Who Needs To Detox?

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DRT
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Who Needs To Detox?

Post by DRT »

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.

Image
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
Image
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 88)

Ben Lawers - 3984ft
Image

Ben Macdui - 4295ft
Image
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 :wink:

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 :lol:

Derek
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
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Andy Velebil
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Post by Andy Velebil »

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 88)
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RonnieRoots
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Post by RonnieRoots »

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

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

What a great name!
Ben
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Alex Bridgeman
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Post by Alex Bridgeman »

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
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
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RonnieRoots
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Post by RonnieRoots »

urm, yes. :oops:
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Post by benread »

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!
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Post by DRT »

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 :roll:

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

Derek
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
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Alex Bridgeman
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Post by Alex Bridgeman »

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.
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
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Post by DRT »

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 :?
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
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Post by Andy Velebil »

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 :P
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Post by Overtired and emotional »

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.
It may be drivel, but it's not meaningless.
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Post by Overtired and emotional »

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.
It may be drivel, but it's not meaningless.
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Post by DRT »

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 :wink: :lol:

Derek
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
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DRT
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Post by DRT »

Hello to you all from the top of Schiehallion :smile:

What an unbelievably stunning view :cool:

Hopefully some pictures later today.

Derek
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
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Post by DRT »

Some pics from my trip up Schiehallion today...

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

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

Yours truely at the summit with Loch Rannoch in the background
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Ben Lawers, our next target, from the summit of Schiehallion
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"The first duty of Port is to be red"
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Alex Bridgeman
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Post by Alex Bridgeman »

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
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
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Post by benread »

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!
Ben
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Post by DRT »

So we now seem to have:
  • :tpf: Ambassador for Music and the Arts - AHB
  • :tpf: Ambassador for Sport - BR
  • :tpf: Ambassador for High Altitude Pursuits - DRT
Excellent.

Can I suggest we add:
  • :tpf: Ambassadors to the Middle East - Lord & Lady Roots
  • :tpf: Ambassador to the former western colonies - JDAW
  • any more?
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“western former colonies†

Post by jdaw1 »

DRT wrote:
  • :tpf: Ambassador to the former western colonies - JDAW
Oh no, all kinds of subtle horrible implications. Please, the “western former colonies†.
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Post by RonnieRoots »

Beautiful pictures. I hope to go there sometime soon.

We are most delighted to take up our Middle-Eastern task.
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Post by benread »

DRT wrote:So we now seem to have:
  • :tpf: Ambassador for Music and the Arts - AHB
  • :tpf: Ambassador for Sport - BR
  • :tpf: Ambassador for High Altitude Pursuits - DRT
Excellent.

Can I suggest we add:
  • :tpf: Ambassadors to the Middle East - Lord & Lady Roots
  • :tpf: Ambassador to the former western colonies - JDAW
  • any more?
I understand you may be one of our Northern Bretheren? If so, Ambassador for Scotland?
Ben
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Post by DRT »

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 :shock: :lol:
Derek
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Post by benread »

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 :shock: :lol:
Derek
Did you mean midgets? Was there a convention of them? Or was it their airbornes cousins the midges?!
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Post by DRT »

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 :shock: :lol:
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 :wink:
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
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