Turning Back! Ben Vorlich, not Stùc a' Chròin | Loch Earn | Munro Bagging

Join Alistair and Douglas as they return to the hills with what seemed like it would be a nice autumnal walk by Loch Earn. Ben Vorlich and Stùc a' Chròin was the plan - these two Munros on the southern fringe of the Highlands appear as an identical pair in many distant views. Closer up, they are more different. Ben Vorlich is a very popular hillwalk from Loch Earn and a fine viewpoint, whilst the continuation to Stùc a' Chròin is a more serious walk with steep, rocky ground.
Unfortunately things didn't go quite to plan...
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Video Equipment:
DJI Mini 2
GoPro Hero 10
Rode Wireless Go
Rode VideoMicro Compact On Camera Microphone
Hiking Equipment:
Osprey Talon Pro 30
Osprey Stratos 26

Пікірлер: 37

  • @Diverweld
    @Diverweld Жыл бұрын

    Fabulous as always great scenery pity about the weather keep up the good work

  • @HighlandHikers

    @HighlandHikers

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you 😊

  • @RhodySeth
    @RhodySeth Жыл бұрын

    Oy! You were wee babies back then. Me, I enjoy a sufferfest hike on occasion. Keeps you honest and makes the lovely days that much nicer.

  • @HighlandHikers

    @HighlandHikers

    Жыл бұрын

    Haha, we sure were! We’ve definitely had our fair share of sufferfests in the past, don’t worry 😆 Sometimes there’s days when you really just don’t feel like it - this was one!

  • @matthewsmith4920
    @matthewsmith4920 Жыл бұрын

    Literally had the same experience earlier this year, I was glad that pole was there next to the summit trig point! Not quite ready for a return visit to hike Stuc a' Chroin yet.

  • @HighlandHikers

    @HighlandHikers

    Жыл бұрын

    These days happen I guess! At least the mountain isn’t going anywhere - can always go back in better conditions.

  • @gc9422
    @gc9422Ай бұрын

    Great video guys. Enjoyed that. Gonna try bagging my 1st munroe in a couple of weeks - Ben Chonzie. Hoping I get the bug for it and continue on from there. Keep up the good work

  • @HighlandHikers

    @HighlandHikers

    Ай бұрын

    Thanks! Good luck on Ben Chonzie - just make sure you’re prepared as the navigation at the top can be tricky if the cloud comes in.

  • @iangpark
    @iangpark Жыл бұрын

    The right choice, especially if you've both done it before! I did these two earlier this year after finishing my 10-day isolation and the snow was still lying on Stuc a' Chroin's nose. I ended up teaming up with 2 strangers to try and find the best path to the top. All 3 of us were actually quite scared but determined to make it - a long, slippery scramble later, we finally did. I can't imagine doing it at all in high wind!

  • @HighlandHikers

    @HighlandHikers

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks Ian! Yeah, it’s a tough ascent up to Stuc. When I did it for the second time back in early 2015 it was full winter conditions - no path at all. Ice axe and crampons very much required 🥶

  • @mountain_del1863
    @mountain_del1863 Жыл бұрын

    Good to see you back out lads. For the 1st time since 89 I haven't been up a single Munro this year......life's been so mental busy. This is a superb placebo though :) ATB

  • @HighlandHikers

    @HighlandHikers

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you! Hopefully you get back to the hills soon 😃

  • @dougieranger
    @dougieranger Жыл бұрын

    Great hill, saw my first Brocken Spectre on the summit.

  • @HighlandHikers

    @HighlandHikers

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks Dougie! It’s always cool seeing a broken spectre 😃

  • @dougieranger

    @dougieranger

    Жыл бұрын

    @@HighlandHikers Made my day, the boggy return journey was unpleasant though.

  • @TheMarco99
    @TheMarco99 Жыл бұрын

    Great to see you both back out again. Done both in April and the weather was very changeable. Both fantastic munros but the return section from Stuc was brutal, feet kept sliding away until we reached the inward path. Look forward to seeing you both again.

  • @HighlandHikers

    @HighlandHikers

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks Marco! Trying to remember the previous times I did these ones - 2015 was in proper winter conditions and we had to take a different route out as the usual descent off Stuc a Chroin was too treacherous. Made for a much longer walk, but still good! When Alistair and I did it back in 2004 I don’t remember the return path being bad at all - maybe it’s got worse over the years with increased foot traffic.

