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High Five

High Five


Postby Fudgie » Thu Apr 12, 2012 10:57 pm

Route description: Ben Lawers and Beinn Ghlas

Munros included on this walk: An Stùc, Beinn Ghlas, Ben Lawers, Meall Garbh (Ben Lawers), Meall Greigh

Date walked: 12/04/2012

Time taken: 9 hours

Distance: 21 km

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After a 2 month hiatus from the hills I took advantage of the good weather and some time off work and headed for the Lawers range. I had originally planned to do Beinn Ghlas and Ben Lawers but as I sat at the top of the latter, it was as if An Stuc was calling my name and I decided to make it a trio.

I felt quite good at this point and without realising it, I was on the dicey descent from An Stuc headed for Meall Garbh. I was at the top before I knew it and the great weather I had enjoyed upto this point was being threatened by the hailstones that looked to be headed my way. I was on my way to Meall Greigh and what looked like the easiest ascent of the lot became a struggle as I started to tire.

I made it eventually and sat against the cairn whilst the hailstones whizzed past. I told myself that the hardest part of the day was over but when the track that runs around the bottom of Ghlas & Lawers ran out and I was back to open hillside, I really found the going tough. I realised that I had made it hard for myself by missing a faint track and after much forcing myself on, I arrived back at the car park 9 hours after I had left it.

I've kept my report short tonight as I'm exhausted but despite finding the going tough at points, I was lucky to have 5 cloud free summits and I was treated to some wonderful scenery. It'll be a while before I go on another walk like that though.

These pictures are a mixture of camera and phone. There's one I took of myself at the summit of Meall Greigh but I don't look at my finest :D

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Beinn Ghlas from the car park.

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Approaching the summit of Beinn Ghlas.


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Ben Lawers from the summit of Beinn Ghlas.

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Beinng Ghlas and Meall Corranaich from Ben Lawers

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Me on the summit of Ben Lawers.

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Looking back up at Ben Lawers.

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Looking at Ben Lawers, Beinn Ghlas & Meall Corranaich from An Stuc.

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Meall Garbh & Meall Greig from An Stuc.

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Ben Lawers, An Stuc & Meall Garbh from the summit of Meall Greigh.

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Salvation!


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Fudgie
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Re: High Five

Postby Alan S » Thu Apr 12, 2012 11:38 pm

Cracking pics fudgie, Thanks for sharing :D
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Re: High Five

Postby Fudgie » Fri Apr 13, 2012 11:00 am

Cheers Alan. I don't feel as bad today as I thought I would.
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Re: High Five

Postby SMRussell » Fri Apr 13, 2012 11:45 am

Nice one - well done on getting them done and sum stunning photos :clap:
I really enjoyed these hills - we also experienced the hail. We were attacked by it on BG - large clumps moving at 45-50mph I believe - yowzers!
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Re: High Five

Postby Fudgie » Fri Apr 13, 2012 11:52 am

SMRussell wrote:Nice one - well done on getting them done and sum stunning photos :clap:
I really enjoyed these hills - we also experienced the hail. We were attacked by it on BG - large clumps moving at 45-50mph I believe - yowzers!


Cheers. About 15 minutes after I left the summit of Meall Greigh it was covered in cloud, along with the others, so I timed it just right. I doubt I would have done all 5 if they were in the clag. I think I was the only daftie doing all 5 yesterday :D
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Re: High Five

Postby quoman » Fri Apr 13, 2012 1:13 pm

Well done Fudgie
That's a big round you done once your up Beinn Ghlas and Ben Lawers the rest doesn't look to far but its a fair hike. :clap:
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Re: High Five

Postby Jockstar » Fri Apr 13, 2012 1:17 pm

Well done on bagging these five. :D Also well done on getting down An Stuc as that can be very tricky in winter :)
What next - the Glen Lyon four? :D
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Re: High Five

Postby Fudgie » Fri Apr 13, 2012 1:32 pm

quoman wrote:Well done Fudgie
That's a big round you done once your up Beinn Ghlas and Ben Lawers the rest doesn't look to far but its a fair hike. :clap:


Thanks very much. The next two didn't look too far but the descent from Meall Garbh went on forever. I thought the ascent to Meall Greigh would be the easiest but I found it very tough as I was tiring.

Jockstar wrote:Well done on bagging these five. Also well done on getting down An Stuc as that can be very tricky in winter
What next - the Glen Lyon four?


Cheers. It was a hairy descent and the next time I'm back there I'll head up that way. I think I'll take it easy for my next outing so four might be a bit too much :D It'll be hard to do a single after that though :lol:
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Re: High Five

Postby ChrisW » Fri Apr 13, 2012 3:41 pm

Great effort Fudgie, I know what those days feel like when you are pushing yourself every step of the last few miles.....feels absolutely great :shock:.........after a few days rest :lol: fantastic photos throughout :D
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Re: High Five

Postby Fudgie » Fri Apr 13, 2012 3:47 pm

ChrisW wrote:Great effort Fudgie, I know what those days feel like when you are pushing yourself every step of the last few miles.....feels absolutely great :shock:.........after a few days rest :lol: fantastic photos throughout :D


Thanks Chris. I'm proud of myself after that.
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Re: High Five

Postby skuk007 » Sun Apr 15, 2012 7:47 pm

Nice report Fudgie, hoping to do this set of hills this summer.
Great pics so can't wait now. :)
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Re: High Five

Postby tambrown » Sun Apr 15, 2012 10:30 pm

Done the same walk today, all was good with the hills, some snow and An Stuc descent was a challange. We had the same problem, after the Landrover track veers right and runs out, we crossed at the dam and went nowhere. After a tiring day climbing over the hills again was not good. A good walk though but next time will be heading down to the Lawers hotel instead of walking back.
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Re: High Five

Postby Fudgie » Mon Apr 16, 2012 11:02 am

skuk007 wrote:Nice report Fudgie, hoping to do this set of hills this summer.
Great pics so can't wait now. :)


If you get a good day for it then it's a very enjoyable circuit although I wasn't saying that for the last few miles. :D

tambrown wrote:Done the same walk today, all was good with the hills, some snow and An Stuc descent was a challange. We had the same problem, after the Landrover track veers right and runs out, we crossed at the dam and went nowhere. After a tiring day climbing over the hills again was not good. A good walk though but next time will be heading down to the Lawers hotel instead of walking back.


With hindsight once I reached the dam I should have dropped down a bit to a stone wall as when I did this further on there was a very faint track which was easier to walk on.
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