Ben More – a windy one

Headed up on to Ben More from the Lyndon Road on Sunday. This walk offers spectacular views across the plains and foothills and also would, given a little bit more snow make a perfect ski touring trip. The hill itself is broad and round, with no technical difficulty. On the day we climbed it though the elements rolled their dice and we had a ferocious biting wind thrown in as well.

It was on top that an hour of windy epic-ness started. Traversing between 1660 and Ben More itself we were subjected to the full force of the gale, - amplified considerably no doubt as it funnelled down the valley and over the ridge line. It was windy enough for the ice axes to come out (as we started to get blown along the scoured snow) and then to have to link arms to stop being blown over.

Luckily as soon as we dropped off the summit of Ben More itself and changed direction the wind reduced as quickly as it had started. Another few hundred metres or so, and it was back to merely a steady stream, enough to make sure we stayed well dressed but nothing untoward.

The ridge back down was a delight, giving views over Lake Coleridge, which improved the further along we went and then a direct route down, taking us out of winter to the warmer spring like conditions of the valley below.