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Ochil Donald Completion for Sick Kid

PostPosted: Mon Jun 26, 2017 11:39 am
by weaselmaster
It's been quite a year for the Sick Kid. Having managed the fastest Graham round recorded by a woman in April then the Furths last month it was now time for her to complete her Donald round, begun in the winter of 2015/6 and cruelly interrupted by her back injury. One hill at either end of the Ochil range remained for her - I'd done the same pairing back in January 16 whilst she was laid up in the tent / sat reading in the car. viewtopic.php?f=9&t=59466

We had considered doing a linear traverse of the entire Ochil range, which had its attraction but would require two cars and therefore a degree of co-ordination. So we opted for the hills as two singles. Arriving down in Alva on Saturday afternoon we pitched up at The Woods caravan site - the first time we've visited it in summer.


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I had swithered about doing Blairdenon from the Sherrifmuir road, which would be a shorter out-and-back, but in the end opted for the circuit from Alva Glen. We drove to the parking spot in the Glen and set out - the weather looking surprisingly good for a Completion Day. Following the Alva Burn we gained the open hillside under the Torrys and ascended the steep path to the summit. The weather was extremely changeable - hot and sweaty where sheltered but an icy wind that cut right through you when exposed. Add in frequent short bursts of rain for good measure. We journeyed along the hilltop towards Bengengie with its craggy top then over some boggier ground on the Menstrie Moss. Although I'd come a different route i remembered the unassuming summit of Blairdenon was not much further from here - cross a fence and there it is - one more to go now.

Warnings at the start of the Alva glen route
ImageP1160129 by Al, on Flickr

ImageP1160130 by Al, on Flickr

ImageP1160131 by Al, on Flickr

ImageP1160132 by Al, on Flickr

looking back towards Alva
ImageP1160133 by Al, on Flickr

Steep going up to the Torrys
ImageP1160134 by Al, on Flickr

Bengengie
ImageP1160136 by Al, on Flickr

Blairdenon
ImageP1160137 by Al, on Flickr

88 down, 1 to go
ImageP1160139 by Al, on Flickr

We followed the path from the summit but saw it was heading around the hillside, probably making for Craighorn. I chose a more direct descent route down by the West Cameron Burn, unsettling a number of sheep on the way. We paused when we reached the track for some lunch, having found a semi-sheltered spot to hide from that wicked west wind that had pursued us all weekend. Following the track back under the Nebit we arrived back at the car in around 4 hours.

Down here
ImageP1160140 by Al, on Flickr

View back to Bengengie
ImageP1160141 by Al, on Flickr


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Keeping our kit on we drove around to Glendevon and parked by the old church. Last time I was here it was thick snow - I used my snowshoes - so I hadn't been aware of any paths. I thought we'd just take the same route as I used - a steep climb up Glenquey Hill through scrub and young trees (although in hindsight there was a clear path to follow on the eastern side of the hill :crazy: ) Anyway we puffed up the hillside til we reached the waymarker at the top then followed a path beside the forestry which led to the summit of Innerdownie.

ImageP1160143 by Al, on Flickr

ImageP1160144 by Al, on Flickr

ImageP1160145 by Al, on Flickr

ImageP1160148 by Al, on Flickr

Celebrations followed - Onion Bhajis, Brinjal Pickle and a nice islay malt :D We sat for a bit, sheltering behind an old wall near the summit then headed down, following the path this time. Allison delighted that she's got her Donalds bagged - now it's just those pesky Munro Tops that elude her...

ImageP1160149 by Al, on Flickr

ImageP1160150 by Al, on Flickr

Re: Ochil Donald Completion for Sick Kid

PostPosted: Mon Jun 26, 2017 4:43 pm
by IreneM
Well done Allison!