  • @davidcalder8210
    @davidcalder8210 Жыл бұрын

    Yous looked so young back then obviously 😊 2 great mountains i put Stuc A Chroin off for a year i then did it last summer straight up the scramble after doing Vorlich Stuc now is 1 of my favourite mountains ever absolutely loved the scramble up there and cannot wait to do it again this year 😊 i still have a mark on my right shin where i slipped on the greasy surface on the camber coming back down around Vorlich i slipped against a rock whilst wearing shorts i thought I’d broke my leg i was screaming a chunk of skin came off but i never probably a bruised shin bone i now have a scar for life and every time I’m in the shower i say to myself damn Stuc A Chroin 😂😂😂 i will actually cherish my little scar on my shin to the day i die and look back at my brilliant day up Vorlich and Stuc A Chroin ⛰️ ⛰️ Well done guys yous have not changed that much over the years Happy Hiking 🥾 😊

  • @HighlandHikers

    @HighlandHikers

    Жыл бұрын

    Wow, that sounds like quite the adventure David! All the best, Douglas.

  • @wync8142
    @wync8142 Жыл бұрын

    I was the same when i went up, got to the top and couldnt see a thing so decided to just come back down, missing Stuc a Chroin.

  • @HighlandHikers

    @HighlandHikers

    Жыл бұрын

    Sometimes that’s the sensible decision. Can always go back another day 😃

  • @AScotsmanOutdoors
    @AScotsmanOutdoors Жыл бұрын

    Great to see you both back out again and I too have had a wee bit of time off the hills with the poor weather. I've got fond memories of Ben Vorlich with it being my second and Sid (the dog's) first, that was a wet and wild summit. My second attempt to bag them both was better faired but then no views on Stuc a'Chroin due to clouds. Excellent as always and I look forward to seeing more of your winter trips. Keep up the great work! Bryan

  • @HighlandHikers

    @HighlandHikers

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks Bryan! To be honest we’ve not managed to get out much since then - this time of year is always really busy, particularly with young families. Hopefully we’ll be able to get out more in the new year 🤞

  • @calumpaterson123
    @calumpaterson123 Жыл бұрын

    Great video guys! Thanks for sharing it, and thank you for the honest message of being sensible in the mountains. More people need to see this. I was actually up Ben Vorlich on the 2nd Jan, and it was snow from start to finish, with high winds on the summit :)

  • @HighlandHikers

    @HighlandHikers

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks Calum 😊 It’s often far too easy to press on when you should really turn back - I’ve definitely been guilty of that in the past. Hope you have a great 2023! Cheers, Douglas

  • @kintyrehiker
    @kintyrehiker Жыл бұрын

    Good to see you back gents. I can confirm the return bypass path is incredibly boggy. I would honestly go over the summit if I was to go again.

  • @HighlandHikers

    @HighlandHikers

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks David! We’ll keep that in mind if we decide to come back again 😃

  • @Cornwall1888
    @Cornwall1888 Жыл бұрын

    Unless it’s exceptionally dry or frozen solid and I’d just come back the same way from Stuc a'Chroin, much of the bypass path is a mud up to your knees bog 😂😂

  • @HighlandHikers

    @HighlandHikers

    Жыл бұрын

    Ooft! Maybe lucky we turned back when we did 😂

  • @judeharley1149
    @judeharley1149 Жыл бұрын

    Went up this yesterday. First Munro. I feel like im 150 years old today 😅 underfoot was very loose

  • @HighlandHikers

    @HighlandHikers

    Жыл бұрын

    Congrats on your first Munro 🎉 They should get a bit easier if you keep going with them 😃

  • @kirstymckenzie8989
    @kirstymckenzie8989 Жыл бұрын

    Great stuff lads

  • @HighlandHikers

    @HighlandHikers

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks Kirsty! Good to be back out in the hills, even if it didn’t go quite to plan.

  • @interdec
    @interdec Жыл бұрын

    You guys feeling OK? There’s something very weird about your skin tones in the opening scenes. A touch of jaundice perhaps…or a struggle with the dynamic range on your camera? 😂 The footage later is stunning though…what kind of gear do you use?

  • @HighlandHikers

    @HighlandHikers

    Жыл бұрын

    We’re good, thank you! Sometimes the GoPro doesn’t quite get the skin tones correct, depending on what else is in the scene. We have the Hero9, Hero10 and DJI Mini 2.

  • @fraserthegink5363
    @fraserthegink5363 Жыл бұрын

    A Lang time since I dandered up them twa.

  • @HighlandHikers

    @HighlandHikers

    Жыл бұрын

    Any plans to return?