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15 Down, 269 To Go

(the sequel to "8 down, 276 to go")

I'm sure you all will remember reading my article in last April's Newsletter, recounting me "bagging" my first Munros, a magnificent total of eight. Although I came back full of enthusiasm to add loads more during the year it was twelve months before I found myself heading north again to add to my free with Trail magazine "Special Pullout Munro Bagging Wall Chart". John Deighton was organising a repeat trip and kindly invited me along, I must have behaved myself last year.

After picking Chris up from Richmond, I drove to our rendezvous point at the North Lakes Hotel beside the M6. Tim, Alan, Len and Jeff also decided to again make the annual trip, with the additions of Russ and Carl, making a total of nine. Tradition has it we must stop on the way up in Callander. The main reason is to fill our faces with their delicious scotch pies. Whilst filling our faces we decided on which Munro to have a bash at, this being the other reason. We agreed on Ben Challum (3362ft. or 1025m.) as it was the only one we could pronounce.

Ben Challum is described on my "Special Pullout Munro Bagging Wall Chart" as having boggy lower slopes but with temperatures well below freezing, there was no risk of us sinking into any bogs. It was still quite a climb though with snow and ice resulting in the use of crampons and ice axes. I'm so keen about this winter hill walking lark that I had been out and actually bought my very own pair of crampons, I had to borrow an ice axe though, thanks Derek. That reminds me I haven't returned it as yet, sorry Derek. It took a while to make our way up the snow covered slopes but aided by our scotch pies, we made it.

I found the descent almost as hard going as the ascent and then there was the small matter of completing our car journey to Fort William where we had three nights booked at the "Aite Cruinnichidh", a Hostel just east of Roy Bridge. Some self catered, others, including myself, walked across the road to the Glen Spean Lodge Hotel for our dinner. The meal was very nice but with beer costing £2.30 a pint, it's a good job none of us are heavy drinkers! Although cold, the weather during the day had been excellent with clear blue skies offering excellent views. Talk during the evening was of, if the weather the next morning looked as good, let's try for "The Ben"! It appears "The Ben" is a name given by experienced hill walkers for Ben Nevis which, at 1344m. (4409ft.) is of course the highest mountain in Britain, gulp!

Sure enough the weather the next morning looked good so "The Ben" it was. It appears the so called Tourist Route is only for Nandy Pandies, even in February, so we were to make our attempt on the summit via the Carn Mor Dearg Arete, double gulp!

While we were at the car park putting on our boots and checking we had remembered our sarnies, we were spotted by Richard who was in the area taking part in the SOC Walking, Climbing & Skiing Weekend. Like ourselves, Richard couldn't resist having a bash at The Ben and as he had planned the same route of ascent, he tagged along with us. Our route took us to the summit of Carn Mor Dearg which at 1220m. (4002ft.) is a respectable mountain in itself but this summit passed practically un-noticed as our attention was focused on the Big One (dramatic this, isn't it?).

After climbing Carn Mor Dearg we soon arrived at the foot of its Arrete. With the good visibility we had a perfect view of the ridge arcing its way to the summit of Ben Nevis (oops, sorry "The Ben"). This view was certainly impressive but also for a coward like me, rather daunting. The Arrete made traversing Helvellyn's Striding Edge seem like walking down Darlington's High Row. I'm surprised the Health and Safety Executive haven't insisted a handrail should be installed, shocking!

All having safely negotiated the ridge, we now prepared for the final push to the summit. This involved climbing a steep slope which of course was covered in snow. This was quite tiring and slow work. As I eventually approached the top of this slope, I was fully expecting this to be one of those occasions when you reach the top only to be confronted with another slope to climb and so on. Much to my great surprise and pleasure, as I peered over the top I could see the summit only yards in front of me. I had conquered The Ben, dead easy!!

After a celebratory sarny and drink of tea, we had a quick look at the summit emergency shelter built in the 1970's on the ruins of an observatory and then we made our way back down. The descent was fairly straight forward following the Tourist Route, or trying to on the snow covered ground. Richard left us half way down to head off to Glen Nevis. It was a long walk back down but we managed to get back in reasonable time despite Jeff falling and badly twisting his ankle.

Day three (Monday) was to be a rest day for some. Jeff's ankle had swollen very badly which sadly put him out of action for the rest of the trip. Chris's old knee injury was playing up and Alan said before the trip he would take a day off having spoilt the rest of his walking season completing the four tough days last year. Today we had our eyes on rather smaller hills but if conditions and time allowed we were hoping to bag three. The six of us started with Beinn a' Chlachair (1087m. or 3566ft.). Tim and Russ had to head back home after the days walking so they sprinted off (almost literally) to hopefully complete the three in good time for the journey back to Lancashire, then there were four. The only problems we had with the first ascent was deciding whether to wear crampons and stick to the snowy bits or remove the crampons, keep off the snow and risk the patches of ice, we kept to the snow.

Our second ascent involved a long trek on snow to the top of Geal Charn (1049m. or 3441ft.) but determined to complete the three we plodded on. Having successfully summitted Geal Charn we set our sights on Creag Pitridh (924m. or 3031ft.) compared to our exploits the previous day, this was easy peasy. Our descent back to the car was problem free apart from losing Len (the crafty devil took a short cut). Our problems began at the finish, how to squeeze four tall men and walking gear into my car! With three more Munros ticked off, my "Special Pullout Munro Bagging Wall Chart" was looking almost cluttered!

The next morning we were up bright and early, packed our bags, had breakfast and made our sandwiches. As each day passed my sandwiches increased in thickness but this being the final day I shoved in everything I had left, resulting in my sandwiches being worthy of inclusion in the Guinness Book of Records. We drove down through Glen Coe, turning onto the single track road that took us through the picturesque Glen Etive. We had a slight delay while we waited for a herd of deer to saunter across the road in front of us.

Our last Munro was to be Meall nan Eun, at 928m. (3044ft.) this was one of the smallest of the trip but it was certainly not, in my view, one of the easiest. Jeff and Carl were unable to join us due to swollen ankles and blistered feet but we were joined by Pete Dyson who had been staying in the Hostel with us. After a long walk in, we set about climbing a rather steep snow filled gully. As we gained height the cold wind increased. Before exiting the top of the gully, I rummaged in my rucksack for extra clothing, good move. On reaching the top, the cold wind became even colder and windier. We then had a long, windy, gradual ascent to the summit of our seventh Munro.

The descent started with a difficult and steep climb down ice covered rocks and snow. At least, it was difficult for me as I become a bit wimpish when tackling terrain where I can easily fall over and hurt myself. Saved on a number of occasions by my trusty ice axe (sorry, Derek's trusty ice axe), I finally made it to the start of the long walk back to the cars.

The walking over, we made our way home, stopping on the way at the Abington Services, another tradition of this annual trip. Although I enjoyed last year's trip immensely, due to the weather, we did miss out on the views. Not so this time, the weather was perfect with hardly a cloud in sight for the majority of the time spent walking, another unforgettable trip. Thanks very much to John for his excellent work in organising the trip and also to the others for their part in making it such an enjoyable experience. With fifteen already ticked off, another thirty six of John's annual trips Munro bagging should see my "Special Pullout Munro Bagging Wall Chart" finally complete!

Dave Neesam

Last Modified: 7 May, 2003