Huge congratulations :clap: :clap: :clap:

Re: Ochil Donald Completion for Sick Kid

PostPosted: Mon Jun 26, 2017 4:57 pm
by PeteR
Nice hills to compleat the Donalds on. Congratulations Allison :clap:

I took the same route as you up Innerdownie :lol: Was a bit of a surprise to discover a really good path that could have been taken from the start in order to ease the climb up :lol:

Re: Ochil Donald Completion for Sick Kid

PostPosted: Mon Jun 26, 2017 5:34 pm
by Sgurr
Congratulations. That is a heck of an achievement.

weaselmaster wrote:Allison delighted that she's got her Donalds bagged - now it's just those pesky Munro Tops that elude her...


The Marilyns are quite fun.

Re: Ochil Donald Completion for Sick Kid

PostPosted: Mon Jun 26, 2017 6:06 pm
by BlackPanther
Well done!!! :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

Good luck with the remaining Munro tops...and the Marylins :wink:

Wish we had your dedication, guys... We have just enjoyed 2 weeks of hillwalking hols, managed only 12 hills...

Re: Ochil Donald Completion for Sick Kid

PostPosted: Mon Jun 26, 2017 8:44 pm
by Mal Grey
Congratulations Alison!

Re: Ochil Donald Completion for Sick Kid

PostPosted: Tue Jun 27, 2017 7:54 am
by robertphillips
well done allison thats a great achvievement. :clap: :clap: :clap:

Re: Ochil Donald Completion for Sick Kid

PostPosted: Tue Jul 04, 2017 6:06 pm
by Sick Kid
IreneM wrote:Well done Allison!

Huge congratulations :clap: :clap: :clap:


Thanks Irene....may have to go back and do some of them again in nicer weather :roll:

Re: Ochil Donald Completion for Sick Kid

PostPosted: Tue Jul 04, 2017 6:07 pm
by Sick Kid
PeteR wrote:Nice hills to compleat the Donalds on. Congratulations Allison :clap:

I took the same route as you up Innerdownie :lol: Was a bit of a surprise to discover a really good path that could have been taken from the start in order to ease the climb up :lol:


Cheers Pete....and I can't quite believe we had some sunshine at the top! That's a completion first! :lol:

Re: Ochil Donald Completion for Sick Kid

PostPosted: Tue Jul 04, 2017 6:10 pm
by Sick Kid
Sgurr wrote:Congratulations. That is a heck of an achievement.

weaselmaster wrote:Allison delighted that she's got her Donalds bagged - now it's just those pesky Munro Tops that elude her...


The Marilyns are quite fun.


Thanks Sgurr, coming from a Walkhighlands legend yourself that's high praise indeed! :D :D :D

As for the Marilyns, I'm sure Weaselmaster will make sure they're on the schedule :roll:

Re: Ochil Donald Completion for Sick Kid

PostPosted: Tue Jul 04, 2017 6:14 pm
by Sick Kid
BlackPanther wrote:Well done!!! :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

Good luck with the remaining Munro tops...and the Marylins :wink:

Wish we had your dedication, guys... We have just enjoyed 2 weeks of hillwalking hols, managed only 12 hills...


Thanks BP! Managed to bag my nemesis this weekend so hopefully the Munro tops will be on now :wink:

Those pesky Marilyns are another matter :lol:

Re: Ochil Donald Completion for Sick Kid

PostPosted: Tue Jul 04, 2017 6:15 pm
by Sick Kid
Mal Grey wrote:Congratulations Alison!


Cheers Mal! Always a good feeling to finish a list :wink:

Re: Ochil Donald Completion for Sick Kid

PostPosted: Tue Jul 04, 2017 6:18 pm
by Sick Kid
robertphillips wrote:well done allison thats a great achvievement. :clap: :clap: :clap:


Cheers Robert....still never going to catch up with you though :wink:

Re: Ochil Donald Completion for Sick Kid

PostPosted: Tue Jul 04, 2017 7:16 pm
by David-Main
Well done Alison :clap: :clap:

Re: Ochil Donald Completion for Sick Kid

PostPosted: Tue Jul 04, 2017 8:34 pm
by basscadet
Billiant - he bagging nver stops :D
Hope your back stays functional for many more rounds Alison :clap: