ThePortForum.com

Along with my brother-in-law Billy (1960 Vintage) and my son Ross (1993 Vintage) I have set myself the objective of taking more physical exercise by climbing some of the largest mountains in Scotland. I have always loved the feeling of being on top of a hill but have never climbed higher than 1700 feet. Our targets all exceed 3000 feet and, in Scotland, are known as The Munros. There are 283 of them, the highest being Ben Nevis which, at 4,409 feet, is the highest mountain in the United Kingdom.

We started our adventure last weekend by tackling one of the smallest Munros, Ben Chonzie. At 3054 feet, and number 250 on the list, it only just qualifies as a Munro. But a Munro it is, so we climbed it.


Ben Chonzie is top left in the above picture.

We had the company of a few others who were also out on their first adventure to such heights plus two experienced hillwalkers. 12 km and 5 hours later we returned to the car with broad grins and a great sense of achievement. I spent the next 7 hours driving home and then 24 hours taking painkillers and soaking in hot baths. The next day I was fit and well and planning the next conquest.

Our targets for this year are:

Schiehallion - 3554ft

Schiehallion is a mountain that I have known from ground level for 20+ years but have never ventured to climb. This mountain has a place in history as, in 1774, it was used in an experiment which for the first time calculated the mass of the earth. It was also the first mountain in the world to be mapped using contour lines. Within the next 3 or 4 weeks it will be mine

Ben Lawers - 3984ft


Ben Macdui - 4295ft

Ben Macdui is the second highest peak in Scotland and until a few decades ago was thought to be the highest. Legend goes that The Grey Man of Macdui (think Yeti!) patrols the slopes. I will take him a bottle of Morgan 1991 as he is probably thirsty up there

All of the above are to be attempted by the time winter sets in. ADV may well find himself accompanying me up one of these in October

Derek

Wow, what breath taking views...I do hope to climb at least one with you in October, so long as there is plenty of port after to dull the pain of sore muscles

Looks beautiful. I love hiking, and going to Scotland is still on the wish list. Only those midgets....

Ben this, Ben that, Ben the other...

What a great name!

RonnieRoots wrote:Looks beautiful. I love hiking, and going to Scotland is still on the wish list. Only those midgets....

bolding quote added by me to highlight the choice of word that amused me

Hopefully, Ronnie is referring to the midges...


I have used my trusty calculator to predict that at the rate of 4 Munros a year, you will be celebrating Ross' 84th or 85th birthday when you reach the summit of the last Munro.

But I have to echo the previous posts. I love the Scottish highlands, islands and mountains and envy your opportunity to reach the top of a handful of these peaks.

Alex

urm, yes.

AHB wrote:... and envy your opportunity to reach the top of a handful of these peaks.

Alex

"Opportunity" - I envy your ability to do so! I still have nightmares of a Lake District trip in 1990 or so when I was passed at pace on the way up a mountain by a woman - with her two late-teenaged granddaughters! It was her 80th birthday she tolld us!

My excuse was the hangover from hell!

benread wrote: I envy your ability to do so!

I have only done the first one so it remains to be seen whether or not my ability stretches to the others. Time will tell.

My plan is to take a miniature of VP to have a swig at the top of each of these and use my BlackBerry to post a note in this thread from the summit.

Julian, if you are reading this please note that, although it is a very kind thought you are having right now, I don't think I need a Tasting Mat on these trips

Andy, bring boots and good socks - we can kit you out with the other stuff when you get here.

Derek

Derek T. wrote:Andy, bring boots and good socks - we can kit you out with the other stuff when you get here.

There was an image which flashed across my mind which I really, really do not want repeated.

AHB wrote:

Derek T. wrote:Andy, bring boots and good socks - we can kit you out with the other stuff when you get here.

There was an image which flashed across my mind which I really, really do not want repeated.

What happens on the Munro stays on the Munro - wipe it from your mind and never speak of it again

Derek T. wrote:

AHB wrote:

Derek T. wrote:Andy, bring boots and good socks - we can kit you out with the other stuff when you get here.

There was an image which flashed across my mind which I really, really do not want repeated.

What happens on the Munro stays on the Munro - wipe it from your mind and never speak of it again

Momentarily, I had the same thought.....and was scared

Those who bag Munroes tend to develop an obsession for bagging them so Derek may well be doing a couple of dozen a year. What a thirst that could generate.

