Time on Feet

A retrospective look to my first Munro, Ben Lomond, in August 2021.

I am now 4 years into my munro journey and have kept a log of what I did on each outing since the start. However, I have recently been looking back over what I wrote and have found it interesting and sometimes amusing to see how my goals, opinions, and experiences have changed over the course of 4 years, around 100 Scottish mountains and numerous other smaller hills. What I wrote at the time are in italics, with retrospective input added in. You’ll see form the picture that I started out doing these in my running kit, not trail lugs, no waterproof garments, and my Grandad’s rucksack that had been round hundreds of Scottish hills. Contrasted to now in my goretex leather boots, hydroshell berghaus, well used maps, a knowledge of how to use them, and many miles of upland trodden it’s a pokemon-style evolution and will no doubt change further over the coming years. 

Stefanie and I started out at Rowardennan and it was already hot at 9:30AM. I remember having a back full of layers and jackets after my Grandad had warned me how quickly the weather can change and feeling rather silly having so much on such a tropical day. I had to ask a stranger for change to pay for parking. There was a really obvious path the whole way, plus with it being such a nice day all we had to do was follow the trail of people.

I now strive to find the free lay-by and plan routes that are less travelled, avoiding the baggers route and wanting to explore the hidden recesses or rugged ridges that are rarely touched. I am always torn on these popular hills. I think it is brilliant that so many people are out enjoying the countryside and this is a bit step towards educating how to protect it, but I often wish for quiet days out with just a handful of hikers seen. Perhaps that is one reason I have begun trying to explore all the tops and routes up one hill and to explore more than just the Munros, promoting this as something others should do. It would help spread out the crowds and give quieter days on the hills, while also spreading the footfall burden on the ground. 

A very hot ascent with a few clouds of flying ants and we made it to the top of our first Munro! The views over Loch Lomond and across to the Arrochar Alps were incredible. It’s funny thinking back to what I thought of these views. They were mind blowing at the time and have since become familiar, almost at risk of being taken for granted. I’ve gone from wondering what each hill is to running through a panorama of most of the summits I can see. We stopped for a break at the top and came down to a more sheltered part of the ridge to eat some food, have some coffee, and hide from the flying bugs at the summit. 

We went down the same route (rarely would I do an out and back these days, always searching for the most interesting way to make a loop) and had to take it carefully as Stefanie stumbled and cut her knee pretty badly. Levels of agility and clumsiness have not really changed to be honest. Quads were getting a bit shakey but we got back down and decided to go into Loch Lomond to cool and rinse off. 

Amazing day out and definitely keen to do more. A mild keenness did not take long to bloom into an obsession and nigh on a way of life, but we shall see that transition as I go through more retrospective logs.