walkhighlands

Share your personal walking route experiences in Scotland, and comment on other peoples' reports.
Warning Please note that hillwalking when there is snow lying requires an ice-axe, crampons and the knowledge, experience and skill to use them correctly. Summer routes may not be viable or appropriate in winter. See winter information on our skills and safety pages for more information.

Ben More - No fool like an old fool!!

Ben More - No fool like an old fool!!


Postby Oldman » Wed Sep 07, 2011 4:02 pm

Route description: Ben More and Stob Binnein

Munros included on this walk: Ben More, Stob Binnein

Date walked: 04/09/2011

Distance: 10 km

6 people think this report is great.
Register or Login
free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).

Having climbed Stob Binnien some time ago from the south we decided to tackle Ben More from the north despite it's reputation for steepness. We would then head down to Bealach Eadar da-Bheinn, turn west to meet the Benmore Burn and head home along the landrover track - just like Walkhighlands route but without Stob Binnein. It would be a nice circular walk with no complications - excellent plan for a mature gentleman like me who posesses a lot of common sense and more energy than I am entitled to.

Then I broke my own rules. Do not over indulge the day before a walk - I did and spent the evening at a dinner party sampling all sorts of beers and whisky and feasting on overly rich food. Consequence - got to bed late and was up half the night eating rennies to get rid of chronic heartburn - not nice. I was therefore ill prepared for what the north-western slope of Ben More had in store for me.

Notwithstanding all that we set off in high spirits with the weathermen promising us an excellent day with early morning cloud dispersing fairly quickly. That went as planned - thank you MWIS. This walk was to take us a long time and I have to thank daughter for her patience with me.

We started walking at 8.50AM with the mountain looking decidedly misty.
First view of Target.jpg
First view of our target
Up the track, through the gate and onto the hill by 9.08AM. There is a very boggy straight steep path on the lower slopes which made for uncomfortable and (in my case) strength sapping going but at least we were gaining height quickly. It was time for a few more pics looking back to our start point
Ben More 015.jpg
Ben More 012.jpg
and another one of our target.
Up ahead.jpg
Still looks a bit misty and steep
Onward we trudged but the old legs were the first to feel the pain so frequent stops to view the surroundings, drink vast amounts of fluid and ease the pain were required - all under the pretext of taking pictures.
Ben More 022.jpg
Ben More 041.jpg
Higher up the path is much better and drier, with lots of rocks on which to rest one's posterior, but always steep without respite - it seemed that the only change in the angle of ascent was when it got a little bit steeper. At about 850m I had just about run out of steam and to add to my other problems I began to feel sick. Daughter and I discussed the situation and I decided that she should press on and return the same way picking up my pieces as she went because I would rest for a while then make the decision to either press on or wait for her at this spot. My spirit had ploughed a new depth for old optimistic me and I was thinking that I had better give up this Munro climbing before it kills me. A deep depression was upon me and daughter had not gone long when, in trying to be sick I broke the biggest burp I had ever done or even heard before and the relief was immediate - the strength returned to my entire body, the depression vanished and the optimism returned but I was angry with myself for getting into such a situation. However in my annoyance I thought 'Ben More you ba---rd, I'm going to get you'. So digging deep into my determination and taking my time I headed for the top and it wasn't long before I spotted daughter on the sky-line heading down. I signalled for her to wait there and soon caught up. She assured me the top was very close and indeed we were soon there. At that point I felt rather pleased with myself but even though I was knackered I still had to take a few pics at the top including the mandatory high fives.
Glad you made it dad.jpg
I might be knackered but I'm here!!
Ben More 072.jpg
Ben More 085.jpg
Don't slip!!.jpg
At the top we rested, fed ourselves and messed about a bit. The scenery in all directions is magnificent and to maximise our enjoyment of the moment we stayed there quite a long time. We discussed whether to continue our route as planned or to return the same way but there was no real decision to make - the views to Stob Binnien and down into Benmore Glen were so magical that we were reluctant to turn our backs on them. Besides, the psychological boost of reaching the top of Ben More, the refreshments at the top and the relief of the biggest burp half way up the mountain had made a new man of me. And so it was onwards towards one of the finest views to be experienced on this walk - Stob Binnien and Bealach Eadar-da-Bheinn.
Ben More 094.jpg
Stob Binnein.jpg
On arriving at the bealach it was time for another wee rest and refreshment. We then picked our way west through boggy grass for a couple of hundred metres to pick up a path by the stream which tumbles down to Benmore Burn.
Way off the bealach from the bealach.jpg
Head straight down there
This descent is quite enchanting as the burn hurries and splashes its way over a number of waterfalls with the path in close proximity all the way down.
Ben More 124.jpg
[attachment=0]Way off the bealach from below.jpg Down in the Glen you are into bogland again (more wet grass than bog really) but the path is clear and the extended track is soon reached with some relief. Normally at this point the walk out can be a bit tedious but on this occasion I was clicking my heels and thanking my big burp that I had not given up. Everyone enjoys the relief of breaking wind but this one was rather special!!!