Those who bag Munroes tend to develop an obsession for bagging them so Derek may well be doing a couple of dozen a year. What a thirst that could generate.

Overtired and emotional wrote:Those who bag Munroes tend to develop an obsession for bagging them

Don't worry, being obsessive isn't in my nature

Derek

Hello to you all from the top of Schiehallion

What an unbelievably stunning view

Hopefully some pictures later today.

Derek

Some pics from my trip up Schiehallion today...

The boulder fields heading along the ridge up to the summit about 2km in the distance


Ross, Billy, Mac (the red one) and I at the summit


Yours truely at the summit with Loch Rannoch in the background


Ben Lawers, our next target, from the summit of Schiehallion

Wonderful pictures. Glad to see you made it to the top and down again in one piece.

Tell you what - you take care of the forumites' spiritual needs and I'll take care of the forumites' cultural needs (the Chamber Concert was very enjoyable).

Alex

AHB wrote:...and I'll take care of the forumites' cultural needs (the Chamber Concert was very enjoyable).

Alex

Remember that culture extends beyond music to sport as well! I hereby offer to help with that element!

So we now seem to have:

• Ambassador for Music and the Arts - AHB
• Ambassador for Sport - BR
• Ambassador for High Altitude Pursuits - DRT

Excellent.

Can I suggest we add:

• Ambassadors to the Middle East - Lord & Lady Roots
• Ambassador to the former western colonies - JDAW
• any more?

DRT wrote:

• Ambassador to the former western colonies - JDAW

Oh no, all kinds of subtle horrible implications. Please, the “western former colonies†.

Beautiful pictures. I hope to go there sometime soon.

We are most delighted to take up our Middle-Eastern task.

DRT wrote:So we now seem to have:

• Ambassador for Music and the Arts - AHB
• Ambassador for Sport - BR
• Ambassador for High Altitude Pursuits - DRT

Excellent.

Can I suggest we add:

• Ambassadors to the Middle East - Lord & Lady Roots
• Ambassador to the former western colonies - JDAW
• any more?

I understand you may be one of our Northern Bretheren? If so, Ambassador for Scotland?

RonnieRoots wrote:Beautiful pictures. I hope to go there sometime soon.

I must warn you that there were millions of midgets hanging around in the car park at the foot of the mountain
Derek

DRT wrote:

RonnieRoots wrote:Beautiful pictures. I hope to go there sometime soon.

I must warn you that there were millions of midgets hanging around in the car park at the foot of the mountain
Derek

Did you mean midgets? Was there a convention of them? Or was it their airbornes cousins the midges?!

benread wrote:

DRT wrote:

RonnieRoots wrote:Beautiful pictures. I hope to go there sometime soon.

I must warn you that there were millions of midgets hanging around in the car park at the foot of the mountain
Derek

Did you mean midgets? Was there a convention of them? Or was it their airbornes cousins the midges?!

Ben, go back to the top of the thread and start reading it again and I'm sure you will work it out

DRT wrote:

benread wrote:

DRT wrote:

RonnieRoots wrote:Beautiful pictures. I hope to go there sometime soon.

I must warn you that there were millions of midgets hanging around in the car park at the foot of the mountain
Derek

Did you mean midgets? Was there a convention of them? Or was it their airbornes cousins the midges?!

Ben, go back to the top of the thread and start reading it again and I'm sure you will work it out

I am with you now - sorry!

benread wrote:

DRT wrote:

benread wrote:

DRT wrote:

RonnieRoots wrote:Beautiful pictures. I hope to go there sometime soon.

I must warn you that there were millions of midgets hanging around in the car park at the foot of the mountain
Derek

Did you mean midgets? Was there a convention of them? Or was it their airbornes cousins the midges?!

Ben, go back to the top of the thread and start reading it again and I'm sure you will work it out

I am with you now - sorry!

No need to apologise. I know you are under imense stress at the moment preparing for the biggest day of your life to date: Your first off-line on Wednesday night

DRT wrote: Your first off-line on Wednesday night

Depends on how pedantic you want to be! My first off-line was technically 10th April although I had never heard of TPF at that point so you could argue it did not count. In which case, 25th June will be my first.

