Page 1 of 1

Being Back from India and Creag Mhor

PostPosted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 7:43 pm
by andrewdoggett
So; after two months in India; surviving motorbike trips with no helmet through the city at rush hour; eating curry after curry; working too many hours; and missing Scotland; I'm back :)

On Landing at Heathrow my good lady was all armed (after a kiss or two) with the July issue of Trail for me to see the report on Liathach; all good...

And after a weekend in the south my reward for my two months away is a week off; so time to get reacquainted with those things called munros...

I'd decided to take on Ben Vane and Ben Vorlich; as they are unsightly red spots on my little munro map; but I didn't get that far; the weather was gorgeous so I turned right at the Killin turn and headed for Creag Mhor and Beinn Heasgarnich.

DSCN0010.JPG
Moo; and Ben Challum


And what a tonic; sat by the river without a care in the world as sun streamed down the valley and flooded Ben Challum with a gorgeous morning light. The sound of the water was peaceful; and the landscape so green. I've missed the lush green of Scotland!!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6a7UL37ZahM[/youtube]

A new camera found its way into my luggage courtesy of the duty free shop; a pleasant two fingers to the tax man... So for the bargain price of £80 I have a Nikon S3100 if that means anything to you... To me, it means I don't need to lug the Canon equipment around when I'm just off for a quiet walk in the hills... When I'm doing photography it means sunrise or sunset; I never shoot in the day; fires on Liathach aside; so a welcome addition to the family...

So to the first ascent; after the 5 km or so along the river, a fairly steep affair up to the ridge of Creag Mhor; hmmm feeling the excess weight from the curries I think... All in all it hurt a little; but not too much...

DSCN0016.JPG
The hard work begins; the ascent from the river to the ridge of Creag Mhor


And soon I was atop munro number 105...

I also have another new piece of kit that needed testing; the North Face Elixir Jacket - from Webtogs, and Walk Highlands courtesy of being fortunate to win the walk report of the month for May with the Liathach report... I'll put in a plug for Webtogs; they were friendly; excited to talk about my report; and the service was second to none. I'm a fan; and I'll be using them again. And thanks to Walk Highlands also for an amazing piece of kit; the most breathable fabric they do I'm told; and I believe it; it was phenomenal. Love it :)

DSCN0030.JPG
The New North Face Elixir Jacket; and the summit of Creag Mhor :)


A fairly steep and horrible long descent follows before an almost equally steep ascent of Beinn Heasgarnich; but the pain never seems to last long; and the path made the ascent much easier than the long grass and craggy descent... Still; head down and get on with it; I will not stop till the top!! And after a very nice high level walk along the summit plateau for a kilometre or so number 106 was bagged :)

DSCN0035.JPG
Looking back at the steep descent from Creag Mhor; pick a route?


Another grassy descent takes you back to the track along the glen and you'll be back before you know it; a few deer disturbed on the way down; another gift I think; I love seeing deer in the wild; always have; always will...

My route...


2011 - 06 - 28 - Creag Mhor.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts



And the Stats...

IMAG1401.jpg
The Stats... A leisurely return to the hills... :)


And to top the perfect return home; a pint of 'Waylade' at the Lade Inn...

How I love Scotland... :)

Re: Being Back from India and Creag Mhor

PostPosted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 8:07 pm
by ChrisW
Is it really 2 months since you went to India, where the hell did that time go :shock: Anyway, welcome home Andrew, looks like all those curries didn't do too much harm :wink:

Re: Being Back from India and Creag Mhor

PostPosted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 9:01 pm
by gammy leg walker
Good to see you back Andrew,and back out on the hills & posting another fine report,does not seam like 2 months since your last walk.

Re: Being Back from India and Creag Mhor

PostPosted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 11:37 pm
by Rossco
Nice one Andrew, I just came back from India 3 weeks ago too (having also somehow survived the crazy motorbike rides without helmets! :shock: ) and first thing I done was go up the hills next day too.

Re: Being Back from India and Creag Mhor

PostPosted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 9:32 am
by Graeme D
Welcome back Andrew and glad to see you got your priorities right upon your return. My wife and I once spent 6 weeks travelling through India from Calcutta to Mumbai - you need serious therapy after that amount of time at the sharp end of the Indian transport system! :lol: Nice report and smart new looking threads - I too found Webtogs to be extremely helpful and effective when I used them. Nice find Paul! :D

Re: Being Back from India and Creag Mhor

PostPosted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 4:46 pm
by andrewdoggett
Thanks for the welcome home all... :)

Graeme Dewar wrote:My wife and I once spent 6 weeks travelling through India from Calcutta to Mumbai - you need serious therapy after that amount of time at the sharp end of the Indian transport system!


Let the therapy begin :D

I've had a crack at a small video which I've added to the report from the new camera; never before has sitting by a river seemed so peaceful and relaxing :)