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Chonzie the choice for smashed ankle

Chonzie the choice for smashed ankle


Postby dogplodder » Tue Dec 20, 2011 7:46 pm

Route description: Ben Chonzie via Glen Lednock

Munros included on this walk: Ben Chonzie

Date walked: 31/05/2011

Distance: 12.5 km

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For lots of reasons I've not been able to get out in the hills over the past 8 weeks and am suffering serious withdrawal symptoms. :wtf: I'm loving seeing reports and photos of pristine snowy landscapes and in many ways this report from balmy May will be tame by comparison. But on the day we did it, it was a significant milestone and achievement. So I post it with pride in my indomitable pal who won't see this as she's currently basking in sunny California - not that I'm in the slightest bit jealous or anything! :mrgreen:

As anyone who has read some of my other reports will know my hill walking pal Moira had a nasty fall in the Cairngorms smashing her ankle in three places and needing reconstructive surgery to put it all back together :shock: As she lay in A & E she asked the doctor if she would be able to hill walk again - which having just been airlifted off the hill in agony I thought showed a lot of spirit and was maybe a wee bit optimistic. :?

Here's the brave lady 5 days later - she was 8 days in hospital
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Six months later we started with short low level walks, gradually working up to the Corbett Am Bathach which gave a lot of ankle pain on the descent. By the end of May she was feeling ready to tackle her first post accident Munro and I thought a nice straighforward one would be Ben Chonzie which would give Moira a tick for her efforts. I'd done it twice before - via Loch Turrett and by the shorter route from Glen Lednock, which was the route we chose for today.

Glen Lednock looking fresh and green
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We took a steady pace up the good track that follows the course of the Invergeldie Burn
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Climbing out of Glen Lednock on to open hillside, the track became more rocky
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Steady as she goes
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Views opening up over Glen Lednock to the west
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Before the track reaches the crest of the hill there is a small cairn which marks the point for turning off to the left on a path which crosses a burn. We stopped at the burn for a bite to eat and a rest for the ankle which so far was coping well.

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This brought back fond memories of Easter Saturday 2000 when I came up here with a bunch of friends of all ages from Dundee and China. We stopped for lunch at the same spot before 8 of us climbed to the summit.

2000 hills.JPG


There was then a bit of a climb that wasn't too steep until we saw the metal fence posts which we followed right up to the summit.

One very chuffed lady! :clap:
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Texting her friends in the summit shelter to say she'd done it!
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Loch Turrett and the other approach to Ben Chonzie which I took in 1997
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View from the top north west towards Ben Lawers
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Beinn Ghlas, Ben Lawers, An Stuc and Meall Garbh
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Dazzling quartzite near the top
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Being a gentle gradient the descent didn't give the ankle the problems it had coming off Am Bathach
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Birches in fresh green of spring
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Looking back up the track - what a glorious spring day
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Not having the dogs with us we were able to get quite close to these boys and girls
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The black-faced hill lambs are so bonny
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Almost back at the car
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Last edited by dogplodder on Wed Dec 21, 2011 11:32 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Smashing choice for smashed ankle - Ben Chonzie

Postby dogplodder » Tue Dec 20, 2011 7:51 pm

Approaching the parking place in Glen Lednock
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The ankle was aching by the time we reached the car but after a few days was fine. Ben Chonzie proved to be a perfect choice for a recovering ankle and did much to raise Moira's confidence that she didn't have to hang up her boots quite yet! :D
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Re: Smashing choice for smashed ankle - Ben Chonzie

Postby mrssanta » Tue Dec 20, 2011 7:57 pm

well done ladies! :D
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Re: Smashing choice for smashed ankle - Ben Chonzie

Postby dogplodder » Wed Dec 21, 2011 11:49 am

mrssanta wrote:well done ladies! :D


Thanks Mrs S. :D Guess you're crazily busy this week flitting around the roof tops! :lol:
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Re: Chonzie the choice for smashed ankle

Postby mrssanta » Wed Dec 21, 2011 12:07 pm

oh yes, my favourite time. Just as well I have a head for heights. :D :D
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Re: Chonzie the choice for smashed ankle

Postby morag1 » Wed Dec 21, 2011 12:53 pm

Nice to see greenery and blue skies again after all the reports coming in from the snow-covered hills

Well done to Moira for overcoming such a serious injury and getting back out there again

Merry Christmas Kathleen, look forward to seeing your dogs out and about in the new year :D
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Re: Chonzie the choice for smashed ankle

Postby dogplodder » Wed Dec 21, 2011 12:55 pm

mrssanta wrote:oh yes, my favourite time. Just as well I have a head for heights. :D :D


Not sure about the state of North Yorkshire roofs but when you get up our way you'll be needing your microspikes! :o
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Re: Chonzie the choice for smashed ankle

Postby dogplodder » Wed Dec 21, 2011 12:59 pm

morag1 wrote:Merry Christmas Kathleen, look forward to seeing your dogs out and about in the new year :D


Same to you Morag! :D

This year I've asked Santa for microspikes - but unfortunately they don't do dog sizes. :lol:
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Re: Chonzie the choice for smashed ankle

Postby rockhopper » Wed Dec 21, 2011 1:40 pm

A much maligned hill the reasons for which I've never really understood - looks just the job with gentle gradients - well done both and glad that Morag's on the mend :D
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Re: Chonzie the choice for smashed ankle

Postby iainwatson » Wed Dec 21, 2011 5:12 pm

great to see moira getting back out and enjoying the day :D

agree with the morag1-after reading nothing but winter reports for the last wee while its refreshing to see greenery again,thanks for posting!
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Re: Chonzie the choice for smashed ankle

Postby pollyh33 » Thu Dec 22, 2011 12:39 am

Wow wow Kathleen you pulled a cracker (like the festive reference?) out the bag with this report :D


I knew you had a lot of friends on the hills but you're just showing off now :lol: :lol:


Have a very happy Christmas Kathleen and hope Santa is good to you :thumbup:
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Re: Chonzie the choice for smashed ankle

Postby MarilynMunro » Thu Dec 22, 2011 9:15 am

Lovely report, and so glad your "buddy" is back on her feet.
Dunno why your jealous of your friend going to Falkirk :lol:
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Re: Chonzie the choice for smashed ankle

Postby dogplodder » Thu Dec 22, 2011 12:02 pm

rockhopper wrote:A much maligned hill the reasons for which I've never really understood :D


Maybe it's not challenging enough. But it's a great wee hill to introduce folk to the satisfaction of reaching a summt without killing them. :D
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Re: Chonzie the choice for smashed ankle

Postby dogplodder » Thu Dec 22, 2011 12:06 pm

iainwatson wrote:great to see moira getting back out and enjoying the day :D

agree with the morag1-after reading nothing but winter reports for the last wee while its refreshing to see greenery again,thanks for posting!


Thanks Iain. :D I was in two minds about posting as it seemed so tame compared to the snowfest scenes going on (which I'm loving). But, yes, it's a good contrast to see how green it is after the snows have gone.
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Re: Chonzie the choice for smashed ankle

Postby dogplodder » Thu Dec 22, 2011 3:29 pm

pollyh33 wrote:
I knew you had a lot of friends on the hills but you're just showing off now :lol: :lol:



I just suggested a wee Easter jaunt up Ben Chonzie and couldn't believe how many ended up coming! :lol:

Some of the Chinese were on cloud nine as you don't do hill walking in China - mountains too big and remote from where most of them live.

Have a lovely Christmas Pauline - and here's to many more hills conquered in 2012! :D
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