free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
So... I think firstly I should give a little bit of history.
I'm a 49 year old fella from Carronshore, on October 19th 2016 I was sat on the wall at Craignure Ferry terminal after a 21 day bender... thinking to myself "**** this ****, I cant live my life like this anymore". I googled addiction services in Falkirk and I found ASC & Forth Valley Recovery Community. I self reffered on returning that day and my recovery journey began.
I had lived the world of substance abuse & misuse for over 20 years.... it was time for me to take the most frightening step I'd ever taken... trying to live life free from mind altering substances.
In the 15 months since, I've managed to get to 99 days clean ( twice ), before falling by the wayside, on the 17th October 2017.... I'd had enough. I was going to make it stick this time, even if I had to run down the street wearing a pink fluffy tutu.
I'd always been an outdoors man, I had obtained my Duke of Edinburgh Award many years back via the Boys Brigade, so I thought this might just be the road I need to take to sustain my recovery.
Long Term Aim: Mountain Leader Qualification ( 5-10 years )
Mid Term Aim: Hill & Moorland Leader ( 2-5 years )
Short Term Aim: 50 Munro's in 2018
I had managed a few walks last year, to be honest, I was wasted, so **** knows how I didn't end up dead. This year I will do them all sober, straight & clean.
I was desperate to walk something.... my need to be not clean & sober was overwhelming, so Ben Cleuch was the closest boundary pushing option available.
Now I do have quite an extensive range of camera & lens options, but I thought for the first one I should just play it safe and use my good old Samsung J5. Please enjoy my first attempt at a true walk report. I do hope I will get better.
The Ben Cleuch start point for many folks on the day was the North end of Upper Mill Street, Tillicoultry, parking was tight but I managed to secure a place to left, over the bridge near the housing scheme.
Gear on ready to go... no crampons or axe. Weather report was for above freezing on summit, winds 15mph Southwest. I had recently bought a pair of Scarpa (b1) Evolution Pro boots, so it was to be a good test of their abilities.
Start Time: 11:04
End Time: 13:38
Total Moving Time: 2:04
The initial section of Ben Cleuch up towards The Law is via a nice hill path with fences and quite a few burn crossing bridges, easy going if a bit steep.
20180114_111300 by
IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr
20180114_111707 by
IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr
20180114_111711 by
IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr
20180114_111718 by
IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr
After you have negotiated the various bridges, paths and easily followed steps you come upon your first look at the task ahead !
20180114_112120 by
IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr
This was the calm before the storm, in no way did i know what was to come, the last easily available shot was looking down into the village below.
20180114_112740 by
IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr
For those of you that haven't yet attempted the highest of the Ochils, the initial climb is quite formidable, it is nearly an hours worth of pure slog till your reach the summit of The Law.
But.... by this time I had already encountered some shallow snow. The wind had picked up to a breeze and the temperature had dropped a few degrees. On summiting The Law I looked upward and saw nothing but a snow field in front of me. This was going to be a little more strenuous than I had first thought.
You take a little dip once over The Law, the wind took a climb... it was now probably about 15mph, the snow field was 15-30cm deep and the summit of Ben Cleuch was completely clouded out. The camera went away... and nearly another hours worth of shin deep slog ensued. By the time I got within 100m of the Ben Cleuch summit (721m) the wind was up to about 25mph, the snow was still only 15-30cm deep, good job I've no crampons or the axe anyway.
On reaching the summit cairn it was a different matter, I got there to find the winds at 30mph+ gusting to 40mph+ and a happy crowd of walkers enjoying refreshments out of the wind behind the cairn.
It was time to stop for some quick refreshment ( 2 bananas ) a wee blether and then the obligatory summit photo.
20180114_124111 by
IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr
No time spared... it was time to head back, the summit was busy with folks all caught out by the unexpected winds, I plodded downwards, only taking a minute or 2 to photograph the near whiteout conditions near the handrail fence.
20180114_125125 by
IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr
20180114_125129 by
IainHamiltonPhotography, on Flickr
The descent was mostly event free... though I did manage to lose the metal buckle from my Trek-Mates Gore Tex gaiters.... they've only been used 4 or 5 times, so a strongly worded letter has been sent.
Back to the car safe and sound
The new Scarpa (b1) Evolution Pro boots, absolutely astounding, yup they are a little heavy, though they are b1, totally breathable, totally dry, enough flex for walking, enough support to protect an old mans ankles... well worth the £180 I paid at GoOutdoors.
This now puts me at 89 days clean & sober.... I am a happy camper.
Please spread the word about Forth Valley Recovery Community.
More to come this year : ))