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ben more and stob binnein, first report

ben more and stob binnein, first report


Postby roughwalker » Sun Feb 15, 2015 8:33 pm

Route description: Ben More and Stob Binnein

Munros included on this walk: Ben More, Stob Binnein

Date walked: 11/02/2015

Time taken: 7 hours

Distance: 12 km

Ascent: 1335m

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This is my first walk report, though not my first attempt at one. Around this time last year I tried to write one but couldn't upload any pictures, so sheer frustration :crazy: led me to abandon it and not try again until now.
I had a week off, the perfect opportunity to hit the hills but I came over all "cannie be bothered". Any and every excuse was used to keep my backside planted firmly on the couch. Not until the saturday did I finally give myself a shake and headed up ben ledi. That got me in the mood again but it was back to work on monday.however my day off this week was tuesday so not too long to wait.

The weather report said cloud in the west and clear in the east, but the higher summits may be above the cloud. I decided to head for ben more hoping it was far enough east, and high enough to be above the cloud if it wasn't.

I pulled up at the roadside just as another guy was heading off, I faffed about a bit, had a bite to eat, got ready then set off up the winding track,left the track and headed straight up the steep slope. It was pretty dull but sunshine on the slopes on the opposite side of the road offered some hope.
PSX_20150215_171038(1).jpg


Then I walked up into the base of the cloud and things became interesting, the cloud made everything very wet and the the temperature froze it. There was a thin coat of ice over everything and I started sliding about like a newborn giraffe standing up for the first time, it became so bad just standing still was a major effort, so on went the crampons and off I went again.I soon came to the snowline, then around eighty metres from the summit suddenly I was above the cloud.

The views from the summit were stunning, a blanket of cloud to the west, and really clear skies to the east. The cloud was streaming over stob binnein and the bealach like a massive fast flowing river and disappearing into thin air at the other side, I really wish I had recorded it but photo's will have to do.
PSX_20150210_220347(1).jpg
Looking towards stob binnein with cloud streaming over it
PSX_20150210_220951(1).jpg
PSX_20150210_221219(1).jpg
PSX_20150211_163520(1).jpg
Blanket of cloud
PSX_20150211_165021(1).jpg
View to the east
PSX_20150211_163843(1).jpg


I stayed here for around twenty minutes marveling at the show the cloud was putting on then set off down the steep slope back into the cloud to the bealach hoping that the cloud on the next summit would drop a bit for more spectacular views.
I wasn't disappointed, the cloud level dropped a fair bit, at least 100 metres, so I climbed back into glorious sunshine again, I turned around and there was my first broken spectre.
PSX_20150211_171449(1).jpg



As it was, it stayed there all the way up and all the way back down again til I once more walked back into the cloud again..amazing.
Now I hadn't seen another soul all day apart from the guy at the start (never saw him again) so I was a bit taken aback to find a group of ten or so on the summit, turns out they came up from the south. 5 minute's later they made their way down and left me the summit and the views to myself, and it was a joy to behold, it's just a pity photos really don't do it justice.
PSX_20150211_170550(1).jpg
South
PSX_20150211_145652(1).jpg
Ben more and distant broken spectre
PSX_20150211_170049(1).jpg
East
PSX_20150211_170832(1).jpg
West, I think that may be ben lui
PSX_20150215_191921(1).jpg
Ben vorlich stuc a'chroin
[attachment=
PSX_20150210_181700(1).jpg
Me




The walk down was pretty uneventful apart from sinking thigh deep in snow a couple of times and the usual punishment of the legs a steep descent brings, the walk down the glen to regain the track was quite pleasant as well.

This walk was quite hard work at times, but I was rewarded with spectacular scenes at the top of both hills......magic :D :D :D :)
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roughwalker
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Re: ben more and stob binnein, first report

Postby Fife Flyer » Sun Feb 15, 2015 8:46 pm

Enjoyed reading that, well done on completing your first report :clap: :clap: It isn't a 2 minute job :lol:

Some great pictures, as you said unfortunately photo's never capture the true feeling of the moment :(
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Re: ben more and stob binnein, first report

Postby Petr Dakota » Sun Feb 15, 2015 9:04 pm

Great photos from great place at great day :clap: 8) Congratulations for 1st report...enjoyed :wink: :)
Many more beautiful days in mountains !
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Petr Dakota
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Re: ben more and stob binnein, first report

Postby roughwalker » Sun Feb 15, 2015 9:35 pm

Thanks, it certainly ain't a 2 minute job, I'm not going to say how long it took :lol: :lol: :lol:
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roughwalker
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Re: ben more and stob binnein, first report

Postby hopper68 » Sun Feb 15, 2015 9:50 pm

You certainly got a good day for it, good report and some crackin pictures ...thanks for sharing
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Re: ben more and stob binnein, first report

Postby rockhopper » Tue Feb 17, 2015 12:02 am

Cracking first report :clap: and with blue skies, sun, a brocken spectre and some stunning inversions, it looks like it's one of those days you'll find very hard to beat ! Enjoyed that - cheers :)
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Re: ben more and stob binnein, first report

Postby roughwalker » Tue Feb 17, 2015 9:46 am

Thanks rockhopper, I'll be a lucky man if I get another day like that :D
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roughwalker
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Re: ben more and stob binnein, first report

Postby The Rodmiester » Tue Feb 17, 2015 9:54 am

If that doesn't get your juices going nothing will, stunning stuff and wonderful pictures. Bet your back up the hills very very soon after that. Those days are unforgettable :D
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Re: ben more and stob binnein, first report

Postby roughwalker » Tue Feb 17, 2015 1:54 pm

Thanks R.M. can't wait to get back out there, it was magical. :D
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roughwalker
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Re: ben more and stob binnein, first report

Postby greigo66 » Tue Feb 17, 2015 4:27 pm

Lovely report looked amazing hope to be up there next week ,,, thanks ,
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Re: ben more and stob binnein, first report

Postby dogplodder » Tue Feb 17, 2015 6:21 pm

Glad you worked out how to post the photos as these are stunning! I'm hoping to do these two later this year so probably won't have the white stuff - which is very photogenic but does make it harder work! :wink:
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Re: ben more and stob binnein, first report

Postby roughwalker » Tue Feb 17, 2015 11:05 pm

:clap: thanks greigo & dp, hope you have as good a day as I did up there :)
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roughwalker
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Re: ben more and stob binnein, first report

Postby londonwalker » Sun Feb 22, 2015 4:24 pm

Nice report that Roughwalker and wonderfully atmospheric photos. You should take up report writing :D
By the Way I believe myself and Johnny Corbett met you at the top of Sgorr nam Fiannaidh after traversing the AE ridge a while back on another superb day out
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Re: ben more and stob binnein, first report

Postby spiderwebb » Sun Feb 22, 2015 7:33 pm

Superb pics, great day you got there :D
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Re: ben more and stob binnein, first report

Postby roughwalker » Mon Feb 23, 2015 11:40 pm

Thanks londonwalker, yeah that was me you and JC met that day, another suberb day as you said :D
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roughwalker
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