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99, 100 - Stob Binnein and Ben More

PostPosted: Mon Feb 11, 2013 12:02 am
by Frigate
Still chasing the ellusive 100, early in the week the weather forecast did not look too bad and having seen Weaselmaster's report for Achaladair - thats the ones for me.
Until Pigeon suggested something a little more worthy for the notional target, Ben More thats a real hill and no bogs or dark woods to reach it.
Err OK but isn't it steep and a hard climb - Oh well.


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Weather report changed a little to forecast light winds, drizzle/light snow/fog all day. Going to be another damp one with no views.
Deferring to my age and rotundness the route was to be up Benmore Glen by the farm track and climb to the Bealach-Eadar-dha-Bheinn followed by Stob Beninien 1st then Ben More.

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Benmore Glen

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Its not raining


We followed the track to its end then up, straight up, by a faint path beside the major stream but this put us too far to the north and we had to traverse below an area of craggs towards the bealach. I think this way was comparable to the route up to Bealach nan Lapin in Kintail but without the nice path to follow.

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A promise of some sun maybe

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Path up by the stream

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The simple end of the traverse to the bealach was thwarted by ice, so on with the microspikes and walk around the blue snow, this took us a little higher than necessary and I hate losing height for no reason. Most of the ground in the bealach was sheet ice where freeze/thaw had occurred.

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Stob Binnein lurking

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Ben More lurking


On the way up the mist had lifted a little to give the promise of clearing skies and a little layered inversion
Two hours twenty to the bealach, 5 minutes water stop then up to Stob Binnien in three hours twelve minutes.
Supprisngly there was no wind, its was dry and the clouds were lifting giving a good view of the surrounding hills but more importantly the bulk of Ben More itself. A mirror image of what we have just climbed, well a massive nine meters taller.
Stopped long enough for Pidge to have a wee sleep (waiting for me I think he muttered) then off to find out how hard these extra nine meters were.

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Pigeon sleeping

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Ben More

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Not to bad when you got your second wind and third and fourth.

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After solo walks she getting lonely so I put an ad on Iceaxeromance.com

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She received a couple of replies

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Stob Binnein

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Meall na Dige


Unfortunately as we neared the summit the clouds descended blocking out the hoped for views but it was still magnificent up there. No noise, warm enough to forgo the extra layers and enough light to give good contrast on the frozen rock/snow formations.

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Pigeon and Charlie cogitating

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Stob Binnein

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Nearly there


The snow at the summit was quite odd in that it was very sticky, like the carpets in some of the less salubrious places I may have visited in the far flung many moons ago.

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Ben More cairn

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Wee celebration


All that was left was the descent by the 'up' route, this I found was quite punishing as the top third over Cuidhe Chrom consisted of a light layer of snow over solid ice/frozen turf. Followed by slip, slide melting snow on sodden turf and then just boggy ground. We left the path and went westward a little following the choire edge down to reach the glen road.

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Sron nam Forsairean

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Cloud chased us down the hill


Seven hours eight minutes in all with a good twenty minute stop at Ben More summit.
100 or not it was a gread day out with Pigeon and Charlie.

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A wee suprise

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Re: 99, 100 - Stob Binnein and Ben More

PostPosted: Mon Feb 11, 2013 12:18 am
by rockhopper
Well done all - a steep route early on and looked tough going in the conditions ! Many congratulations on the century :clap: :clap: - cheers :)

Re: 99, 100 - Stob Binnein and Ben More

PostPosted: Mon Feb 11, 2013 12:30 am
by Frigate
rockhopper wrote:Well done all - a steep route early on and looked tough going in the conditions ! Many congratulations on the century :clap: :clap: - cheers :)


Been there, done that and got the T shirt.
Thanks RH, certainly was hard on the legs

Re: 99, 100 - Stob Binnein and Ben More

PostPosted: Mon Feb 11, 2013 12:33 am
by Bod
Yes......well done! 100 is a special occasion, I was privately more emotional than I let on, great stuff :wink: :D :D

Re: 99, 100 - Stob Binnein and Ben More

PostPosted: Mon Feb 11, 2013 8:50 am
by balgonie
Heading up there myself 2mrw and hoping on better weather, congrats on the 100th Munro looked like you all had fun love the t- shirt :)

Re: 99, 100 - Stob Binnein and Ben More

PostPosted: Mon Feb 11, 2013 9:31 am
by robertphillips
Well done nice hills these 2 in the snow. :clap:

