Sunday, 12th. August, 2018:
This was the last day of what was supposed to have been a three and a half day trip from Allachadder to Gorton and then south through the headwaters of Glen Lyon to Crianlarich with my son Tommy and daughter Mary. Unfortunately, however, Mary's boots disintegrated during an excellent day crossing the Bridge of Orchy Munros so, after a high camp in Coire a'Ghabhalach to the north of Beinn Dorain, we'd diverted into Tyndrum for more boots and then finished Saturday camped high in Gleann a'Chlachain under the western slopes of Ben Challum. Sadly, that night the forecast finally caught up with itself and the rain arrived - so, instead of labouring up Ben Challum with heavy bags and striking east for the likes of Meall Glas and Sgiath Chuil, I decided to scuttle up and down Ben Challum in the rain before we all ran off to rejoin the West Highland Way and plod into Crianlarich by a less exciting route. That, then, was what happened - the ascent only being notable for the grassy, interminably long and very steep slopes up to the summit ridge and the odd configuration of the south top. It was hard to see all the detail in the clag but it seems to have been split by a large arrested mass movement, presumably dating from the end of the last ice age? That apart, though, I'm afraid that Ben Challum didn't impress that much!Anyway, despite boot problems and poor weather, it had been a good few days out - and brilliant to be able to undertake a short trip like this with Tommy and Mary, still game to come walking with Fat Dad even in their late 20s!