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Ben Challum (An emotional journey )

Ben Challum (An emotional journey )


Postby jamesb63 » Thu Feb 25, 2016 10:14 pm

Route description: Ben Challum, near Tyndrum

Munros included on this walk: Ben Challum

Date walked: 25/02/2016

Time taken: 5.55 hours

Distance: 11.5 km

Ascent: 910m

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This was my first day back in the Hills since early November due to my Father taking ill
his being in hospital kept me busy visiting and helping my mum
Unfortunatly he passed away a few weeks ago ,now things are getting settled
I decided it was time to get back out ,
So the target (due to the frost was Ben Challum ) hoping the bogs would be frozen over :lol:
Arriving in the layby at 8am there was no other cars so I was quickly ready
Jake on his lead and set of up the road towards Kirkton Farm
stopped to admire the small cemetery and very well kept it looks too

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Soon reached the level crossing and quickly across with jake still on a lead
Once over and gates closed I let him off to walk alongside
The ground proved to be hard ideal for walking over the bogs

DSC03721.JPG
Looking over towards Ben More Stob Binnein & Cruach Ardrain


We soon reached the first deer fence and once over set off directly uphill
Looking around I noticed the clag over the tops all around
So crossed my fingers it would clear
Once reaching the third fence I was into the snow line and looking up
everything was in the clag ,looking back though some of the tops were clear

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Reaching the spot where the fenceline turns uphill toward the summit
I handrailed the fence on my bearing and was soon on the ascent to the
south top ,I was grateful I had put my crampons on before this part
as the going was pretty icy in some parts

DSC03726.JPG
View up towards the South Top ascent


The ascent went well and we were soon at the South top

DSC03734.JPG
View from just past the South Top to the summit


Stopped just past the south top for a hot cuppa and a bite to eat
and as luck would have it the views started to open up a bit :D

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Tea over we set off along the ridge and the final short ascent to the Summit
what a joy it was and this was my 80th top in 10 months :D so all the better :lol:
I sat down and took time to reflect on my recent loss ,but also to think back to
all the great times I had with my dad and thank him for introducing me to the
GREAT OUTDOORS and our beautiful countryside ,and shed a tear :(

DSC03737.JPG
Jake on the Summit ,this guy just heads straight onto the cairns on every top we reach Lol


The clag moved back in as we were heading back to the South Top
but we were soon out of it as we started to descend from here
Halfway down the ascent I bumped into another lone walker
We shared a few minutes chatting and went out separate ways
I removed my crampons where the fenceline takes a left turn
and moving easier now I was soon down through the deer fences
the ground on the drop to the Level crossing had thawed out a bit by now
but picking my way through I made it without breaking through to the bog
From here it was a simple brisk walk back along the farm road to the layby
and the car , Ben Challum gets a LOT of negative comments
but for me on this day it was just great to be back out :D
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jamesb63
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Re: Ben Challum (An emotional journey )

Postby Holly Harlow » Fri Feb 26, 2016 9:21 am

Great TR and photos, the pic of Ben Lui rising above bits of the cloud is fab

Hol XX
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Re: Ben Challum (An emotional journey )

Postby Petr Dakota » Fri Feb 26, 2016 3:25 pm

Hi James, nice to see you back in the hills ! :D
Sorry for all the hard time in last a few months :( Life is hard sometimes and the hills are giving us a good refreshment, clearing thoughts, bringing back some memories...i feel with you.
Nice hill you chose for this time of year, some great views and photos as well :clap: Jake is your loyal company always... :wink:
Congratulations to your 80 Munros :clap: :clap: :clap:
Many more ahead ! Take care and stay safe...All the best !
Petr
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Re: Ben Challum (An emotional journey )

Postby jamesb63 » Sat Feb 27, 2016 12:29 am

Holly Harlow wrote:Great TR and photos, the pic of Ben Lui rising above bits of the cloud is fab

Hol XX


Thanks Holly it was great just to get back out after such hard times :)
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Re: Ben Challum (An emotional journey )

Postby dogplodder » Sat Feb 27, 2016 6:06 pm

Feel for you in the loss of your dad. Nothing can prepare you for losing a parent but there's a kind of healing getting out into the hills and no better place to shed some tears than in the wide open spaces. Take care.
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Re: Ben Challum (An emotional journey )

Postby jamesb63 » Sat Feb 27, 2016 9:51 pm

Petr Dakota wrote:Hi James, nice to see you back in the hills ! :D
Sorry for all the hard time in last a few months :( Life is hard sometimes and the hills are giving us a good refreshment, clearing thoughts, bringing back some memories...i feel with you.
Nice hill you chose for this time of year, some great views and photos as well :clap: Jake is your loyal company always... :wink:
Congratulations to your 80 Munros :clap: :clap: :clap:
Many more ahead ! Take care and stay safe...All the best !
Petr


Many thanks for your kind words Petr , :D
I cant get out the door without Jake , his brother just wont move
form his bed in the mornings :lol:
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jamesb63
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Re: Ben Challum (An emotional journey )

Postby jamesb63 » Sat Feb 27, 2016 9:54 pm

dogplodder wrote:Feel for you in the loss of your dad. Nothing can prepare you for losing a parent but there's a kind of healing getting out into the hills and no better place to shed some tears than in the wide open spaces. Take care.


Thankyou it is very hard but getting back out was a godsend
just what I needed ,there is something special being in the hills
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jamesb63
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Re: Ben Challum (An emotional journey )

Postby ancancha » Sun Feb 28, 2016 10:54 am

Never an easy experience losing a parent.
Wishing you all the best.
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Re: Ben Challum (An emotional journey )

Postby katyhills » Sun Feb 28, 2016 10:59 am

Well done getting out there and going for it James. Really hard to pick yourself up from a parent's death.
The hills have that cleansing magic that clears all the negative thought away though, don't they? Nothing wrong with shedding a tear either - I think that's lovely. Sometimes the views on top of hills make me cry anyway :oops:

Great report and photos. I agree with you that Challum gets a bit of negativity. The underfoot conditions are the main issue. Winter is probably the best time for doing it. That's a big total of hills for ten months too! :D

I had a short trip out to Glen Douglas yesterday [the big hills are too much for me and my dodgy knees in winter! ] and I had the hill to myself. Can't tell you how much I enjoyed it. 360 degree stunning views :)

I could actually see Challum quite clearly because the visibility was so good
katyhills
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Re: Ben Challum (An emotional journey )

Postby jamesb63 » Mon Feb 29, 2016 5:56 pm

katyhills wrote:Well done getting out there and going for it James. Really hard to pick yourself up from a parent's death.
The hills have that cleansing magic that clears all the negative thought away though, don't they? Nothing wrong with shedding a tear either - I think that's lovely. Sometimes the views on top of hills make me cry anyway :oops:

Great report and photos. I agree with you that Challum gets a bit of negativity. The underfoot conditions are the main issue. Winter is probably the best time for doing it. That's a big total of hills for ten months too! :D

I had a short trip out to Glen Douglas yesterday [the big hills are too much for me and my dodgy knees in winter! ] and I had the hill to myself. Can't tell you how much I enjoyed it. 360 degree stunning views :)

I could actually see Challum quite clearly because the visibility was so good


Many thanks for your kind words :clap: :clap: ,I honestly don't think the size of the hill matters
just getting out is what its all about :D
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