BEN MORE (CRIANLARICH)
Ben More and Stobinian from Cruach Ardrain. Photo tms.nickbramhall.com
3.4 miles 1309 metres
Start Wednesday 11.52
Ben More 12.46
Stobinian 13.15
Finish 13.36
Squares: green - start, yellow - changeover. Circles summits: green - this leg. Map Colin Matheson
Time: Estimated 2.00 Actual 1.44
Tony writes:
The big one. When I was originally allocating legs to people I tried to ensure that whilst taking more than my fair share of height I did not deprive the fell runners of their bread and butter – miles of open hillside. I accordingly gave the long running legs to them and kept shorter, rockier legs to myself. This strategy became even more valid after my ankle injury as running, particularly over long distances and tracks was likely to aggravate it.
When it came to allocating the last 20 legs this approach, (which had been successful in so far as the fell runners had sliced hours off my estimated times for the long legs,) it was clear that I should continue to take on the big climbs. And so to Ben More.
I have good memories of climbing B.M. and Stob Binnien from the Balquidder side. They were virtually my first winter hills. I put my crampons on for the first time on the descent from SB, the slopes were packed hard with snow and ice, I had earlier climbed over my first cornice to reach the summit ridge and had later to negotiate huge slabs of snow which acted as a fortress around the trig point of B.M.. I had to chip away with axe to find it. On my return I had to cross huge snowfields which had cracked open to reveal huge voids – a real experience.
Today I powered up from Ben More farm in 54 minutes. The trig poing was naked and in the mist could've been anywhere. There were large tracks both down B.M. And up SB (the ascent being merely steep and bouldery.) There were no tracks or footprints when I climbed them in winter.
This note will read like “old hill walker reminisces” but it's true – they don't make hills like they used to, and they are much more interesting in winter.
Peaks done 249 time taken 11 days 11 hours peaks to go 28
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