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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.
DSC00208 by
Kevin Russell, on Flickr
SAM_0510 by
Kevin Russell, on Flickr
SAM_0512 by
Kevin Russell, on Flickr
SAM_0515 by
Kevin Russell, on Flickr
SAM_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.
Ben Challum to Crianlarich 007 by
Kevin Russell, on Flickr
Ben Challum to Crianlarich 008 by
Kevin Russell, on Flickr
Strathfillan from the WHW
Ben 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:
Ben Challum & Beinn Chaorach 4 by
Kevin Russell, on Flickr
Ben Challum & Beinn Chaorach 6 by
Kevin Russell, on Flickr
South top in & out of the clag:
Ben Challum & Beinn Chaorach 11 by
Kevin Russell, on Flickr
Ben Challum & Beinn Chaorach 12 by
Kevin Russell, on Flickr
Ben 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.
Ben Challum & Beinn Chaorach 21 by
Kevin Russell, on Flickr
Ben Challum & Beinn Chaorach 22 by
Kevin Russell, on Flickr
The three amigos:
Ben 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:
Ben Challum & Beinn Chaorach 27 by
Kevin Russell, on Flickr
Triple whammy:
Ben Challum & Beinn Chaorach 24 by
Kevin Russell, on Flickr
Ben Challum & Beinn Chaorach 25 by
Kevin Russell, on Flickr
Ben 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:
Ben Challum & Beinn Chaorach 31 by
Kevin Russell, on Flickr
Ben Challum & Beinn Chaorach 33 by
Kevin Russell, on Flickr
Then I got excited again just like a wee laddie going "Oh ya beauty."
Ben Challum & Beinn Chaorach 34 by
Kevin Russell, on Flickr
Ben Challum & Beinn Chaorach 35 by
Kevin Russell, on Flickr
Ben 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
Ben Challum & Beinn Chaorach 40 by
Kevin Russell, on Flickr
Descent down the steep & rocky NW ridge:
Ben Challum & Beinn Chaorach 44 by
Kevin Russell, on Flickr
Ben 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.
Ben Challum & Beinn Chaorach 46 by
Kevin Russell, on Flickr
Ben Challum & Beinn Chaorach 47 by
Kevin Russell, on Flickr
Ben Challum & Beinn Chaorach 49 by
Kevin Russell, on Flickr
Beinn Dorain looking big and braw:
Ben Challum & Beinn Chaorach 50 by
Kevin Russell, on Flickr
Ben Challum, Ben More and Stob Binnein from Beinn Chaorach:
Ben Challum & Beinn Chaorach 51 by
Kevin Russell, on Flickr
Ben Challum & Beinn Chaorach 52 by
Kevin Russell, on Flickr
Ben Challum & Beinn Chaorach 56 by
Kevin Russell, on Flickr
Challum zoomed:
Ben Challum & Beinn Chaorach 60 by
Kevin Russell, on Flickr
Ben Challum & Beinn Chaorach 61 by
Kevin Russell, on Flickr
Ben Challum & Beinn Chaorach 63 by
Kevin Russell, on Flickr
A last look at Ben Challum:
Ben Challum & Beinn Chaorach 65 by
Kevin Russell, on Flickr
Crianlarich Munros from the WHW:
Ben Challum & Beinn Chaorach 66 by
Kevin Russell, on Flickr
Ben Challum & Beinn Chaorach 67 by
Kevin Russell, on Flickr