Easter Monday up Ben More

[edinburgh36]

Almost didn’t make this one! Was kept awake most of the night in the hostel in Dundee by the sound of a seagull just outside the window and managed to set my clock for Sunday, not Monday! Probably thanks to the seagull I opened my eyes and checked the clock at 6:02 – 28 minutes to get up and out to meet Siobhan…

The drive up past Loch Earn and along the A85 was amazing. Gorgeous sunshine and what was actually set to be a really hot, nice day – for those not atop Ben More, but in other parts of Scotland.

We hit the trail at 8:25. Ben More lives up to it’s reputation as a formidable giant and slog of a hill! Almost as soon as you leave the car you look and just think – that is a LONG way up!!

Ben More - A long way to go!

We followed the sign for the farm and then the track for a wee bit of the way. Probably could have made things a tiny bit easier for ourselves if we had followed the track a bit further than we did before coming to the gate. We were going to need every bit of energy we had to get up here.

Then the slog began. We took regular breaks to admire the views behind (as our lungs nearly burst out of our chests!!) The clouds kept rolling across as we climbed and it was pretty claggy. There were patches of snow and ice higher up but all totally avoidable. After 2 hours 55 we reached the summit.

Looking back towards Crianlarich

Still a way to go...

Yeah - we made it!

We had had glimpses through the clouds so decided to stop here for lunch and wait in the hope we’d get a ‘magic moment’ and the amazing views that had been threatening to show themselves off and on. Siobhan was up and down like a yo-yo every time it looked like the cloud was on the move. We didn’t get what we wanted but we did get a couple of cool shots.

Clouds just wouldn't blow past.

The summit of Ben More is an ideal lunch stop – has a couple of nice sheltered seats in the rocks. After 15/20 minutes we headed down to the bealach, and again were just willing those clouds to blow over to get the view of the ridge between the two peaks.

More views from the top

Views to the East

The wind really picked up at this point, easily 40mph (maybe more) so my focus was just pushing up to the top of Stob Binnein so that we could then head back down to more sheltered terrain!

Not far to Stob Binnein...

Looking back at Ben More form the bealach

Before long we were at the summit and there was a brief break in the wind. We sat for a bit – again hoping for the views to appear and make the slog all the more worthwhile, but they didn’t really.

Summit 2 of the day :)

Number 14

So down we went. Easy descent with lovely views, but a long walk along the side of the burn and back to the car.

Views to the West

6 hours 55 later we were back at the car. Not bad going, with a couple of decent stops.
Munros 13 & 14 for me and 50 and 51 for Siobhan. Great end to the Easter weekend!

[jac the lassie]

Nice pics! Much better weather than Saturday
Your on a roll now wi the trip reports

[shivy88]

Great report Thanks for the company! So glad we got some views after all that hard work! A great day to hit 50 for me and you'll be catching me up in no time at this rate!

[litljortindan]

A couple of great, atmospheric pictures there -I like the one through the break in the clouds and the one with the cloud draped over the Stob Binnien skyline.

[Nesa]

Great report! Well done! Looks like an awesome day out

[dooterbang]

The ascent to the summit is pretty relentless straight from the off, it certainly gets the heart beating
I love this hill simply because of the challenge it throws at you, and the views from the summit are pretty decent to.
I was last up here in December, was a great day... http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=48387

Well done on compleating another hill/munro...you've a great journey ahead of you