Wow, magnificent vid Damon. And exceptional weather. And liked the fourlegged & happy tailwagging boy starring in your cast! By the looks of it, he's very experienced and for sure the chap has a head for heights. If not for his age and small stature, you could start him on your ice-climbing :-) Your vocal considerations and running comment are quite instructive ("probably survivable", 14:40, LOL), not to mention the special moments at 13:10 and 22:56... By now i'm systematically checking out all of your vids - and of course i subbed!
Thanks Wilco, I'm glad you liked it. I couldn't of asked for a better dog to take up the mountains.......in all conditions! Thanks for checking out the rest of my vids, I've got a few more uploading from a recent trip.
Damon , I have to say that was magnificent , I cant tell you how much I enjoyed that , did this a couple of times in the 80's , a bit more snow as I remember that made it easier to walk , your wide angle lens gives the trek lots of gravitas , brilliant , its the best I have seen on this ridge . I assume you had your camera on your helmet? , the views of Sgurr a' Mhaim and Stob Ban and the whole panorama on such a great day was breathtaking , even the dog looked as if he was enjoying it . Thanks for the memories , keep up the good work .
Thanks for that Isobel. I'm glad it inspired such good memories. It was a superb day for it and the dog loves this kind of walk. The camera was actually on a chest harness, hence seeing the trekking poles so often hehe
Hi Damon, I'm just getting back into hill climbing myself. Managed about 10 Munros in the last few months, with a couple of Corbetts and Grahams thrown in for good measure. I'm building myself up to Aonach Eagach. I took a ride on the bike yesterday to get some pictures of the area. Hopefully that will spur me on over winter. Keep the great vid's coming mate. All the best Steven
Cheers for that Steven. Good that your getting back into it especially as winter is coming, as its the best time to be up the hills. All the best when the Aonach Eagach Ridge comes around for you.
I paid my first visit to Scotland last month and devoted one day to this route from my hotel in town. I wish I could say I had your views. Alas, being in the clouds all day. Made for a interesting traverse given you only see the ridge in 30 foot bits. I think the snow makes it a bit easier to walk? My video does not look nearly as wonderful as this...more like a horror film if you care to watch it. Loved Scotland - did many lesser hikes with my wife and we missed our hiking dog who stayed home. Not sure I'd trust her on the arete, but she'd probably do fine. I'd be the one worried.
Another great video, like all of yours. This one is the best though simply because of Mr Chips! Loved every minute of it, as did my mum and dad. We have always been a dog family, but I never ever thought about taking them on a winter mountaineering route. I would be too worried that they would come to some harm. Seems that there is no worries about Chippy though as he handles the exposure like a real pro. He doesn't need crampons as he has his own in-built ones (claws) :-). Serious question - How does he handle the exposure and climbing so well? Has he always been that good our have you trained him up with gradularly harder stuff? He seems to be enjoying it immensely. He even stops to admire the view sometimes. You obviously trust him a lot as you let him out of sight a bit and let him find his own way. Let's have more of Chippy please.
I'm glad yoy and your parents enjoyed as much as me and chippy. TBH he was a nightmare up the hills to start but came good as I had to take a hard line with him as he chased dear a lot. Just basic training nothing Hill specific. He loved the snow from the outset and was always patient etc when waiting on commands and a bit of a natural in trail finding etc. I built him up on lower grade scrambles etc and he's even done the Aonach Eagach ridge. Unfortunately he passed away at the start of the year😢
Oh no. I sorry to hear Chippy has left us. That is a shame. My dad's dog Tess died a few years back from bone cancer and I still miss the girl. The excitment she showed when she heard my car pull up every Friday night meaning that it was walkie's time will never leave me. I hope you can find a new 4-legged friend to accompany you on the hills.
COASTAL mOUNTAINS ONLY NEED 1000M OF Elevation to be very impressive. The Cape Breton Highlands are fairly impressive at 500m because they drop to sea level Grouse Mountain in my country and Mitre Peak are other good examples.
That's some great foot placement, deftness and agility on the ridge there. Not you, the dog! My dogs are clumsy idiots they would have me and themselves down in Glen Nevis the fast way! Never done it in winter but the views are incredible at any time of year if it's clear (big if!)
@@DamonRitchie good filming, lovely dog..he loved it!😍. We once made ice axes out of old heavy hinges...threw them away at the bottom of Aonach mor near by...1980,s.. too heavy, bet they're still there!😅
Hello, i wanted to ask what is the weather like and what are the snow conditions usually during the year? I would like to go there and not be totally unprepared.
Kid222 Definitely full winter kit and navigation awareness to descend from the summit (depending which way you do it). Done it in winter in glorious conditions, likewise full blizzard conditions. Summer, well I've done it in shorts and t shirt
Looks like max dv quality, 1080p. Along with the top of the Ben, MrChip's is in great pic quality & well in focus all the way. Lovely rendition of a classic route in perfect conditions, about the best online anywhere.
Go and do it with your dog then!!! Depends on your own ability, foot placement, confidence, previous route experience, conditions on the day, weather, winter experience etc etc if you choose poles over axe!!! 😁
@@DamonRitchie I only meant that as a pun, not literally, sorry. Still watching your video and editing my comment. Seeing as you already replied, I'll post a new one. I've done it before, reminiscing with your video brings up good feelings...
