Ben Vrackie : Early to Avoid the Overtakers

[Sgurr]

I was staying in Pitlochry and decided to get up early to avoid all the people who would inevitably overtake me now I am 85. Luckily I didn't waste money on a paid for breakfast. Unluckily, my bleary eyes couldn't see where the "fill to" line was on the instant porridge pot, so I ended up drinking it. Yeuch. Luckily, the early departure meant I could choose from all but one of the parking spaces in the upper car park.

I set off at 6.30 a.m. through a tunnel of trees



I had hoped that I might have caught the sunrise, but the sun was hiding behind a shoulder of the hill. Out onto the moorland. These sheep aren't as tame as the ones I met on West Lomond the previous week, but tamer than the real highland sheep who scarper as soon as they see you


More moor


Past the lochan, it started to get steeper


I had been overtaken by now by a 70 year old man and his two spaniels, and a woman who overtook both of us


A second guy overtook me just before I got to the summit, and kindly took my photo. He was a lawyer and had been involved in organising the repair of the stone steps further down. The three previous times I had climbed Ben Vrackie, there were only steps on the final ascent, but it must get far too eroded to leave to its own devices. The lawyer had a traineeship in St. Andrews and knew the partner who had charge of a shop belonging to a Trust. Probably not wanting to tread on the toes of any of his local friends, or possibly because he had been in a poetry writing group with my business partner, he had leased it to our second-hand book combo, thereby allowing us to get in from the cold of a market stall, and starting my 36 years in the business (Though we were thrown out of that particular shop when we objected to someone wanting it for a supermarket, 100 yards from the West Port with no parking. )





A very speedy guy overtook me. It turned out he was a postie, which might explain the speed.
Sorry that there are no photos of all the compulsory spaniels that then invaded the hill in ones, twos and threes, or of the eighty eight year old lady who had been sitting by the lochan, but started up the hill when someone told her there had been an 85 year old on top. She had spent many happy summer in the Alps so was probably better equipped to climb Ben Vrackie. than me.

By the time I got back at 11.30 a.m. I was unsurprised to find both car parks were full: it had been such a beautiful morning sticking out from this very indifferent summer.

[smalltounboy]

Fantastic report, we can only hope we are as fit and able as you are when we reach 85!!!

Here’s to many more hills

Mark

[Graeme D]

Being overtaken or not, I sincerely hope that if I am spared to the age of 85, I am still fit enough both physically and mentally to be bashing my way up my local Corbett!

Unluckily, my bleary eyes couldn't see where the "fill to" line was on the instant porridge pot, so I ended up drinking it. Yeuch.

The kids (and sometimes staff too!) regularly put too much water in their instant porridge. In fact, I've been known to do it myself as I empty the contents of the pot into a little plastic food bag before packing and so there is no fill line. I usually tell them (or myself) that it's fuel and hydration mixed together in the one shot!

[bar72]

I drove past Pitlochry on the 8th. Heading back down from some Graham bagging around Moy area, assumed the car parks would be full so gave Ben Vrackie a miss. It's a cracking hill, even for the 20th time.

Well done on being so able in your 80s.

Oh, the porridge fill line. I usually just pour another pot worth in on top of the first lot. Soaks up the excess and charges me until well up the hillside.

[dogplodder]

My strongest memory of Ben Vrackie is of being accosted by two billy goats demanding food. They were most persistent until we managed to slip through a gate without them following. Must be more than 30 years ago so guess they'll be there no longer.

[Sgurr]

My strongest memory of Ben Vrackie is of being accosted by two billy goats demanding food. They were most persistent until we managed to slip through a gate without them following. Must be more than 30 years ago so guess they'll be there no longer.

I remember seeing a photo of a goat on that cairn, and have just located it on geograph.


remember where.

[litljortindan]

Porridge aside, I think an early start is a good plan for a popular hill -to get a parking spot and a little bit of solitude for the way up.

[Sgurr]

Porridge aside, I think an early start is a good plan for a popular hill -to get a parking spot and a little bit of solitude for the way up.

Always used to get up early..just got out of the habit.

[JimBob777]

This one’s for Dogplodder. It’s my wife taken at the summit of Ben Vrackie in September 1997. The dog was absolutely terrified of them. As soon as you opened your lunch box or rucksack they were straight over and just pushed their way in.

Sept. 1997 summit of Ben Vrackie

[Sgurr]

Thankful that there don't seem to be any goats now

[rockhopper]

Well done - if I can manage at 85 even a tenth of what you do I'll be extremely happy regardless of how long it takes !