Stay at home

[rockhopper]

Again, some very old pics here (Pentax MX with 35mm film)............report is more for my own record keeping information.

Left Glasgow early and followed the standard route from Benmore Farm. I can remember being awed by the starting view of the hill and also very much saddened as it was only a few weeks before that day at the start of February when there was a fatal crash of a mountain rescue wessex helicopter on Ben More when it was trying to rescue an injured climber. A very stark reminder of the dangers on the hills and the people who risk their lives to rescue others. We were all the more conscious of the potential risks as a result.

On the way up Ben More we passed two other walkers - the very annoying thing was that they didn't seem prepared for the conditions - no ice axe, crampons or anything !

The walk went fine, great weather conditions. On the final descent from Stob Binnein, we took it easy and slid down part of the way - a salutory reminder then followed in how to arrest one's descent and stop sliding with an ice axe !

Some further pics...

[mountain coward]

The 'From Stob Binnein I think' is - it's looking down the route to the top of Stob Coire an Lochain (see my report for further pics and the stupendous views from that point):

http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=7682

Great that you got a pic of that superb gully formation round the summit trig of Ben More!

I can't imagine anyone tackling things of this steepness in that weather without ice axe and crampons!

[rockhopper]

Thanks mc - looked at the map and your report re Stob Coire an Lochan and see what you mean - cheers

[jwramsay]

Ben More & Stob Binnein:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eenEAu5ZEUg[/youtube]

[rockhopper]

nice video, jwramsay - ahh the wonders of modern technology - don't know if camcorders had been invented when we were up Ben More and if they had I suspect we'd have needed a large suitcase or two to carry them

[davetherave]

Some nice pics again Rockhopper. 23 years ago seems like along time !

Whats made you get back into the more serious walking then.?

Looks like salewa crampons you have on, look very similar to the ones that i use today.

I can remember being awed by the starting view of the hill and also very much saddened as it was only a few weeks before that day at the start of February when there was a fatal crash of a mountain rescue wessex helicopter on Ben More when it was trying to rescue an injured climber. A very stark reminder of the dangers on the hills and the people who risk their lives to rescue others. We were all the more conscious of the potential risks as a result.

Never new of the above incident. Very sad indeed.

[rockhopper]

Thanks dave. It is a long time. I started in my early 20's in the 1980's but then stopped when I got married at the end of that decade, then kids, houses, jobs etc all meant it was on the back burner. I have walked up the odd munro in the last few years when up on holiday in Coylumbridge but not many. Then I went for a longish hill walk when in Glacier Park in Montana in summer and realised that I could still walk 10 - 15 miles and ascend more than 4000 - 5000 feet so just got staretd again when we came back.

You're correct on the crampons - I think they're salewa classic 12 point and I still use them and my salewa 75 cm ice axe

You mentioned the accident - I've now had a look in google and found 1st February, 1987 was an almost spring-like day and no-one would have anticipated the dark cloud that would fall on the team by nightfall.......
and
At the time of the accident, a Leuchars team had been at Dalmally for the weekend.....
I guess it's one of these things that you don't forget.