Addicted to Recovery (107), Blairdenon & 3 more from Alva.

[UrbanExplorer]

So i had given myself a short break after my exsertions at the weekend, my Morton's toe has been playing havoc with my feet, but by the time I'd woken up on Thursday I was feeling empty, I needed to get back into training mode and return to the hills. I had taken a short drive earlier in the morning and the snow topped Ochils were calling.

20180201_103910 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr

So after quick look at the map I'd decided that a wee circular from Alva Glen would be my plan for for the day, I'd be able to bag my last Ochils Donald with Blairdenon and also top the 2 Torrys, Bengengie, Ben Ever & The Nebit. I'd also get a good workout in the snow and another day with near Munro height ascent total.

Now I'm lucky in that I can see the Ochils from the house, so the car was packed and within 20 minutes I was nearing Alva.
20180201_105515 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr

The view along the Ochils eastward from here is quite breathtaking,
20180201_105503 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr

I drove straight through the village and parked up at the golf course, gear on & out the car by 11:10. I'd been working till 2 this morning, so not quite as early as my normal start time, but still plenty of time. From where I parked I walked a short distance back towards the golf course, on the right I find a small opening in the brambles that leads me over a wall onto the edge of the course, I follow a small path around a tee and soon find a path leading upwards.
20180201_111458 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr

The Ochils always seem to have a quick start so you very quickly climb and the views open up, I soon find the gate onto the hill and then check the view behind me.
20180201_111737 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr
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I follow the path as it starts to lead me upwards into the glen.
20180201_113247 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr

I could have followed the path onward, but I wanted to climb over Wee Torry & Big Torry to my left, so I started to look for the gully that would quickly lead me upwards.
20180201_113556 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr

It doesn't look too imposing, so after following a few sheep tracks I was soon at its base.
20180201_114406 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr
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OK, that looks a bit more of a task. Oh well I do like a bit of a scramble.
20180201_115523 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr
20180201_115529 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr

I scrambled upwards like a sheep hands & feet required. If you see my images of this route at the end of the report, it looks a lot different.

I'd reached the top of Wee Torry only to find another, easier, gully to take me upwards to Big Torry.
20180201_120204 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr

As I come over the top the wind picks up considerably, I start to walk over the small plateau heading towards the climb onto the ridge that leads towards Bengenie Hill, the snow is blowing over the top.
20180201_121854 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr

The views have opened up quite suddenly.
20180201_122628 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr
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Wind blown ice on a small cairn.
20180201_123423 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr

Looking onwards to the rocky top of Bengengie as I start to walk on into the wind.
20180201_123842 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr

I reach the base of the rocky outcrop that is the top of Bengengie, looking back at last I see blue skies.
20180201_124510 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr

Looking back at the scramble onto the summit and the view down the glen.
20180201_130115 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr
20180201_130145 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr

The summit in the wind and the views around me.
20180201_130254 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr
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As I near the final climb to Blairdenon I look back over Mentrie Moss.
20180201_132516 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr

Looking forward I see a dark patch, marsh ?
20180201_132521 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr

I was right, water !! some stunning icicles though.
20180201_133938 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr

Trying to skirt the marsh area as much as possible, I climb the gradual rise onto Blairdenon, this hill doesn't really have a summit as such, it's just a vast flatness on top, a linear feature crosses the high point on the OS map, so I find that and follow it till I reach what I think is the highest point.
20180201_134632 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr

N, E, S & W.
20180201_134642 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr
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More sideways blown ice.
20180201_134848 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr

Looking across Alva Moss at Burnfoot Wind Farm, Ben Buck & Ben Ever.
20180201_135302 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr

The snow is unbroken up here, but I have seen quite a few animal tracks, a fox or something maybe ? I'm not sure, its not cloven so it cant be a sheep.
20180201_135639 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr

The next hour was spent navigating my way across Alva Moss, avoiding hidden streams & marshes it was slow going. I couldn't take a straight path, I just tried the best I could to follow a contour line around Ben Buck, at least the views were open and calming.
20180201_142351 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr
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The views north were stunning.
20180201_144845 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr

Alva Moss just carries on & on.
20180201_145353 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr
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Watch out for the sudden holes in the snow, with a burn at the bottom. This one was about 3 foot deep.
20180201_142458 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr

At last !! a view of Ben Ever. I nearly start running at the joy of being able to get away from the flatness around me.
20180201_145340 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr

At last I top Ben Ever.
20180201_151356 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr

N, E, S & W
20180201_151408 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr
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The sun is getting ready to set, but I'm nearly home, only The Nebit left, It's not long before it appears in front of me.
20180201_151712 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr

I make my way down the slopes of Ben Ever and quickly start to climb the steep path up The Nebit. I look back at Glen Winnel valley, Craighorn left Ben Ever right.
20180201_153519 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr

At last I reach the top, the wind blowing a gale.
20180201_154347 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr

As the sun continues to fall the views around me are breathtaking in the strange eerie light of dusk
20180201_154355 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr
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As a make my way down from The Nebit I look right and get to see just how steep that initial gully I climbed was.
20180201_155722 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr
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I make my way downwards, passing through the Alva Glen as I head back towards the car.
20180201_161640 by IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr
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Back at the car at 16.21, with 15 snow filled kilometers & 867m of total ascent safely under my belt. A grand day out

Still living "Just For Today"

[iangpark]

Bloomin 'eck that's some gully! I'm finally climbing them on Sunday - hoping the snow has dissolved itself a little more than this but from the looks of the underfoot conditions I should probably be hoping for the opposite I think you've officially conquered every sq. metre of the Ochils now!

[UrbanExplorer]

Yeah Ian, I've got all the summits in the bag, but I think there is still plenty more to see when I get the time. It has certainly allowed me to get my fitness up though and at only 20 minutes from home, I'm quite sure I'll be out there again. I'd like to do the traverse west to east at some point, maybe even take a tent with me and make a weekend of it. One for the better weather before the midges descend on us