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3rd time lucky & something special on Challum

3rd time lucky & something special on Challum


Postby kev_russ » Wed Nov 04, 2015 4:36 pm

Route description: Ben Challum, near Tyndrum

Munros included on this walk: Ben Challum

Corbetts included on this walk: Beinn Chaorach

Date walked: 01/11/2015

Time taken: 6.33 hours

Distance: 19.5 km

Ascent: 1333m

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The first time I attempted Ben Challum was in Sept 2012. It was a fine clear autumnal day. I say attempted it was more like we got to the South top & my walking colleague did not want to go on. He wasn’t ill or anything just couldn’t be bothered. As he was the driver I decided to head back with him. It was either the boggy ground or up & down the minor humps away from the fence line or the fact he prefers climbing. Auch well it was still a good day. A few pics from that day.

ImageDSC00208 by Kevin Russell, on Flickr

ImageSAM_0510 by Kevin Russell, on Flickr

ImageSAM_0512 by Kevin Russell, on Flickr

ImageSAM_0515 by Kevin Russell, on Flickr

ImageSAM_0516 by Kevin Russell, on Flickr

The second time I knew we wouldn’t make the summit due to the time constraints. It was a club meet to Crianlarich so we got dropped off on the A82 back in February. The weather wasn’t great & with the wind picking up around 800m we headed back. Not before we had a good few slides down in the snow. Then the walk back along the WHW was more tiring due to the deep snow & deeper than on the South slope of Ben Challum.

ImageBen Challum to Crianlarich 007 by Kevin Russell, on Flickr

ImageBen Challum to Crianlarich 008 by Kevin Russell, on Flickr

Strathfillan from the WHW
ImageBen Challum to Crianlarich 016 by Kevin Russell, on Flickr

This brings us to Sunday the 1st November & the club meet to Tyndrum. Had an eye on Ben Challum again plus its 2 Corbett neighbours. I was hoping for a good day but with a mixed forecast of drizzle and fog I wasn’t too hopeful. We were dropped off on the A82 with the usual ascent & the sun shining. I was hoping for a good day but with a mixed forecast of drizzle and fog I wasn’t too hopeful. We were dropped off on the A82 with the usual ascent & the sun shining.

A fine morning:
ImageBen Challum & Beinn Chaorach 4 by Kevin Russell, on Flickr

ImageBen Challum & Beinn Chaorach 6 by Kevin Russell, on Flickr

South top in & out of the clag:
ImageBen Challum & Beinn Chaorach 11 by Kevin Russell, on Flickr

ImageBen Challum & Beinn Chaorach 12 by Kevin Russell, on Flickr

ImageBen Challum & Beinn Chaorach 16 by Kevin Russell, on Flickr

Had lunch at the summit as the clag rolled in & away allowing us to catch some views. We discussed our next move & as we had to get back to Tyndrum for 5 for high tea at the real food cafe we decided just to take in Beinn Chaorach.

ImageBen Challum & Beinn Chaorach 21 by Kevin Russell, on Flickr

ImageBen Challum & Beinn Chaorach 22 by Kevin Russell, on Flickr

The three amigos:
ImageBen Challum & Beinn Chaorach 18 by Kevin Russell, on Flickr

On the club bus up I jokingly said to my pal Graham as I always do that it could be Brocken Spectre weather. I have never seen one in my years of walking. My other pal Dave who I was walking with piped up that he had seen a double one before & I joked that we might get a triple one. Sure enough on the summit of Ben Challum...Booooom!! it was Brocken Spectres galore. A faint one & then a triple one. :)

Faint Brocken:
ImageBen Challum & Beinn Chaorach 27 by Kevin Russell, on Flickr

Triple whammy:
ImageBen Challum & Beinn Chaorach 24 by Kevin Russell, on Flickr

ImageBen Challum & Beinn Chaorach 25 by Kevin Russell, on Flickr

ImageBen Challum & Beinn Chaorach 26 by Kevin Russell, on Flickr

The views started to open up as we made our way down Ben Challum's North West ridge:

ImageBen Challum & Beinn Chaorach 31 by Kevin Russell, on Flickr

ImageBen Challum & Beinn Chaorach 33 by Kevin Russell, on Flickr

Then I got excited again just like a wee laddie going "Oh ya beauty."

ImageBen Challum & Beinn Chaorach 34 by Kevin Russell, on Flickr

ImageBen Challum & Beinn Chaorach 35 by Kevin Russell, on Flickr

ImageBen Challum & Beinn Chaorach 37 by Kevin Russell, on Flickr

Ooft Mr Brocken Spectre stoap it, your spoiling me just cos I've no seen yi before :) 8) :wink:

ImageBen Challum & Beinn Chaorach 40 by Kevin Russell, on Flickr

Descent down the steep & rocky NW ridge:
ImageBen Challum & Beinn Chaorach 44 by Kevin Russell, on Flickr

ImageBen Challum & Beinn Chaorach 45 by Kevin Russell, on Flickr

Got to the Bealach Ghlas-Leathaid with no problems then followed the fence line around & up to the 638m col. From here it was a short bimble up to the Corbett Beinn Chaorach.

ImageBen Challum & Beinn Chaorach 46 by Kevin Russell, on Flickr

ImageBen Challum & Beinn Chaorach 47 by Kevin Russell, on Flickr

ImageBen Challum & Beinn Chaorach 49 by Kevin Russell, on Flickr

Beinn Dorain looking big and braw:
ImageBen Challum & Beinn Chaorach 50 by Kevin Russell, on Flickr

Ben Challum, Ben More and Stob Binnein from Beinn Chaorach:
ImageBen Challum & Beinn Chaorach 51 by Kevin Russell, on Flickr

ImageBen Challum & Beinn Chaorach 52 by Kevin Russell, on Flickr

ImageBen Challum & Beinn Chaorach 56 by Kevin Russell, on Flickr

Challum zoomed:
ImageBen Challum & Beinn Chaorach 60 by Kevin Russell, on Flickr

ImageBen Challum & Beinn Chaorach 61 by Kevin Russell, on Flickr

ImageBen Challum & Beinn Chaorach 63 by Kevin Russell, on Flickr

A last look at Ben Challum:
ImageBen Challum & Beinn Chaorach 65 by Kevin Russell, on Flickr

Crianlarich Munros from the WHW:
ImageBen Challum & Beinn Chaorach 66 by Kevin Russell, on Flickr

ImageBen Challum & Beinn Chaorach 67 by Kevin Russell, on Flickr
User avatar
kev_russ
Mountaineer
 
Posts: 395
Munros:198   Corbetts:77
Fionas:27   Donalds:33
Sub 2000:14   Hewitts:7
Wainwrights:9   
Joined: Mar 17, 2009
Location: Edinburgh

Re: 3rd time lucky & something special on Challum

Postby Silverhill » Wed Nov 04, 2015 9:13 pm

Good to get Ben Challum done! You had a lovely day for it and the pictures show it. :D Weird to see a triple Brocken Spectre, as I understood that you can only see your own, but very cool! 8) You were definitely spoilt to see so many!
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Silverhill
 
Posts: 1360
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Re: 3rd time lucky & something special on Challum

Postby katyhills » Wed Nov 04, 2015 10:07 pm

Fantastic photos! What an amazing day for walking. I was on Beinn Odhar at the same time as you were on Challum and Chaorach. Got an 'almost' spectre pic Image
katyhills
Walker
 
Posts: 375
Munros:120   Corbetts:28
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Joined: Jul 7, 2015

Re: 3rd time lucky & something special on Challum

Postby tomyboy73 » Wed Nov 04, 2015 10:12 pm

Cracker, that broken spectre must live up there, I went from awstruck excitement , when i first saw it to, go away you`re following me now ! :lol:
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tomyboy73
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Posts: 1080
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Joined: Jan 21, 2010
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