EPIC FAM JOURNEY!!!

Steve Morley and co took up the EPIC challenge of flagging all 10 Munros in the Mamore ridge. He's written up a blog post about it, which you can read here, but here's an extract and the 10 photos.

So the weekend finally arrived. Fitness regimes complete. Accommodation booked. Plans made with the MacDonald Hotel for late food when we got back. We’d also signed up for the Duke of Edinburgh Awards Commonwealth Munro Flagging project. We also created a schedule of provisional timings for the 23 mile route with almost 11,000 feet of ascent…Naismith’s Rule says 12 hours 48 minutes…Craggy’s Rule suggested around 16 hours 15 minutes might be more realistic!

1. Sgurr Eilde Mor

2. Binnein Beag 

3. Binnein Mor

4. Na Grugaichean

5. An Gearanach

6.  Stob Choire a' Chairn

7. Am Bodach 

8. Sgurr a'Mhaim 

9. Stob ban (photo to follow)

And 10. Mullach nan Coirean!! 

This is such an amazing achievement for them to have flagged all these Munros for us!!!! We owe a huge thanks to Steve and his team and a big congratulations to them all!

Mull takes up the challenge

The Mull and Iona group flagged Ben More, Mull earlier this week.

 Their Leader John also flagged Arrochar Ben Vane 

and Bridge of Orchy Beinn Dorain!

Flagging in New Zealand!

One of the young DofE Leaders, Katie Macleod, took the Flag a Munro Challenge to New Zealand when she attempted to climb Ben Lomond (yes, there's one there too!).

Here's her version of the attempt: The hill I attempted was Ben Lomond in the south island of New Zealand, we didn't make it to the top because of crazy fog combined with the tail winds from a cyclone that hit Australia, making it too hard to summit. But I got some good pictures at the saddle, where it was less windy and dangerous. Really gutted I didn't make it to the top, but I think I climbed over 1000m so technically I've done a Munro!

ACFA on Ben Chonzie

This enormous group from The Black Watch Battalion of the Army Cadet Force Association climbed Ben Chonzie in May for Flag a Munro.

Absolutely inspiring that they got so many people to participate!!! They deserve an enormous thank you for being so enthusiastic about Flag a Munro.

Cairngorm get the FAM treatment

One of the Millburn Academy Gold DofE groups summited Cairngorm on the 10th June in ominous looking weather!

Well done to the whole gang! 

Another Ben Vorlich Bag

The DofE group at Ross High School in East Lothian bagged Ben Vorlich (it's a popular one!!). They said it was a nice sunny day on the ascent, but shortly after the photo the skies opened and they got the true Scottish weather!

Currie bags Schiehallion

On Sunday 8th June the Currie Community High School group flagged the mighty Schiehallion for Flag a Munro. Eileen Hulse, Lauren Davies, Cerys Mitchell, Claire Wilhelm, Iain McEwan, Sean Preston and Calum Stewart all braved the elements to get to the top.

They had a mix of all kinds of weather - low cloud...

bright sunshine...

And even some heavy rain and threat of lightening (thankfully that stayed away!!)

Finally they made it up to the summit! Veni, vidi, vici Shiehallion!!

Robert Gordon's goes for Lochnagar

On the 1st June the hillwalking group at Robert Gordon's College flagged Lochnagar for the Challenge! In the picture are some walkers not doing their DofE (yet!) but Rishi Purkayastha is a Bronze participant and Dr Galbraith is one of their Gold Leaders.

RGC will be climbing 21 Munros in all, so you'll be seeing a lot of them!!!

SiMY flag 2

The SiMY Community Development Team bagged both Beinn Dorain and Buchaille Etive Mor on the 24th May!

They helped to rescue another group by providing some innovative first aid for their boots, which had fallen apart! The owner was doing his first Munro with some more experienced friends, and his old boots weren't up to the challenge; both the soles were flapping off when they encountered them, so like good DofE'rs they stopped to render assistance :-)

See them up Beinn Dorain

and Buchaille Etive Mor

Whole gang grabs Ben Vorlich

There were 19 people in the McLaren DofE group who climbed Ben Vorlich, including representation from their current Bronze, Silver & Gold groups, a former Gold group member, parent and teacher volunteers, committee members and of course their 3 trusty volunteer mountain leaders. For several people in the group, this was their first Munro :). Well done everyone!

Weather was great on the ascent with a nice breeze to keep the midgies at bay. Got some good views at the top before the clouds started closing in. Few light showers on the way down but nothing could dampen their spirits!

Quite a steep climb in places but well worth the effort - they said they all very much enjoyed their Flag a Munro challenge!

Kinross-shire Group's 3 Munros

The Kinross-shire DofE group managed 3 Munros earlier in June!!! Ben Ghlas, Ben Lawers and Meall Ghaordaigh (we dare you to pronounce that one!) were all flagged for the Challenge.

Ben Ghlas

Ben Lawers

Meall Ghaordaidh

Lorn Open Award Group climb the Cruachan

Lorn Open Award Group chose to climb Cruachan. Leaders and participants set off  enthusiastically on Sunday morning. The party moved well and everyone was on good form when they reached the summit.  For Andrea Lines and Kerry McKay, both leaders, it was their first Munro. The top was cold and misty, but they raised their flags (including flags from the Commonwealth – in their case Tonga and Jamaica) took pictures as proof of their achievement and soon started their descent to escape from the cold wind.

There may be some sore feet and tired limbs, but everyone thoroughly enjoyed the day – and it didn't rain!

BBs Flag 2 Munros!

The 25th Stirling (Dumblane) Boys' Brigade ably managed not 1 but 2 Munros on the 1st June. They managed a hike up both Ben Ghlas and Ben Lawers in some foggy weather. Three cheers for the BBs!

Up Ben Ghlas

Up Ben Lawers

Perth Grammar goes for Ben Vorlich

Perth Grammar School's Gold DofE group climbed Ben Vorlich on Saturday, 31st May in perfect weather conditions! They took the scenic route up from Loch Earn via the ridge to the west then back down via the path to test their navigation. By all accounts it was a fantastic day!!!