Ben Lawers with a new Rocket

[jonny616]

Asked the kids a few days ago if they fancied walking a mountain if the weather was good. One yes, one no and a maybe!
So on friday night Ella asked me if the weather was ok for our walk on saturday. Mwis for southeastern highlands, 30mph wind, occasional rain and cloud base at 500m with 20% chance of cloud free. So i told her it was ok except we might get wet, we wouldn't see anything and it would be windy. Apart from yours i don't mind wind she said From the mouths of babes blah blah.

So we set of from the Lawers car park at 10:45 with Ella saying come on dad hurry up. The hills were shrouded in cloud but it was dry and warm although it was definitely going to be blowing a gale up top. We took the path that traverses around the side of Ben Ghlas as it rises gently and we were out of the wind for some of the time.

Past 2 guys coming done who looked like they'd gone a few rounds in the boxing ring, looking at Ella and saying its very windy up there. We had a couple of chocolate stops and then a chat before we reached the bealach about heading to the summit as quickly as possible and then back down to below the bealach to get out of the wind before having our picnic.

I thought about putting rocks in Ella's pockets, but in the end we just held hands. Quick summit photo and down we go meeting a large group coming up with three pipers and a young man celebrating his 80th birthday with a stroll in the hills.

We found a nice sheltered spot for our picnic and then headed for the car in the sunshine with good views all around.

Back at the car in just under 4 hours the weather having been better than advertised.

choco stop

Nearly there

Windy summit

Beinn Ghlas

Looking towards T Ridge

An Stuc clear

[Fife Flyer]

Well done to Ella, takes a bit more than a wee breeze & low cloud to stop little ones romping up hills

[gammy leg walker]

Great effort there Ella xx

[rockhopper]

well done Ella - looks like you were really enjoying yourself

I thought about putting rocks in Ella's pockets, but in the end we just held hands.

- holding hands......presumably so that Ella could pull you uphill - cheers

[Sarah86]

Well done to Ella, I don't know where the younger ones get their energy from, I am such a fair weather hill walker

[jonny616]

Well done to Ella, I don't know where the younger ones get their energy from, I am such a fair weather hill walker

You haven't lived until you've been eight hours in the clag and rain. There's no feeling like it

well done Ella - looks like you were really enjoying yourself

I thought about putting rocks in Ella's pockets, but in the end we just held hands.

- holding hands......presumably so that Ella could pull you uphill - cheers

She sure did. Kept saying come on dad

Great effort there Ella xx

Cheers mate

Well done to Ella, takes a bit more than a wee breeze & low cloud to stop little ones romping up hills

Thanks. She normal attracts the sunshine that's why I take her

[AnnieMacD]

Well done to Ella