The Monsters are loose again!
Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 6:49 pm
So the Monsters return to Scotland for a week... More munros I'm thinking; this time some new ones for me. Time to go exploring together... We settled on Beinn a'Bleithir; two summits near Glencoe; not too long a walk and a chance to get the monsters used to bagging more than one summit in a day; this walk being longer than the Buch!!
The first pit stop; not sure what's going here; I think Sam is wiping his ass and the rest, well, your guess is as good as mine!!
Onwards went the monsters tackling the forest path; fun that bit was apparently; and then open mountain land / bog before the final ascent to the Beallach between the two summits...
The view back down the valley and towards The Ben and the Mamores just gets better and better with height...
It wasn't long before the beallach was reached; Monstar Sam being first to arrive to the familiar chorus of 'Who's that coming over the hill... Is it a monster...'
Refreshment time when Megan arrived; Mum showing off her new Scarpa boots and threatening to hoof her down the hill...
Sam posing for the camera; one happy boy in the hills...
Then it was time to take on the first summit of the day; we tackled Sgorr Dhonuill to the west first. A fine peak and the ascent to the summit from the beallach is gorgeous; a combination of grassy; rocky; all with stunning views and a healthy drop to the north...
Samba and I made the top first; the boy was possessed; I've never seen a six year old go up a mountain like this one does; Team Boys he said... Much better than Team Girls...
We shout some encouragement to Team Girls...
And not long after that Mum makes the summit of her tenth munro; double figures... Wooooo Hop!
A bit more food on the top including some cheesy wotsits and Sam decides to either hug or strangle Megan... I'm not sure you decide...
Summit photo on Sgorr Dhonuill; the Monsters showing off their new North Face threads... I think we're now called the skittles family, or the rainbow family...
And then we're off to the second of the day, Sgorr Dhearg with Team Boys leading the way...
Megan was struggling a little bit so I took over some 'Daddy' duties, and it wasn't long before made the top and were waiting for Team Mum and Sam; looking back at the first summit of the day...
Mum and Samba arrive at the top of Sgorr Dhearg
The view from the top was stunning in all directions... But particularly toward The Ben and The Mamores...
Summit of photo of me with the Monsters on my 122nd munro...
We decided to descend along the north ridge; nothing worse than trudging back down the way you came; so a chance to explore new terrain was the mutual decision...
Mum showing off on the descent ridge; there's nothing scary here, but you do feel like you're in a lot of space with some steep drops either side...
It's not long before Sam and I take the lead; with Team Girls celebrating on the descent...
And all the while the views to The Ben; and the Mamores are absolutely stunning... What more could you want for a family day out... They'd be asleep pretty much as soon as the drive home started; and that's just how kids should be I think; shattered after a day in the wilderness...
The Stats...
And the route...
The first pit stop; not sure what's going here; I think Sam is wiping his ass and the rest, well, your guess is as good as mine!!
Onwards went the monsters tackling the forest path; fun that bit was apparently; and then open mountain land / bog before the final ascent to the Beallach between the two summits...
The view back down the valley and towards The Ben and the Mamores just gets better and better with height...
It wasn't long before the beallach was reached; Monstar Sam being first to arrive to the familiar chorus of 'Who's that coming over the hill... Is it a monster...'
Refreshment time when Megan arrived; Mum showing off her new Scarpa boots and threatening to hoof her down the hill...
Sam posing for the camera; one happy boy in the hills...
Then it was time to take on the first summit of the day; we tackled Sgorr Dhonuill to the west first. A fine peak and the ascent to the summit from the beallach is gorgeous; a combination of grassy; rocky; all with stunning views and a healthy drop to the north...
Samba and I made the top first; the boy was possessed; I've never seen a six year old go up a mountain like this one does; Team Boys he said... Much better than Team Girls...
We shout some encouragement to Team Girls...
And not long after that Mum makes the summit of her tenth munro; double figures... Wooooo Hop!
A bit more food on the top including some cheesy wotsits and Sam decides to either hug or strangle Megan... I'm not sure you decide...
Summit photo on Sgorr Dhonuill; the Monsters showing off their new North Face threads... I think we're now called the skittles family, or the rainbow family...
And then we're off to the second of the day, Sgorr Dhearg with Team Boys leading the way...
Megan was struggling a little bit so I took over some 'Daddy' duties, and it wasn't long before made the top and were waiting for Team Mum and Sam; looking back at the first summit of the day...
Mum and Samba arrive at the top of Sgorr Dhearg
The view from the top was stunning in all directions... But particularly toward The Ben and The Mamores...
Summit of photo of me with the Monsters on my 122nd munro...
We decided to descend along the north ridge; nothing worse than trudging back down the way you came; so a chance to explore new terrain was the mutual decision...
Mum showing off on the descent ridge; there's nothing scary here, but you do feel like you're in a lot of space with some steep drops either side...
It's not long before Sam and I take the lead; with Team Girls celebrating on the descent...
And all the while the views to The Ben; and the Mamores are absolutely stunning... What more could you want for a family day out... They'd be asleep pretty much as soon as the drive home started; and that's just how kids should be I think; shattered after a day in the wilderness...
The Stats...
And the route...