Ben Lawers Group, Running low on fluid and minus Beinn Ghlas

[The Rodmiester]

Saturday was always going to be a day for the hills, so an early start was called for. Arrived at Ben Lawers hotel and packed and kitted out ready to go by 0615hrs. A short walk back along the road towards the Horn Craft makers shop with an immediate left turn around the back of the shop up a wooded path, past the farm with good signage provided.

The path turns left at the back of the shop

It took me about half an hour until I came to the final wooden style to get me out of the trees onto the open hillside. There was not a breath of air, and was it clammy, climbing up the South shoulder of Meall Greigh, I was needing that drink I had as I was sweating quite a bit

Making good time and looking back to what I had covered so far, Loch Tay was very calm, not a ripple was to be seen

Cloud refection on Loch Tay

Loch Tay, pity about the slight Haze

By 0800hrs I had reached the top of Meall Greigh at 1001m, view of what lies ahead Ben Lawers on the left

Large stone on the way to Meall Garbh with the Glen Lyon Horseshoe in the distance

Ben Layers from the same stone

Approaching Meall Garbh with An Stuc in the distance. By this time I had met and had a chat with a couple of guys who had bivvied overnight on Ben Lawers and were heading the way I had come from. There was no sign of much wind getting up and it was very close so a lot of fluid was needed

Can you find the route up? it looks more distinct from afar as I found out as I must have left the path some where up and had to scramble a rather steep loose gully. By 0930hrs I was at the foot of An Stuc, packing away the walking poles, its a hands on job. Glad I'm going up and not down

Looking down from the path now regained to Lochan nan Cat

Looking over to Meall Garbh from An Stuc

Looking over to Beinn Ghlas from the summit of Ben Lawers

I met another two guys on the way up to thesummit of Ben Lawers and asked them if they were WH members, but no, but they did use the site for information. Me at the summit Trig point on Ben Lawers (kindly photographed by another hillwalker who was keen to be on the hills early to miss the crowd, I returned the favour and took his photograph

After looking at my water supplies and seeing very little left, and the fact that I had climbed Beinn Ghlas many times before and with the hill beginning to look quite busy I decided on the bye pass on the North side of Beinn Ghlas to take my to the point of access to the next munro Meall Corranaich from the bealach

Cairn on top of Meall Corranaich lookin towards An Stuc

The next and final munro Meall a Choire Leith far in the distance with what I can remember a wet and haggy descent towards the prominent cairn at the roadside near the North end of Lochan na Lairige

Looking back from Meall Choire Leith towards Meall Corranaich a fine dry walk on short grassed areas. It was about here I was pretty short on fluid and just happened to mention the fact to another walker who immediately said 'have some of mine' that's what I like about hillwalkers, will help out whenever they can. Thankyou whoever you were I needed every drop

Summit cairn on the last munro of the day Meall Choire Leith looking towards the Tarmachan ridge

The descent was not as wet as I remember as I climbed down Allt Gleann Da Eig taking care not to drop down too far but skirting around the base of Coire Gorm. I arrived at the roadside at 1345hrs, now for the walk to the hotel! no, first car to pass stopped and offered me a lift, what luck, but he was heading towards Killin, but that's half way to the hotel, go for it.

Well that four miles on the tarmac was torture, lots of cars mostly tourists, no joy, I guess most walkers were still enjoying themselves up the hills and why not, a fabulous day and there's not been many of them so make the most of them when they come along. YES, the Ben Lawers Hotel, what a sight, with heart and sole lifted I got my carparking pint, Aaaaaaaaah Wonderful!

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[Gordie12]

Hi Rod

Nine hours in that heat was a good effort, I did 5 and was glad to get down to Comrie for a couple of bottles of coke as 2 litres of juice was long gone.

I've only done a couple of the Lawers Munros, really should get back and do the others.

A bit of a switch of gear from the Sub 2000's you've been doing lately...............

[The Rodmiester]

I just wanted to test the legs and stamina a bit

[ceaser]

hi Rodmeister ,i must have been just at the back of you ,i set of at seven and met the 2 guys that bivvied at the bottom of meal garbh ,they told me there was another guy in front of me ,i only did the 3 as thats all i needed to complete the set in there and i was night shift at night

[k2scott]

Hi Rodmeister, the Aberdeen contingent from the bivviers here, glad to see you got the whole ridge done. Cracking day for it!