Re: 99, 100 - Stob Binnein and Ben More

PostPosted: Mon Feb 11, 2013 11:35 am
by Huck Finn
It's was a cracking day, really glad I was their for your 100th :D
Well done Kev :clap:

Re: 99, 100 - Stob Binnein and Ben More

PostPosted: Mon Feb 11, 2013 3:27 pm
by Alan S
Well done on your 100th 8)

Re: 99, 100 - Stob Binnein and Ben More

PostPosted: Mon Feb 11, 2013 6:33 pm
by Ian Bayne
Nice one Kev You will be 95 at the 200 mark

Re: 99, 100 - Stob Binnein and Ben More

PostPosted: Mon Feb 11, 2013 6:46 pm
by pigeon
Well done Kev,had some great days out and a few laughs with ye as you battled to the 100 mark :lol: Looking forward to the remaining 182 :wink: Can't believe how good Saturday turned out,topped of with a crackin' meal(cheers Senga :wink: )a few beers and of course the t-shirt presentation :lol: :lol: Added some pics too :thumbup:
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claggy,not looking good at the start
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bealach breather
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Ben More makes an unexpected appearance
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numero 99
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on the slopes of Ben More
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number 100,well done that man

Re: 99, 100 - Stob Binnein and Ben More

PostPosted: Mon Feb 11, 2013 6:49 pm
by Gavin99
Well done Kev , looks like a grand day out , a nice way to reach your century . Looking forward to seeing you wear your new T-shirt on the hill (or in the pub ) soon 8)

Ian Bayne wrote:Nice one Kev You will be 95 at the 200 mark

Cheeky !! :lol:

Re: 99, 100 - Stob Binnein and Ben More

PostPosted: Mon Feb 11, 2013 8:34 pm
by Frigate
Bod wrote:Yes......well done! 100 is a special occasion, I was privately more emotional than I let on, great stuff :wink: :D :D


Thanks Bod, 100 is a bit of an odd number over 1/3 less than 1/2 but a psychological milestone none the less, and to me its more than just walking up a hill.

balgonie wrote:Heading up there myself 2mrw and hoping on better weather, congrats on the 100th Munro looked like you all had fun love the t- shirt :)


Balgonie, enjoy its a good workout - cough, splutter. Hoping for the matching pants for 200.

robertphillips wrote:Well done nice hills these 2 in the snow. :clap:


Thanks Robert, was trying to avoid err save these till later, glad I didn't.

Huck Finn wrote:It's was a cracking day, really glad I was their for your 100th :D
Well done Kev :clap:


Sunday wasn't too bad either.

Alan S wrote:Well done on your 100th 8)


Cheers Alan

Ian Bayne wrote:Nice one Kev You will be 95 at the 200 mark


96 if I take a year out for Kilimanjaro

pigeon wrote:Well done Kev,had some great days out and a few laughs with ye as you battled to the 100 mark :lol: Looking forward to the remaining 182 :wink: Can't believe how good Saturday turned out,topped of with a crackin' meal(cheers Senga :wink: )a few beers and of course the t-shirt presentation :lol: :lol:

Aye, its the company that makes the day and sometimes I'm close up enough to talk. Well chuffed with the T shirt, Senga had to tyre lever me out of it this morning before work.


Gavin99 wrote:Well done Kev , looks like a grand day out , a nice way to reach your century . Looking forward to seeing you wear your new T-shirt on the hill (or in the pub ) soon 8)

Ian Bayne wrote:Nice one Kev You will be 95 at the 200 mark

Cheeky !! :lol:


Thanks Gavin, the usual banter - sarcasm and insults. By 200 I might be fit enough to actually look up during the day.

Re: 99, 100 - Stob Binnein and Ben More

PostPosted: Mon Feb 11, 2013 10:21 pm
by Stuart Angus
:arrow: Congratulations on the 100 Frigate :thumbup:

Re: 99, 100 - Stob Binnein and Ben More

PostPosted: Tue Feb 12, 2013 9:38 pm
by Frigate
Stuart Angus wrote::arrow: Congratulations on the 100 Frigate :thumbup:


Thanks Stuart

Re: 99, 100 - Stob Binnein and Ben More

PostPosted: Wed Feb 13, 2013 1:24 pm
by PeteR
Well done on hitting 100 :clap: Two tough hills to get there too. Did these from the other side a few years back (also in winter) and remember just how steep it all seemed :lol: Good hills though :D