In the event we spent rather a long time on the hill (over 7 hours) with frequent stops but, apart from a short uncomfortable spell, every moment was enjoyed. As for that ascent from Benmore farm - I think it deserves its reputation however this old fool would do it again - no fool like an old fool!

Good walking y'all

Oldman
Attachments
Way off the bealach from below.jpg
Stepped waterfalls all the way down from the bealach
Towards bealach and Stob Binnein.jpg
Oldman
Bird-watcher
 
Posts: 113
Joined: May 14, 2009
Location: Cambuslang

Re: Ben More - No fool like an old fool!!

Postby ChrisW » Wed Sep 07, 2011 7:23 pm

Great report oldman, and some fantastic pics to go with it, I'll call the local paper and telling them the rumours of a bull moose braying across Ben More are unfounded :lol:
User avatar
ChrisW
Rambler
 
Posts: 4941
Munros:18   Corbetts:5
Fionas:3   
Sub 2000:6   
Joined: Jan 25, 2011
Location: Cochrane- Alberta - Canada

Re: Ben More - No fool like an old fool!!

Postby Frogwell » Wed Sep 07, 2011 10:49 pm

Great stuff oldman, it's no mean feat attempting such a steep hill after a night of decadence. The pressure change would be doing all sorts of unpleasant things.

The two pictures below that I took while passing in January this year show the unrelenting uphillness of Ben More.

Image

Image
User avatar
Frogwell
Hill Bagger
 
Posts: 177
Munros:265   Corbetts:100
Fionas:8   Donalds:4
Sub 2000:2   
Joined: Mar 29, 2011
Location: Hills above Comrie, Perthshire

Re: Ben More - No fool like an old fool!!

Postby skuk007 » Thu Sep 08, 2011 9:38 am

Well done for getting to the summit, some really nice photos there.
Oldman wrote:...Everyone enjoys the relief of breaking wind...
Here, here! :lol:
User avatar
skuk007
Mountain Walker
 
Posts: 1419
Munros:44   
Hewitts:8
Wainwrights:16   
Joined: Aug 24, 2009
Location: Bristol

Re: Ben More - No fool like an old fool!!

Postby L-Hiking » Thu Sep 08, 2011 8:09 pm

Well done Oldman...I passed by on Wed on the WHW. That looks a tough hike thanks for the report.
User avatar
L-Hiking
Mountaineer
 
Posts: 545
Munros:78   Corbetts:8
Fionas:2   
Sub 2000:2   Hewitts:141
Wainwrights:214   
Joined: Aug 30, 2010
Location: York, North Yorkshire

Re: Ben More - No fool like an old fool!!

Postby jonny616 » Fri Sep 09, 2011 4:01 pm

Well done you. For some bizzar reason i have tried Ben More by that route 3 times (twice in one week) made it once as well

Great pics too. I did Stob in a white out & never saw it.

Regards

Jonny
User avatar
jonny616
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 1621
Munros:282   Corbetts:14
Fionas:2   Donalds:1
Sub 2000:1   Hewitts:17
Wainwrights:8   Islands:8
Joined: Aug 19, 2009

6 people think this report is great.
Register or Login
free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).




Can you help support Walkhighlands?


Our forum is free from adverts - your generosity keeps it running.
Can you help support Walkhighlands and this community by donating by direct debit?



Return to Walk reports - Scotland

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 32 guests