[Fife Flyer]

Great report & some photo's that bring back memories

One of the lasting memories that will forever haunt me is the steep side of An Stuc, as I have stated previously I was intending to return back to the car by going back down the way I came up & that was just a no, no, no Just made it a marathon back to the car via the road & very sore feet

[The Rodmiester]

hi Rodmeister ,i must have been just at the back of you ,i set of at seven and met the 2 guys that bivvied at the bottom of meal garbh ,they told me there was another guy in front of me ,i only did the 3 as thats all i needed to complete the set in there and i was night shift at night

Hi there ceaser, I looked back from the South shoulder of Meall Greigh and never saw anyone, but my eyes are not as they used to be, getting old I met the two guys coming off Meall Garbh when I was going up. Did you get caught by two fell running chaps who caught me up on the top of Ben Lawers, I thought I was slowing up when I saw these guys coming behind at a rate of knots, but it made me feel a whole lot better when they told me they were fellrunners I too thought about the three but I was going that well and time was on my side, so decided to do more. Pity you had to work on such a great day

[The Rodmiester]

Hi Rodmeister, the Aberdeen contingent from the bivviers here, glad to see you got the whole ridge done. Cracking day for it!

Hi again k2scott, nice to have met you and your mate, what a day, fabulous stuff. Hope you enjoyed your pint at the Hotel, I bet it didn't touch the sides

[The Rodmiester]

Great report & some photo's that bring back memories

One of the lasting memories that will forever haunt me is the steep side of An Stuc, as I have stated previously I was intending to return back to the car by going back down the way I came up & that was just a no, no, no Just made it a marathon back to the car via the road & very sore feet

Hi there Fife Flyer, that was a very hard walk on the road, it seemed to go on for ages, it was only the thought of the refreshments awaiting at the Hotel that kept me going.

[Johnny Corbett]

Nice one Rod, great day for it

[The Rodmiester]

Nice one Rod, great day for it

Thank's JC, hope you managed out as well, it was brilliant!

[ceaser]

hi Rodmeister ,i must have been just at the back of you ,i set of at seven and met the 2 guys that bivvied at the bottom of meal garbh ,they told me there was another guy in front of me ,i only did the 3 as thats all i needed to complete the set in there and i was night shift at night

Hi there ceaser, I looked back from the South shoulder of Meall Greigh and never saw anyone, but my eyes are not as they used to be, getting old I met the two guys coming off Meall Garbh when I was going up. Did you get caught by two fell running chaps who caught me up on the top of Ben Lawers, I thought I was slowing up when I saw these guys coming behind at a rate of knots, but it made me feel a whole lot better when they told me they were fellrunners I too thought about the three but I was going that well and time was on my side, so decided to do more. Pity you had to work on such a great day

i was setting quite a good pace but looked back and seen the 2 guys catching up with me ,i was sitting having some lunch on An stuc summit when they eventually caught up with me ,pink t shirt and elasticated socks told me they were practising for this ...http://www.wildfoxevents.com/events/current/artemis-great-kindrochit-quadrathlon/

[The Rodmiester]

hi Rodmeister ,i must have been just at the back of you ,i set of at seven and met the 2 guys that bivvied at the bottom of meal garbh ,they told me there was another guy in front of me ,i only did the 3 as thats all i needed to complete the set in there and i was night shift at night

Hi there ceaser, I looked back from the South shoulder of Meall Greigh and never saw anyone, but my eyes are not as they used to be, getting old I met the two guys coming off Meall Garbh when I was going up. Did you get caught by two fell running chaps who caught me up on the top of Ben Lawers, I thought I was slowing up when I saw these guys coming behind at a rate of knots, but it made me feel a whole lot better when they told me they were fellrunners I too thought about the three but I was going that well and time was on my side, so decided to do more. Pity you had to work on such a great day

i was setting quite a good pace but looked back and seen the 2 guys catching up with me ,i was sitting having some lunch on An stuc summit when they eventually caught up with me ,pink t shirt and elasticated socks told me they were practising for this ...http://www.wildfoxevents.com/events/current/artemis-great-kindrochit-quadrathlon/

Come on now ceaser, I bet you felt a whole lot better once you found out they were fell runners, I did, I caught up with them after they went up Beinn Ghlas and I did the by pass on the North, I met them at the bealach between Beinn Ghlas and Meall Corranaich and was not that far behind them getting to the top, where they headed off to the West and down to the road, maybe they thought I was catching them