Ben Alder, Jetboil, and The Rab Alpine 600 Sleeping Bag
Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2012 11:00 pm
I was itching to test the new gear and get a wilderness fix... The plan was the Fisherfield 5/6 but the weather forecast wasn't great so instead Craig and I decided on my unfinished two at Ben Alder from Dalwhinnie...
The cycle in on Saturday afternoon was tough, into a strong wind, and neither of us had done anything on the bike in some years, but no matter, in an hour and quarter or so we were at our chosen pitch just to the north of the Bothy on an Island in the River...
With the Hilleberg pitched it was now down to serious Business... 4 bottles of red wine; testing the Jetboil Titanium Stove; and then sleep in the new Rab Alpine 600 Bags that weigh only 1 kg... Lightweight gear is great; more allowance for wine
So the Jetboil passed, we reckoned about 35 seconds to boil the water for the Spag Bol - incredible...
The wine passed, we went through all of that...
And I can honestly say the Rab Alpine 600 is the most comfortable and warm nights sleep I've ever had in a tent. It was epic!! Buy one...
A touch of snow overnight, and a view of the frosty pitch at 6 am...
Decided against the Long Leachas; we'd had fresh snow; I knew it was a scramble, and we had the woofer, so round the back and up it was... No matter though walking past the loch was gorgeous...
It's a steep ascent up to the plateau ridge but nothing uncomfortable and then you're greeted with the sight of the drama of the cliffs to the east...
It's then an easy 1.5 km walk to the summit where there's nothing uncomfortable, pretty flat all in all...
Retracing our steps and the next target came back into view; and from here on the weather just got better and better
My favourite pic of the day looking toward Beinn Bheoil; proper wilderness; miles from anywhere. No evidence of human presence, and not a soul in sight... Perfect
The walk up to Beinn Bheoil is nothing and you'll be there in no time... A nice little ridge with nothing uncomfortable; straight forward walking and no scrambling.
The great expanse to the North East; and out route back... Looking stunning in the sunshine...
Back at the tent - we didn't see anyone in the hills today despite the weather being so nice - though we were lucky with that - the four munros to the west were shrouded in clag all day...
There are numerous places to pitch your tent here; I prefer to stay away from the Bothy at Culra - I like drifting off to sleep with the sound of a running river...
So all in the walk @ 22.5 km - then time for the cycle back...
After the cycle back...
And the route for Sunday only... But the cycle in obviously the same as the cycle out so this is all you need...
The cycle in on Saturday afternoon was tough, into a strong wind, and neither of us had done anything on the bike in some years, but no matter, in an hour and quarter or so we were at our chosen pitch just to the north of the Bothy on an Island in the River...
With the Hilleberg pitched it was now down to serious Business... 4 bottles of red wine; testing the Jetboil Titanium Stove; and then sleep in the new Rab Alpine 600 Bags that weigh only 1 kg... Lightweight gear is great; more allowance for wine
So the Jetboil passed, we reckoned about 35 seconds to boil the water for the Spag Bol - incredible...
The wine passed, we went through all of that...
And I can honestly say the Rab Alpine 600 is the most comfortable and warm nights sleep I've ever had in a tent. It was epic!! Buy one...
A touch of snow overnight, and a view of the frosty pitch at 6 am...
Decided against the Long Leachas; we'd had fresh snow; I knew it was a scramble, and we had the woofer, so round the back and up it was... No matter though walking past the loch was gorgeous...
It's a steep ascent up to the plateau ridge but nothing uncomfortable and then you're greeted with the sight of the drama of the cliffs to the east...
It's then an easy 1.5 km walk to the summit where there's nothing uncomfortable, pretty flat all in all...
Retracing our steps and the next target came back into view; and from here on the weather just got better and better
My favourite pic of the day looking toward Beinn Bheoil; proper wilderness; miles from anywhere. No evidence of human presence, and not a soul in sight... Perfect
The walk up to Beinn Bheoil is nothing and you'll be there in no time... A nice little ridge with nothing uncomfortable; straight forward walking and no scrambling.
The great expanse to the North East; and out route back... Looking stunning in the sunshine...
Back at the tent - we didn't see anyone in the hills today despite the weather being so nice - though we were lucky with that - the four munros to the west were shrouded in clag all day...
There are numerous places to pitch your tent here; I prefer to stay away from the Bothy at Culra - I like drifting off to sleep with the sound of a running river...
So all in the walk @ 22.5 km - then time for the cycle back...
After the cycle back...
And the route for Sunday only... But the cycle in obviously the same as the cycle out so this is all you need...