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Ben Cruachan and a family first

Ben Cruachan and a family first


Postby old danensian » Fri Jun 08, 2012 11:13 pm

Route description: Ben Cruachan and Stob Daimh

Munros included on this walk: Ben Cruachan, Stob Daimh

Date walked: 03/06/2012

Time taken: 8 hours

Distance: 15 km

Ascent: 1419m

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A wet trudge up to the Devil’s Kitchen above the Ogwyn valley in Wales had been the last time we’d been on a hill together: summits were neither seen nor visited. To say it had been an unsuccessful introduction to her father’s passion for mountains would have been a gross misunderstatement. The most enjoyable part of that weekend, about fifteen years ago, had been the visit to the Ironbridge Gorge museum on the way home.

But she made her own way to the hills.

Ben Lomond has already been ticked off and she’s had a view from the top of Snowdon which is more than I ever did in my first half a dozen visits. Now, having made the trip north to our new home in Scotland she said she was game for a hill.

My son-in-law had pointed to Ben Cruachan when we’d been up hills before and said it was on his list of “to do”s. So three of us were booted and suited last Sunday and away from the last parking spot at the station just after nine.

The route is well described in many reports on the site, so it’s impressions , memories and a few photographs that follow:

the short, sharp shock of a steep and sudden start

Cruachan-01.jpg
Looking back from the initial slopes above the station


the concrete brutalism of the dam

Cruachan-02.jpg
Youth and energy streak ahead


the ascent of the ladders and the emphatic “I’m not looking up just for one of your photographs”

Cruachan-03.jpg
No, I'm not looking up


Cruachan-04.jpg
South from above the Cruachan Reservoir


the steepening scramble over jumbled rocks and boulders as the top gets nearer

Cruachan-05.jpg
Youth still leads - but the tortoise keeps on coming


Cruachan-06.jpg
That's my girl!


my pride at our first “Dad and daughter” summit shot

the hidden dyke of different rock that unlocks the door to the Cruachan slabs

Cruachan-07.jpg
"There's a way round that?" - see, no confidence in the old man.


the fine relaxing high level walk to Stob Diamh

her own sense of achievement looking back at the ridge and the skyline profile of Ben Cruachan’s final slopes

Cruachan-08.jpg
"I did that?" - or - "I did that!"


the wry sense of satisfaction while looking at the showers that appeared to sweep along Glencoe and across the Ben in the distance

the midges waiting in ambush at the deer fence on the way down

and despite the weary legs and aching muscles, an understanding that we’d do that again

Thanks
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Re: Ben Cruachan and a family first

Postby davedanson28 » Sat Jun 09, 2012 12:40 am

Nice report, Cruachan is my favourite hill, I first climbed it with my son back in April.

Sure you two will manage a few more summits together! :D
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Re: Ben Cruachan and a family first

Postby 2dalmatians » Sat Jun 09, 2012 5:49 am

Nice report. I was up there last weekend too. It's a great circuit. My daughter also comes out from time to time with me and it's a great way to spend time together. She is only 11 though! :lol:
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Re: Ben Cruachan and a family first

Postby GillC » Sat Jun 09, 2012 7:49 am

Lovely report OD,,particulary poignant for me as I too "Found my own way to the hills" after a childhood of being dragged, kicking, screaming and huffing up and down hills by my dad. Glad to say, we had the Father / Daughter pic on Ben Lomond, means so much now he's not around anymore. (still know hes proud of me, every time Im out in this wonderful country) Keep up the good reports and Welcome to Scotland. GillC
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Re: Ben Cruachan and a family first

Postby morag1 » Sat Jun 09, 2012 9:24 pm

A lovely report, hope your daughter well and truly has the bug, hope you all get out on another family adventure soon :D
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Re: Ben Cruachan and a family first

Postby jonny616 » Sat Jun 09, 2012 9:33 pm

Another nice report OD. I remember the steep sharp shock :lol:
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Re: Ben Cruachan and a family first

Postby Bod » Sun Jun 10, 2012 9:14 pm

Yes OD, great report there.....I love the sincerity and joy portrayed of a great family day out, Cruachan offers a wonderful horseshoe route :D :D :D
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