The long range forecast for Wednesday looks good at present so we may see a full days cricket beforehand as well!

benread wrote:

DRT wrote: Your first off-line on Wednesday night

Depends on how pedantic you want to be!

Pedantic? Here? Never!!!

DRT wrote:

RonnieRoots wrote:Beautiful pictures. I hope to go there sometime soon.

I must warn you that there were millions of midgets hanging around in the car park at the foot of the mountain
Derek

I wouldn't be surprised if they were. Monsters, midgets, you guys have have it all!

DRT wrote:I must warn you that there were millions of midgets hanging around in the car park at the foot of the mountain
Derek

Did they keep trying to bite you?

AHB wrote:

DRT wrote:I must warn you that there were millions of midgets hanging around in the car park at the foot of the mountain
Derek

Did they keep trying to bite you?

Yes. That's why my ankles and knees are sore

I wasn't in Scotland this weekend so no Munros were possible. I made do with some lower summits in The Peak District in north west Derbyshire.

This was my first time going solo on a hill walk. I decided to borrow Jo's iPod to keep me company and I am very glad I did.

The first peak I climbed was Win Hill, a 1519ft cone shaped hill overlooking the village of Hope. I was accompanied up this hill by the first 8 tracks of Coldplay's X&Y album.


Me on top of Win Hill with Ladybower Reservoir in the background.


From the summit of Win Hill I headed northwest along a ridge and then a Roman road before turning southwest into the Edale Valley. This was a long downhill hike of around 8-9km accompanied by Coldplay, The Proclaimers and The Pogues. Upon reaching the lowest point of the walk I looked up and saw my next challenge. Back Tor, a seemingly vertical lump of grass and rock rising to 1368ft in just over 1km.


There was only one thing that could get my already tired legs into the required rythmical marching pattern for this one: Bitter Sweet Symphony by The Verve. That did it nicely.

The view from the top of Back Tor was quite spectacular. This photo does not do justice to the beautiful bowl-shaped Edale Valley bellow.

A relatively unstressfull march along a ridge took me to the top of Lose Hill. Red Hot Chilli Peppers seemed to enjoy it too.


This is the summit marker on Lose Hill with the cone-shaped peak of Win Hill in the distance.


Now for the hardest part of the day. The decent from Lose Hill on a 1:6 slope for about 1km. 43 year old knees do not like this treatment after 12km and 3 summits. I needed something to take my mind off the excrutiating pain in my knees and ankles so decended to The Sugababes. They also accompanied me through the last km of trees and a winding road. I forgot to mention that I sing when listening to an iPod. Many of the locals seem to be rather disturbed by the sight and sound of a 17st sweaty Scotsman striding out towards them around a corner singing Freak Like Me

All in all a very successful day. Three decent sized hills in 14km and I found a pub half way down the last one to quench my thirst.

Next week is some serious stuff. Ben Ghlas (3620ft), Ben Lawers (3984ft) and An Stuc (3668ft) all in the same day.

DRT wrote:Next week is some serious stuff. Ben Ghlas (3620ft), Ben Lawers (3984ft) and An Stuc (3668ft) all in the same day.

As Meatloaf would say, two out of three ain't bad

We climbed Ben Ghlas and Ben Lawers today. Oh my god! Ben Ghlas was a 2,200ft ascent from the car park to the summit in little over a mile. After a short decsent and a ridge, Ben Lawers was a further 700ft up in 0.4 of a mile. Most of the climb was completed in a howling wind and in the clouds. An Stuc would have meant a adding a further 2 miles and 2 more ascents of 200ft and 500ft in conditions that seemed unsafe so we did the sensible thing and called it a day.

This was very much harder than the other mountians we have climed and not for the uninitiated or unprepaired. It's a great feeling to have done it but disappointing there was no view to be seen on the day. I'll just have to do it again one day

Pictures later.

DRT wrote:

DRT wrote:Next week is some serious stuff. Ben Ghlas (3620ft), Ben Lawers (3984ft) and An Stuc (3668ft) all in the same day.

