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Ben Challum - my first report.

Ben Challum - my first report.


Postby Banditman » Mon Apr 30, 2012 7:37 pm

Route description: Ben Challum, near Tyndrum

Munros included on this walk: Ben Challum

Date walked: 30/04/2012

Time taken: 5.3 hours

Distance: 11.5 km

Ascent: 912m

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Well here goes for my first report!
The weather on Sunday was magical, even as soon as you walked away from the car there was something fine to look at.

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Ben More and Stob Binnien from the lay by.
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Cruach Ardrain from the wooden bridge

I was a happy man ambling up the hillside in the sunshine taking in the fantastic views all around me. I don't think I'd ever had as good a view of the hills around that area...and I wasn't even half way up at that point. Then came the bogs! They've been mentioned in a few reports so I won't drone on about them but gaitors are I must on this walk I think.

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View towards the south top from mid-bog!

Leaving the wetlands behind, the path steepened as I approached the south top. I was completely bowled over when I walked over the rise to have a view all around as far as my eyes could see. Superb!.

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Towards the summit
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Looking back towards Ben More
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Ben Lui group
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Looking along the ridge


I had a plod across the ridge through the crusty snow briefly stopping to talk to a fella that was planning to do the West Highland way in one go for charity. Hat's off..I'm worried about completing it in 8 days :lol:

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Looking back at south top


and up to the summit where I spent the most pleasant half hour in complete silence sitting by the cairn myself no-one else in sight.
It's great to stop and have a chat with folk on the hills but I must admit having this spot to myself for a short time was fantastic. 8)

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Me at the top!

After a lovely wee spot of tea and a bit of birthday cake left over from the day before I started on my way back down. All the way down I passed folk trudging up and remembering how depressing it was going through the bogs it was nice to be able to pass on the info about the view at the top to try and encourage the weary looking ones to keep going. :)
I also found out whilst picking a way back down through the marshes that I could have been a match for any body poppers out there. You know the feeling. No warning......one foot slides......poles fly everywhere like you've just been shot...you do your Lee Evans impersonation and then it's all over..only to go through the same thing 5 minutes later.... :lol:

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Panoramic looking south

That behind me it was a pleasant walk back down through the farm to arrive back at the car with soaking backside, burnt napper but a huge grin on my face! :lol:
Bring on next weekend. :D

I've only used a small compact camera so I'd appreciate some feedback on what camera gear folk carry with them to take the superb shots you see on the site.

Cheers for now!
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Re: Ben Challum - my first report.

Postby kevsbald » Mon Apr 30, 2012 7:59 pm

Feedback - please post another report. Good stuff.
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Re: Ben Challum - my first report.

Postby 2dalmatians » Mon Apr 30, 2012 8:01 pm

A cracking first report there bandit man. I hope you get weather like that on every trip. :D How was the walk along from the south top ? I turned back last week as I didn't fancy it without axe or spikes on.
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Re: Ben Challum - my first report.

Postby soulminer » Mon Apr 30, 2012 8:08 pm

A fine first report 8)
We have all been there, standing up one minute-then t*ts over tonsils the next- a right bugger the mud ain't it :lol: Cheers for posting.
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Re: Ben Challum - my first report.

Postby Euan McIntosh » Mon Apr 30, 2012 8:19 pm

Great report, we were out the same day and met you so nice to see your report here.
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Re: Ben Challum - my first report.

Postby Bod » Mon Apr 30, 2012 8:49 pm

Yep, great stuff! :D
I particularly enjoyed the views towards Ben Lui from this walk in the earlier stages and a rest sitting on the link between the two summits looking westwards and down into the valley below :D :D :D
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Re: Ben Challum - my first report.

Postby PeteR » Mon Apr 30, 2012 10:18 pm

Excellent first report :D A good hill this one, especially with some snow on it. And you captured some great photos there too :D
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Re: Ben Challum - my first report.

Postby mrssanta » Mon Apr 30, 2012 10:47 pm

Happy Birthday to whoever the cake was made for. :lol: :clap:
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Re: Ben Challum - my first report.

Postby Banditman » Tue May 01, 2012 8:33 am

2dalmatians wrote:A cracking first report there bandit man. I hope you get weather like that on every trip. :D How was the walk along from the south top ? I turned back last week as I didn't fancy it without axe or spikes on.


Thanks very much. :) Walk along the ridge was fine. Snow was solid and going was made easier by the footsteps already there. No wind also makes you feel a lot more secure. :)
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Re: Ben Challum - my first report.

Postby Banditman » Tue May 01, 2012 8:38 am

mrssanta wrote:Happy Birthday to whoever the cake was made for. :lol: :clap:


That would have been me mrssanta. :D They seem to be coming thick and fast now that I'm the wrong side of 40!
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Re: Ben Challum - my first report.

Postby shuggyd » Tue May 01, 2012 9:58 am

Well done Grumps, great stuff. Would have liked to have been there to have seen the break dancing, and many happy returns!
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Re: Ben Challum - my first report.

Postby Banditman » Tue May 01, 2012 10:08 am

shuggyd wrote:Well done Grumps, great stuff. Would have liked to have been there to have seen the break dancing, and many happy returns!


:lol: Mr Craig....is that you ya sly dog? Sneaky. :D Cheers for the comments.
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Re: Ben Challum - my first report.

Postby gaffr » Sun May 06, 2012 9:27 am

Hello,
Good to see my GPS/PC adviser out on the hills. :lol: Have not been in the area of the Challum for a while....it's a good viewing platform on a clear day.
Still having a problem with the GPS exchange file (gps) next to Save as type! :)
As I think I said in summer time I don't do a great deal with the Garmin. It's next winter that I'll have to get prepared for. :)
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Re: Ben Challum - my first report.

Postby jimandandrea » Sun May 06, 2012 12:42 pm

Grand report. Alas when we did Challum we saw a lot of the white stuff and little else good to see the views and the blue stuff above as well. Cheers. :D :D
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Re: Ben Challum - my first report.

Postby Jock McJock » Sun May 06, 2012 3:25 pm

Nice report Banditman :D Done this one in January when there was a wee bit more snow around and the wind nearly blew me off the top, couldn't have a nice wee sit at the top like you :lol: As for your pics, I think they're great. I usually just use a wee compact myself and they usually do the job. Recently started using a bridge camera but it's a trade off between small, light and compact and carrying something bigger and heavier to get better pics. Look forward to more eports :D
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