walk along the plateau to the main summit - Glas Leathad Mor (1046m). We will retrace our steps on the way down. We began at 1pm (a bit later than planned!)


Route82.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts



Didn't read it as we wanted to get cracking....
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And so the path begins on my first Munro adventure... (I'm sure wet starts knee deep in mud are yet to come...):
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As we approach through the woods we get our first glimpes of where (hopefully) we'll end up:
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Think it was about here that I broke through the first pain barrier (and rid myself of any "what the hell am I doing" thoughts) and was set up for hours of walking no problem :lol:. Ben Wyis on the left, Little Wyvis on the right.
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Nice stream (and I couldn't see any dead green sheep I keep hearing about people finding in these things, anyway I had plenty of Evian with me....)
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Nearly there :lol: Getting closer, I laugh to myself about how hard it is to comprehend the size of the mountain/length of walk. Keep repeating to myself some words I read somewhere about mountaineering along the lines of: 1. Judge the distance, then 2. Triple it. Still, it is getting closer...
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A quick look back the way. Sky starting to look very healthy...hopefully coming our way:
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Right we are. Lets get up there!:
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We soldier on for 30 mins to be rewarded with a great view looking West (over to x area and y mountain....I'll learn them in time!):
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Looks easy...but at times each one of these steps seemed like very hard work!!! (nothing a chunk of Green & Blacks Chocolate didn't sort out....)
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Time for a break, time for a random photo standing on a boulder....
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Short clip of it all (taken close to the top of An Cabar)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TPEyeZ6FhA[/youtube]

A look across to Little Wyvis. We're high up now.
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We make it to the Cairn of An Cabar.
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We stop there for 20 mins to devour several sandwiches, banana, more chocolate & fig rolls.

A figure on the summit we're about to arrive at!
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Coire na Feola:
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:clap:
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We made it :D
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The wind picks up and the grey sky starts to move in - seems a good time to start the descent! It's near 5pm now, about 4 hours after we started (no need to rush your first Munro eh...)
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We make our way down the ridge and find a nice refreshing breeze!:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_eoc0RH37s[/youtube]

Half way down:
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7.30pm. 6.5 hours total. We get to the bottom as the cloud covers over the mountain top!
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[UPDATE 17/08/2009]: We went up Ben Wyvis again 2 weeks later on 15/08/2009, but this time taking the longer one way route - ascending An Cabar and descending down Tom a Choinnich. Trip report for this one is here viewtopic.php?f=9&t=1565




Route taken first time 01/08/2009
Last edited by HighlandSC on Thu Jan 21, 2010 2:04 pm, edited 11 times in total.
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HighlandSC
 
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Re: Ben Wyvis (my 1st Munro)

Postby canisp » Thu Aug 06, 2009 11:25 pm

A fine set of photo’s :D :D and what a cracking day for your first Munro, well done.
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Re: Ben Wyvis (my 1st Munro)

Postby Michelle » Fri Aug 07, 2009 12:31 am

Ooh well done Scott, and a fine report too! Looks like you guys couldn't have timed it much better with that cloud rolling in. On to the next one now eh? :D
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Re: Ben Wyvis (my 1st Munro)

Postby HighlandSC » Fri Aug 07, 2009 12:35 am

Thanks Michelle. Yep our luck was in all day I think with the cloud!

We've got 2 days in the Cairngorms in a couple of weeks with a guide so we can really hone our navigation and other hills skills.

Then as you know we're thinking of tackling Blaven!! :crazy: :D
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Re: Ben Wyvis (my 1st Munro)

Postby MrsBeaver » Fri Aug 07, 2009 7:51 am

Woaaaheee, I did my first Munro yesterday as well! Well done you, and in about the same time as us lol. How are your legs today? :lol:
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Re: Ben Wyvis (my 1st Munro)

Postby HighlandSC » Fri Aug 07, 2009 8:01 am

Hey Mrs Beaver, yes well done to you as well, I had a read of your trip report.

My legs are reasonably okay now (but that's because it's nearly a week ago I did the walk!). I've added the date to the top of my report. The day after they were a little tender for sure! :lol:
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Re: Ben Wyvis (my 1st Munro)

Postby Michelle » Fri Aug 07, 2009 3:20 pm

HighlandSC wrote:We didn't mess around much on the descent - and ran parts of it as it seemed easier than constantly working against gravity!


Lol... I do that too. Only I've learned the hard way that sometimes gravity is NOT my friend! Sometimes better to have it working against you for a bit than to have it work for you a little too well... hmm maybe I oughta see about those poles after all :lol:
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Re: Ben Wyvis (my 1st Munro)

Postby Paul Webster » Sat Aug 08, 2009 7:55 am

Good stuff and well done on that first Munro - it seems you are very keen and I'm sure will have a load of them done soon. Don't worry, you'll find that mud :lol:
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Re: Ben Wyvis (my 1st Munro)

Postby HighlandSC » Sat Aug 08, 2009 9:59 am

LOL...in a sick kind of way I'm kind of looking forward to getting suited up in all the rain gear/gaiters and just trudging on for hours in heavy rain! (I'm unsure how long that feeling will last when it happens though! :lol: )
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Re: Ben Wyvis (my 1st Munro)

Postby Highart13 » Fri Aug 31, 2012 10:29 am

HighlandSC wrote:LOL...in a sick kind of way I'm kind of looking forward to getting suited up in all the rain gear/gaiters and just trudging on for hours in heavy rain! (I'm unsure how long that feeling will last when it happens though! :lol: )


:D :lol: I totally agree!! Wyvis was my first munro too, an awesome place to start :clap:
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