As Meatloaf would say, two out of three ain't bad

We climbed Ben Ghlas and Ben Lawers today. Oh my god! Ben Ghlas was a 2,200ft ascent from the car park to the summit in little over a mile. After a short decsent and a ridge, Ben Lawers was a further 700ft up in 0.4 of a mile. Most of the climb was completed in a howling wind and in the clouds. An Stuc would have meant a adding a further 2 miles and 2 more ascents of 200ft and 500ft in conditions that seemed unsafe so we did the sensible thing and called it a day.

This was very much harder than the other mountians we have climed and not for the uninitiated or unprepaired. It's a great feeling to have done it but disappointing there was no view to be seen on the day. I'll just have to do it again one day

Pictures later.

Surely it’s a cheat to go across ridges? I was expecting a full ascent on each one :p

Incidentally, thanks for the photos of the Peaks. I’d always thought of it as a poor-relation of the Lake District and didn’t realise it was that picturesque!

JacobH wrote:Surely it’s a cheat to go across ridges? I was expecting a full ascent on each one :p

At the tender age of 43 the ridge route will do for me thanks

JacobH wrote:Incidentally, thanks for the photos of the Peaks. I’d always thought of it as a poor-relation of the Lake District and didn’t realise it was that picturesque!

It is very nice but, like the Lake District, there are just too many people. Part of the enjoyment for me is that sense of isolation of being in a wilderness. That is difficult to attain with 2000 other people all climbing the same hill That said, it's still fun and some great views.

Unfortunately, great views were not something we had to worry about yesterday...

The summit of Beinn Ghlas...

The summit of Beinn Ghlas from the ridge to Ben Lawers...

The summit of Ben Lawers...

Ross and I at the end of the descent with the summit of Beinn Glass 2200ft above us in an annoyingly clear sky in the distance...


Next week I think I will walk along a beach.

Cool pics, thanks...but isn't it summer time, whats with all the jackets

ADV wrote:Cool pics, thanks...but isn't it summer time, whats with all the jackets

Welcome to summer in Scotland

DRT wrote:

ADV wrote:Cool pics, thanks...but isn't it summer time, whats with all the jackets

Welcome to summer in Scotland

WOW and its going to be almost 40 celcius here today!

I have set myself the objective of taking more physical exercise

DRT,
Do you mean: in comparison to the tiring task of popping Port corks you are famous for?

Seriously, this thread was a fun read and I also liked the pictures. Congrats on getting into shape!

Cool pics, Derek and Billy looks much more tired than you do.

Any chance to get some good scotish breakfast on one of the tops?

Axel

The holiday season is over so it is time to bring this thread back to life.

Next weekend we will be climbing Ben Vorlich (3232ft) and Stùc a' Chroin (3199ft). The total ascent on the 9.1 mile walk is 4,133ft.

Photo copied from Wiki. Vorlich and Chroin are the two highest snow-capped mountains centre-left.

derek
How much port we taking with us. I know we will be mighty thirsty when we get to the top

Andy V wrote:derek
How much port we taking with us. I know we will be mighty thirsty when we get to the top

No port allowed until you get back down the hill

DRT wrote:

Andy V wrote:derek
How much port we taking with us. I know we will be mighty thirsty when we get to the top

No port allowed until you get back down the hill

You got a mountain bike I can borrow to make the trip down faster

I found out that at 1066m above sea level, Table Mountain is higher than most British mountains.

At 1,600m, Johannesburg is higher than all British mountains.

No wonder I was out of breath at times.

AHB wrote:I found out that at 1066m above sea level, Table Mountain is higher than most British mountains.

At 1,600m, Johannesburg is higher than all British mountains.

No wonder I was out of breath at times.

Anything to do with all the red juice you were drinking?!

There may have been some red juice sipped daintily whilst I was away...

The weather let us down on Saturday. We were expecting clear skies in the afternoon but from about 2000ft up found nothing but thick cloud. We had to abandon our second peak to ensure we stayed safe in the poor conditions and visibility but I'm sure it will still be there on another day

Ross and I on the summit of Ben Vorlich.


...and the summit of Ben Our (2400ft).


Billy and Ross on the descent from Ben Our overlooking Loch Earn.

We had to abandon our second peak to ensure we stayed safe in the poor conditions and visibility but I'm sure it will still be there on another day

Why do I all of a sudden feel as though I'll never set foot back in the States again