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I fell in love with Victoria's children shortly after I fell head over heels with her; when I first them; they were fun; lively; outgoing; confident; affectionate; well mannered.... And I could go on... They're my children now; and they're my family; so a chance to welcome them to my back garden meant mountains! And their first munro...
I pondered; which one was it to be; before settling on the Buch; it had to be the Buch... No blue pin for me today; I've already had the pleasure of this ridge; but it needed to be a special memory for them; they love to clamber about; and being so close to a road; this seemed an obvious choice with no long walk in. Mum needed a good wilderness fix too; and well I'll come back here again; I love this mountain...
As we topped out on Rannoch Moor and rounded the corner to the sight of Buachaille Etive Mor; we had two very excited children in the car pointing and screaming with excitement. I told them I thought it was too hard for them and we should pick an easier one, but we could have a crack if they wanted with a wink in my eye... Easy they said... The Buch it is...
So, meet my baby girl Megan (8) and my boy, Sam (6)...
- We're going to climb the Buch!
Craig, my good friend also joined us with his stunning black labrador; Rocco (the goat). The weather was looking great and we were all set for a stunning day in the hills. Bliss...
- Craig on the bridge at the start of the walk with Megan and Sam
- The route ahead; straight up the corrie...
If any of you are wondering how you get a six year old to climb a mountain without whining; despite this strange pain in the legs that they have no idea what is; then it's simple... Lollies...
We made fairly short work of the corrie; one stop half way up for drinks and lollies and the first sign of monsters munching on the Buch...
Sam was our lead climber / route finder and he was fairly flying up the mountain. What were large steps to us adults were full on climbing and scrambling for him... He loved it from the word go.
It was fun all the way up; with team boys largely leading team girls; well you'd expect that hey
We stopped for photos on the steep bit; the favourite bit for the kids; fun they thuoght scrambling up.
And it wasn't long before four monsters mysteriously topped out on the main ridge with just the one perfectly timed stumble for the video...
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8E0juAI260[/youtube]
Those of you that know this mountain will know that the hard work is now all done; and it's a simple stroll to the summit of the Buch. We headed straight on up pausing briefly for a pre-summit video interview...
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwKDAftnbQU[/youtube]
We spent well over an hour on the summit; well why not; I mean where else would you want to be... We were on the edge of space; and everything about it was perfect...
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhNHw1qJgNM[/youtube]
Thanks to Craig; my kids loved him; and after my two months away in India was good to catch up in the hills... A cracking day in the hills where we just had fun in my back garden; the monsters said it was the biggest back garden they had ever seen
They'll be back for a week in August, and we have a week in Torridon in October all booked up
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0VuCxKibb4[/youtube]
To hell with the TV and Computer Games I say; when you have a back garden like this they're not required... Will my boy complete them all; maybe; I doubt it; that's my challenge; not his; but you never know...
As long as they both pursue their dreams and have their own adventures; whatever and wherever they end up being; then I'll be one happy Daddy;
Today, I'm content with just being Buch'ing proud of them; if you'll pardon my French...