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Paragliding on Ben More - not me!

Paragliding on Ben More - not me!


Postby alanmurray » Fri Oct 15, 2010 10:22 am

Route description: Ben More and Stob Binnein

Munros included on this walk: Ben More

Date walked: 01/11/2008

Time taken: 6 hours

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Sorry for the lateness of this report - November 2008 - still under two years

Aimed to Climb Ben More and Stobinian.

Weather good, ascent not.
IMG_5491.jpg
This gradient from the start


From parking the car to the summit - one continuous relentless, calf burning, thigh bursting slope - I loved it.
My mate *##*? didn't - complaining like a girl - once we hit the snow line he really began to struggle.
The steepness drained his energy and the added difficulty of the snow was the final straw.
He stated his boots weren't compatible with the snow - yeah yeah ! Monster ascent tho

IMG_5493.jpg
Hits snow line



Route straight up - no easy curvy shallow gradient paths to give restbite - Ben More doesn't do zig-zags.

IMG_5497.jpg
Relentless gradient

Crystal clear day - could see for miles.
So many hills visible - pity I can't name them


IMG_5504.jpg
Almost there

Glad to have reached the summit - poor ?##* was only 15-20 minutes from the summit - well worth the pain
IMG_5506.jpg
The summit cairn

Clear day great views
The sun was coming out
IMG_5507.jpg
Trig point

The start of the winter snow (2008) looked like someone had dusted the tops with icing sugar - braw!
IMG_5512.jpg
Mountains sugar coated

Stobinian looked marvellous - such a beautiful mountain, pity I didnt have the time to climb it.
IMG_5515.jpg
Stobinian

As we were ascending, we saw two guys and a small dog walking up Ben More just ahead of us.
They both had enormous rucksacks - which looked a little out of place - but didnt think much about it.
When I summited, the guys had just rolled out little parachutes, put on a harness, and ran off the side of Ben More.
Even the dug was strapped into the harness.
IMG_5522.jpg
Paragliding

That's the perfect way to descend - I think it took them just over 5 minutes to reach the bottom.
IMG_5528.jpg
Another paraglider

Quite a steep descent towards the bealach between Ben More and Stobinian.
Stobinian looked very impressive from the bottom.
IMG_5530.jpg
Stobinian from the bealach

IMG_5532.jpg
On way down

Got to the landy track and generally an unremarkable route back.
Great day - and glad I still have Stobinian to climb.
Worthy of having a day all to it's own - want to climb it from the back
Attachments
IMG_5546.jpg
Landrover track
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alanmurray
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 72
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Location: Glasgow

Re: Paragliding on Ben More - not me!

Postby skuk007 » Sun Oct 17, 2010 12:43 am

Nice clear pics, sometimes I would love to take the quick route down on a parachute, shame I'm a feartie!
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skuk007
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Re: Paragliding on Ben More - not me!

Postby mountain coward » Sun Oct 17, 2010 12:46 am

Poor dog! Wonder what it thinks to that? Can't think it enjoys it somehow! And I couldn't see me going up Ben More at that angle in snow - did you have crampons and ice axe?
mountain coward
 

Re: Paragliding on Ben More - not me!

Postby alanmurray » Sun Oct 17, 2010 11:02 pm

No crampons or ice axe.
Snow was fairly soft - no real problems with grip on that angle on ascent or descent.
The real issue on the direct route was running out of energy.
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alanmurray
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 72
Munros:282   Corbetts:33
Fionas:4   Donalds:10
Sub 2000:11   Hewitts:1
Wainwrights:1   
Joined: Apr 26, 2010
Location: Glasgow

Re: Paragliding on Ben More - not me!

Postby mountain coward » Mon Oct 18, 2010 2:25 am

My energy's always fine... it's my nerves which get me! Any snow, soft or hard, would scare me at that angle...
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