First Solo - Ben More and no more today
Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2011 9:51 pmThe weather forecast on MWIS was rain, low cloud and 30 -60mph winds.
So as I was only up here for 2 days I thought I'd have a go at Ben More and Stob Binnein today and see how the weather was as I went on.
I parked up in the layby and the weather forecast was right, it was raining and the cloud was low, but only a light breeze, so waterproofs on and away I went.
Back up the A85 to the little sign and over the stile, follow the track as it winds its way up hill and through the gate. From here I wish I had seen PollyH advice to go around Ben More and up between the two. But no, I followed the WH route advice, picked a line and headed up the slope, its very steep, was very wet/boggy/slippery and goes on like that for what seems like forever.Occasionally bits of a track are visible but the higher you go the more obvious the track becomes.
At about 750m I entered the clouds and that was the last i saw of more than 30m in front of me for the rest of the day until i came back down.
The wind at this point was just a breeze, with the occasional gust but causing no problems. My biggest problem was the waterproofing on my coat not been waterproof to Scottish standards
i was getting wet 
After a quick lunch break under an angled rock at around 930m I struggled on until i reached the top, this is where the last bit of the weather forecast was right. The winds where very strong and gusty -I was struggling to stay upright, so after a very quick summit photo I decided to abandon Stob Binnein as the wind was coming from that direction and retreat back the way I came.
Coming up the slope was hard work but going back was just as difficult, wet, slippery and boggy. Eventually i came out of the clouds and after a very long 5.5 hours & falling over a few times I was back at the car, very wet.
After drying out the sun came out for a bit and i could see where I'd been!!
So as I was only up here for 2 days I thought I'd have a go at Ben More and Stob Binnein today and see how the weather was as I went on.
I parked up in the layby and the weather forecast was right, it was raining and the cloud was low, but only a light breeze, so waterproofs on and away I went.
Back up the A85 to the little sign and over the stile, follow the track as it winds its way up hill and through the gate. From here I wish I had seen PollyH advice to go around Ben More and up between the two. But no, I followed the WH route advice, picked a line and headed up the slope, its very steep, was very wet/boggy/slippery and goes on like that for what seems like forever.Occasionally bits of a track are visible but the higher you go the more obvious the track becomes.
- Yes it is that steep!
At about 750m I entered the clouds and that was the last i saw of more than 30m in front of me for the rest of the day until i came back down.
- Looking down
The wind at this point was just a breeze, with the occasional gust but causing no problems. My biggest problem was the waterproofing on my coat not been waterproof to Scottish standards
i was getting wet After a quick lunch break under an angled rock at around 930m I struggled on until i reached the top, this is where the last bit of the weather forecast was right. The winds where very strong and gusty -I was struggling to stay upright, so after a very quick summit photo I decided to abandon Stob Binnein as the wind was coming from that direction and retreat back the way I came.
- Summit shot, try and stay upright :)
Coming up the slope was hard work but going back was just as difficult, wet, slippery and boggy. Eventually i came out of the clouds and after a very long 5.5 hours & falling over a few times I was back at the car, very wet.
After drying out the sun came out for a bit and i could see where I'd been!!
- Ben More from the car
.