Time to hang my boots up...
Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2011 9:01 pmAfter ten good years of service... My boots are dead... This year alone they've taken me 500 km over 51 munros and 3 Hewitts with as near as makes no difference 30 km of ascent... They've never given me a blister; nor grief of any kind. IN their lifetime, they've done 114 munros; the Inca Trail and a lot of the Lake District for good measure... How I wish I'd bought two pairs... My La Sportiva's - you have served me well - I salute you...
Buying new boots has taken me a long time; mainly because I didn't want new boots... But needs must... So the choices; I started with La Sportvia; well why wouldn't I; I'm a brand whore; always have been... Sadly they seem to have trudged off into the Himilayan market, and their latest offering, the Karakorum isn't sold in the UK. Boo to that... All of which led me to the Scarpa Manta... So here's to hoping they hold up for ten years and give me no aggravaaaashun...
Anyway; the walk... I figured I'd best pick something easy... Two reasons for that; 1) the new boots, and 2) I'm planning on the Strathfarrar four tomorrow so no need to kill myself today! And what a day for it; I think the best day of the summer... The Ben Cruachan Hills provide the main interest at the start of the walk...
The first couple of kilometres are straight up a bulldozed track as you gain a height of about 400 metres. The first target; Beinn a'Chochuill opens up before you with the sight of what looks to be a fairly a long punishing ascent...
As you gain height the views over to Ben Cruachan get better and better and prove the main interest of the ascent...
The ascent isn't too bad, and before you know it you've topped out on the main ridge, and ifrom there you can see it's just a short hop along the ridge to the summit...
The views from the summit were spectacular with Loch Etive laid bare before me; I guess the views anywhere in Scotland on a day like today would be. I could see all the way to Rhum some 70 miles away. Not bad!!
The ridge over to Beinn Eunaich looks easy enough mainly along grassy looking slopes though you do lose a fair amount of height as you drop back down to 750 metres. No matter, it's a pleasant walk taking in the scenery...
The best of the views are on the left as you walk along the ridge; and stretch as far as Ben Nevis, and further where the big thing isn't blocking the view...
The ascent to Beinn Eunaich is over before you know it; just a short quick pull to the summit from the beallach...
The views remain stunning; and there is plenty of space on a grassy plateau with a large cairn to just relax... The view behind back along the ridge...
I did feel a bit mean as a fine sound opened my lunch. I think everyone at the summit wanted my lunch; but still if people can't prepare properly, that's hardly my fault...
Still cold too; surprising how things stay cold in a rucksack, but all good news...
Of course, I was a little hungry too so the full course included some Pastrami...
The view to the north is dominated by Ben Nevis; and the day simply couldn't be better...
From left to right, the blue of Loch Etive balances against the sky and the green of the mountains; I just sit there; drinking my beer and watching the view...
Me on the summit...
The walk down is easy enough mainly on pleasant grassy slopes; though it steepens appreciably for the final descent to the track which will take you back to your car...
The Stats; will upload the route later...
Buying new boots has taken me a long time; mainly because I didn't want new boots... But needs must... So the choices; I started with La Sportvia; well why wouldn't I; I'm a brand whore; always have been... Sadly they seem to have trudged off into the Himilayan market, and their latest offering, the Karakorum isn't sold in the UK. Boo to that... All of which led me to the Scarpa Manta... So here's to hoping they hold up for ten years and give me no aggravaaaashun...
Anyway; the walk... I figured I'd best pick something easy... Two reasons for that; 1) the new boots, and 2) I'm planning on the Strathfarrar four tomorrow so no need to kill myself today! And what a day for it; I think the best day of the summer... The Ben Cruachan Hills provide the main interest at the start of the walk...
The first couple of kilometres are straight up a bulldozed track as you gain a height of about 400 metres. The first target; Beinn a'Chochuill opens up before you with the sight of what looks to be a fairly a long punishing ascent...
As you gain height the views over to Ben Cruachan get better and better and prove the main interest of the ascent...
The ascent isn't too bad, and before you know it you've topped out on the main ridge, and ifrom there you can see it's just a short hop along the ridge to the summit...
The views from the summit were spectacular with Loch Etive laid bare before me; I guess the views anywhere in Scotland on a day like today would be. I could see all the way to Rhum some 70 miles away. Not bad!!
The ridge over to Beinn Eunaich looks easy enough mainly along grassy looking slopes though you do lose a fair amount of height as you drop back down to 750 metres. No matter, it's a pleasant walk taking in the scenery...
The best of the views are on the left as you walk along the ridge; and stretch as far as Ben Nevis, and further where the big thing isn't blocking the view...
The ascent to Beinn Eunaich is over before you know it; just a short quick pull to the summit from the beallach...
The views remain stunning; and there is plenty of space on a grassy plateau with a large cairn to just relax... The view behind back along the ridge...
I did feel a bit mean as a fine sound opened my lunch. I think everyone at the summit wanted my lunch; but still if people can't prepare properly, that's hardly my fault...
Still cold too; surprising how things stay cold in a rucksack, but all good news...
Of course, I was a little hungry too so the full course included some Pastrami...
The view to the north is dominated by Ben Nevis; and the day simply couldn't be better...
From left to right, the blue of Loch Etive balances against the sky and the green of the mountains; I just sit there; drinking my beer and watching the view...
Me on the summit...
The walk down is easy enough mainly on pleasant grassy slopes; though it steepens appreciably for the final descent to the track which will take you back to your car...
The Stats; will upload the route later...
xxx