Intro - Munro Bagging

Hi,

I am Grant. This is my Munro blog.

I will use this blog to record all Munros I climb, or bag. As well as any other trips, that perhaps failed, or didn't involve a Munro.

Munro bagging is a popular past-time in Scotland which involves climbing each of the 283 peaks over 3000 feet or 914.4 metres.

I first thought about climbing Munros in February this year. I was on a short skiiing break at Aviemore one Friday. I became fascinated by the number of people out on the hills in the middle of nowhere on a workday and really enjoyed the aspect of escapism - getting away from work and the city. Although I enjoyed skiiing, I quickly realised this is a very expensive hobby and clearly very seasonal in Scotland.

As the spring came round I started doing regular walks each Sunday with Rona, and as the weather improved managed to start getting to Munro peaks - despite it being VERY winrty on the summits and having a few failed attempts.

To date I have currently hauled my 15 stone ass up 12 Munros.

My current list (in order) is as follows;

12th March - Ben Vorlich (Loch Lomond)
13th March - Ben Chonzie
27th March - Ben Narnain (guess date)

10th April - Ben Vane
11th April - An Castail & Beinn a Chroin
25th April - Ben Lomond

3rd May - Ben Ime
9th May - Ben Vorlich (Loch Earn)

15th June - Ben More

5th Sept - Beinn Ghlas & Ben Lawers

Some problems I will encounter on my quest for 283...

Me - I have modest levels of fitness, which is generally ok for a 5 or 6 hour hike up one, or even two peaks on a route, but as I harvest the 'easy' Munros - harder routes will require 15 or 20km+ walks which would require legs of steel!

Geography - So Scotland is not a big country, and as I go on I accept that a 2 hour drive to the start of a route will become a 3, 4 or 5 hour drive. Obviously that will provide restraints, timewise and financial what with the fckin cost of petrol!

However, there are also plenty peaks that require scrambling or climbing to access these. I am not experienced at this, and will obviously have to add this string to my bow as and when I come to less accessible peaks.

Navigation - I have had no formal navigational tutoring. Most of the Munro's I have climbed thus far have had a well defined path or beaten track to follow. However less popular ones will not have this. I can just about read a map, but would hit major problems when visibility is poor. Already I have climbed a few Munros with maybe 10 or 20 metre visibility at the top, due to being in the actual clouds. If there was no clear route, and no visibility I would be pretty much jiggered... and could die.

Solution to this is hopefully to get a GPS device which would allow me to see precisely where I am and check progress. My mate Jonathan, has an iphone which he has managed to get a GPS system loaded onto - this has proved a handy luxury on certain routes thus far. Hopefully a fit for purpose Garmin type device plus software would be within £100 or so.

My Feet - As a hefty chap I have managed to give myself some very painful toes upon descending Munros - and even bleeding stumps for toes upon a well paced descent from Ben Lomond. I guess this is just something I will have to manage, and perhaps investigate more suitable footwear that may appease this problem slightly.

Weather - During the winter months there is a LOT of snow on almost all high ground. This makes peaks difficult to access, slippy and dangerous. There is also the chance of avalanches, which are tricky to forecast as well as heavy wind and rain (in all seasons) that can make walking near impossible.

There is often poor visibility - which makes peaks less rewarding as views can be down to just a few metres, but still accessible.

Anyways - that's enough for now. Will try and start putting up some reports of the peaks I have already climbed, as well as new reports as and when I get to any more Munros!