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1st Hill of 2012, Another Great Day in the Snow

1st Hill of 2012, Another Great Day in the Snow


Postby Del246 » Thu Feb 02, 2012 7:55 pm

Route description: Ben Challum, near Tyndrum

Munros included on this walk: Ben Challum

Date walked: 02/02/2012

Time taken: 5 hours

Distance: 11.5 km

Ascent: 910m

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I had been kicking my heals for 5 weeks, so when my days off coincided my mates ( fellow WH member Meatball ) today we decided to head out. The only question was where. As my mate had to be home sharp due to work we decided to tackle Ben Challum. Neither of us had did it before and we did not fancy it in the summer as it appears to be a bog fest ! So with the forecast looking not to bad and for it to be -6 we thought all the bogs would be frozen solid, which they were !

We parked in the lay-by on the A82 just North of the access road for Kirkton Farm just after 7am and we were lucky enough to catch sunrise over Ben More and Stob Binnein

DSC02100.JPG
sunrise over Ben More and Stob Binnein


After a wee detour (my fault) we were heading towards Kirkton Farm just as the sun was rising over the Crianlarich hills

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sun was rising over the Crianlarich hills


We then followed the route as described on this website - past the farm, along a part of the West Highland Way, past the graveyard and over the railway line. You then follow the fence posts all the way uptowards the South Top. Whilst following the fence line the views towrds the Tyndrum hills opened up.

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Tyndrum hills


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Ben Lui


As I said earlier it was rather cold !!

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Frozen stream !


The South Top was soon in view

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Towards the South Top


The views were magic.

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Tyndrum Hills


We were then on the South Top and the view over to the summit was looking good ! There is still alot of snow about.

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View towards the summit


We then got a good view of the Bridge of Orchy Hills.

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Bridge of Orchy Hills


After 3 hours we were on the summit.

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On the summit


After a quick bite to eat we headed back down as it was freeeeezing !!

As we made our way back down and past Kirkton Farm a couple of question sprang to mind -- 1 How do horses close gates and 2 When did horses start to read signs ???????????????????

DSC02127.JPG
Very clever horses on this farm


After 5 hours in total we were back in the car and heading home. Another great day in the snow !!
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Del246
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Re: 1st Hill of 2012, Another Great Day in the Snow

Postby pigeon » Thu Feb 02, 2012 8:03 pm

Looks braw del,been some fine days this week,typically though the weekend no looking so good :(
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Re: 1st Hill of 2012, Another Great Day in the Snow

Postby quoman » Thu Feb 02, 2012 8:10 pm

Nice report del
The surounding hills look very nice, looks like a lot of snow still on the tops.

As pigeon says not looking good for the weekend am going up Ben Mhanach on sunday :( :(
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Re: 1st Hill of 2012, Another Great Day in the Snow

Postby jonny616 » Thu Feb 02, 2012 8:25 pm

Great report & pics Del. I did this hill in clear skies. The vies to Ben More et al are fantastic. Love the sun up pic.
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Re: 1st Hill of 2012, Another Great Day in the Snow

Postby jonny616 » Thu Feb 02, 2012 8:27 pm

quoman wrote:
As pigeon says not looking good for the weekend am going up Ben Mhanach on sunday :( :(


Hi quoman. I'm planning on doing BM soon so am interested to hear how you get on with the river crossings
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Re: 1st Hill of 2012, Another Great Day in the Snow

Postby Meatball » Thu Feb 02, 2012 8:29 pm

1 munro bagged and and part of the West Highland Way completed....lol
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Re: 1st Hill of 2012, Another Great Day in the Snow

Postby Del246 » Thu Feb 02, 2012 8:35 pm

pigeon wrote:Looks braw del,been some fine days this week,typically though the weekend no looking so good :(


Thanks Pigeon. If you go out this weekend I hope the weather improves !
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Del246
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Re: 1st Hill of 2012, Another Great Day in the Snow

Postby Del246 » Thu Feb 02, 2012 8:36 pm

quoman wrote:Nice report del
The surounding hills look very nice, looks like a lot of snow still on the tops.

As pigeon says not looking good for the weekend am going up Ben Mhanach on sunday :( :(


Thanks quoman. There is alot of snow still about !! Hope you have a good one on Sunday.
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Del246
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Re: 1st Hill of 2012, Another Great Day in the Snow

Postby Malckyb » Thu Feb 02, 2012 8:44 pm

Great pics..as you say,this hill is usually a bog fest...its a nice walk but usually a wet one.Must have been fab walking it in the snow!...well done. :)
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Re: 1st Hill of 2012, Another Great Day in the Snow

Postby pollyh33 » Thu Feb 02, 2012 9:09 pm

Oh nice Derek :D

Such a wise decision to wait until the bog had frozen over :thumbup: :thumbup:

Your photographs are amazing, hope you're very happy with yourself. Your time lapse is forgiven :lol: :lol:
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Re: 1st Hill of 2012, Another Great Day in the Snow

Postby Del246 » Thu Feb 02, 2012 9:56 pm

jonny616 wrote:Great report & pics Del. I did this hill in clear skies. The vies to Ben More et al are fantastic. Love the sun up pic.


Cheers for the feedback. Its great when you see the sun rise over the hills in the morning.
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Del246
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Re: 1st Hill of 2012, Another Great Day in the Snow

Postby Del246 » Thu Feb 02, 2012 9:57 pm

Meatball wrote:1 munro bagged and and part of the West Highland Way completed....lol


Ha Ha. Less of your cheek young man !!
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Re: 1st Hill of 2012, Another Great Day in the Snow

Postby smiffysmc » Thu Feb 02, 2012 11:11 pm

If Carlsberg made winter walking conditions :)

Great report. I was looking for winter hills to climb and this is deffo going on the list.

Cheers.
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Re: 1st Hill of 2012, Another Great Day in the Snow

Postby Redrock » Fri Feb 03, 2012 12:06 am

Great one, Del! :thumbup: I first tried this one as a winter Munro - but got turned back near the south summit in blizzard conditions. Climbed it the following April. So it's good to see what it looks like in winter conditions (without the blizzard :lol: ) Cheers. 8)
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Re: 1st Hill of 2012, Another Great Day in the Snow

Postby Del246 » Fri Feb 03, 2012 5:37 pm

Malckyb wrote:Great pics..as you say,this hill is usually a bog fest...its a nice walk but usually a wet one.Must have been fab walking it in the snow!...well done. :)


Thanks for the feedback. I got the impression lower down that if the ground had not frozen I would of needed wellies or even waders !!
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