The Ben Lawers Treble

1979 or 1980 (I think), 1994 (in the mist) and now today. Ben Lawers. 10th highest Munro in Scotland and one of the most famous.

Last night after Schiehallion I had little energy for a late night. A couple of Irish guys were probably keen for me to drink with them I suspect, but I spaced out my 2 pints of Grolsch for several hours, had to wait a long time for my fish and chips due to a function in the hotel, or maybe the barmaid was upset with me for telling her that Amy Winehouse was dead. They were all busy watching the cricket on Sky Sports and refused to believe me when I told them what I'd just seen on the Internet! Soon after that they changed the channel to watch the tributes.

Anyway there was never going to be a 3rd pint last night. I made it to the top of Schiehallion, but didn't fully enjoy the experience. Blame the white wine from the night before, so I decided that unless it was raining the next day or I couldn't be bothered it was Ben Lawers or bust on the way home. I didn't spend any time whatsover on a Plan B.

Got woken up after midnight when the fire alarm in the hotel went off. Was in a deep sleep, thought it was the alarm clock. Tried to switch it off etc. before I eventually realised it was a siren going off outside the room. Started trying to get dressed on the basis it might be a real emergency, wasn't moving to well. Heard muttering in the corridor that it was a false alarm. Went back to bed.

Next morning was brialliant sunshine. Destroyed the breakfast buffer again. Checked out of the hotel. Drove past Schiehallion again. Headed downhill, then along Loch Tay's northside and up the hill to the Ben Lawers carpark. Paid a "voluntary" £2 at the machine for the NTS to park. Took off and made good solid progress. It was a much better performance than yesterday. I spent a lot of time (like yesterday) looking at the altitude change on the Garmin. The camera was well exercised too. I could possibly go up Ben Lawers every weekend for the next 20 years and never see views like that again. I even overtook some people, although I let a couple past to make them feel good about themselves.

Blue skies all day, even better than the day before. The sun was bouncing off the rocks. Really dry up there. Eventually got to the summit. Saw a mountain far off in the Northeast with a distinctive shape. I'd seen it from Schiehallion the day before. A guy with his dog I'd met at the carpark talked to me again as he clambered up the final stretch. "Ben Nevis" he told me as he pointed out other various things. Despite the spectacular scenery and conditions, I'd failed to discern the obvious. The previous day on Schiehallion the group who were amazed I made it to the top had said that they were told the stuff in that direction was Glencoe etc.

Went back down the same way. Got in the car and headed home.

A classic weekend. If you'd told me in advance I'd do both Schiehallion and Ben Lawers in one weekend I'd have laughed at you. Schiehallion was the target. Ben Lawers was being saved for another time, possibly in the next month. However the weather made it easy to change my plan. I won't be going near Ben Lawers again for approx. 15 years if you take an average...

Brought home both undrunk bottles of Schiehallion beer. I might drink one tonight. When I drink the 2nd one I'm going to pretend her name is really "Ben Lawers".