My Daughters Perfect Mountain

[mountainghost]

Hey all,

I am in dire need of your help! My 7 year old mountain girl Daisy, wants me to find her THE perfect mountain for her to climb. You may think this is easy, but you would be wrong! Here is her description as she stands next to be to make sure I get it right!
It has to be pointed, very pointy, only one person can stand on top. Footpath has to ascend "Spirally" to the top! No grass on it only rock and stone and the top has to have snow on it. (So really just the way we would draw a mountain as a child)
Any contenders?
SHe has a logbook of around 8 hills/mountains so far, but says see aint doing anymore until I find this mountain for her. (Does anyone make mountains to order?)
Thanks for any help....................

Karl

[Kevin29035]

Nice topic! Sounds like the Cuillin were made especially for her. Unfortunately they are pretty advanced mountains, but if she's keen the Great Stone Shoot will double up as a Great Stone Stairway to the top of Sgurr Alasdair, long as you like your steps 2-up to 1-down! Double-unfortunately, I'd expect Sgurr Alasdair in winter will be a bit extreme, might have to wait until she's a bit older.

Sounds like an excuse not to go up another hill but hey.

[OpenC]

Her mountain doesn't sound like any place for a seven year old, to be honest

Pap of Glencoe?

[stevesey]

Castle Crag in the lakes? 7 year old sized, a zig-zag path up and a rocky lump on the top that's not got a lot of room on it.

[Sgurr]

I need to ask my grand-daughter where it is. She drew it 3 years ago when she was 7....As she had only been up North Berwick Law at the time, that might be a clue

[OpenC]

The Eildons?

[lomondwalkers]

As above, the Pap of Glencoe is a good shout, also Ben a'An has a fine pointy rocky summit, and possibly Schiehallion if she doesn't mind clambering over lots of boulders

[MG1976]

possibly Schiehallion if she doesn't mind clambering over lots of boulders

This would be my shout.
Schiehallion was my eldests son's first Munro in 2010 when he was only 3. (Report)
It will also be his little brother's first Munro next year, when he turns 3.

Great hill (in the right conditions, or course); and a true sense of achievement for anyone, standing alone on it summit.
MG

[denfinella]

I've got an idea - and it's very easy one to climb. How about Castle Ewen in the Fairy Glen near Uig (Skye)?

It's got a tiny top (picnic sized), it's rocky, steep and has a spirally path up it. And your daughter might like the fairy references!

The walkhighlands link is here: http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/skye/fairyglen.shtml: see the picture for stage 3

[Meatball]

Ben a'An?

[malky_c]

Snowdon?

-Pointy? check
-One person on the summit at a time? check (sort of)
-Spirally footpath? check
-No grass? check (very little left these days)
-Snow? In a couple of months, I'm sure.

Evidence here (please excuse the dubious source )

Also lots of great routes to pick from, exciting scenery, good paths and (hopefully) a few less people than in that photo.

[Phil the Hill]

When I was not much older than Daisy, on my first trip to Scotland, I got my first sight of Buachaille Etive Mhor as we drove across Rannoch Moor, and it seemed to me then to be the perfect mountain as she describes. I never imagined that I'd actually climb it, as it looked far too forbidding. But some 20 years later I reached its summit in winter conditions, which was a source of some personal satisfaction.

It does look pointy from the Glencoe Road and can have snow on the top outside full winter conditions, but a "spirally" route to the top would be a bit too adventurous I fear.

Some of the Patagonian mountains also remind me of childrens' drawings (Cerro Torre, Fitzroy) but they're far too serious for most of us adults, let alone a child.

[Sgurr]

The Eildons?

Very possible. They live in East Lothian and have been to the Borders.. Can't remember how pointy, but accessible and a path.

[mountainghost]

WOW thanks folks!

The Eildons have been bagged! As she was born in the hospital at the bottom of them.

Ok, I have shown her all the suggestions and it was a no to all of them apart from Schiehallion and Castle Ewen on Sky. (We both want to go there!)
As for the debate what mountain should a 7 year old climb, It,s rather a subjective question! I personally think the likes of maybe K2 and Everest are above her, but happy for her to try anything she wants to!
She has the quote " Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So. . . get on your way". by Dr. Seuss on her wall, which I guess is what inspires her to look for HER mountain.

Thanks to all

[GillC]

I always like suggesting Ben A'an too,, its got everything,, rocky scrambles, a wee burn,,bit of winding path round a moorland, and a rocky top, room for only one,,,unfortunately,,she might have a bit of a wait for snow on that one.