13 - BEN LOMOND
Arrochar Alps, Cobbler, B Narnain, B Ime, B Vane, B Vorlich seen from Ben Lomond ascent route. Photo tms.nickbramhall.com
9.1 miles 1020 metres
Start Thursday 19.30
Ben Lomond 20.26
Finish 21.19
Time: Estimated 2.01 Actual 1.49
Squares: green - start, red - finish. Circles summits: green - this leg. Map Colin Matheson
Time: Estimated 2.01 Actual 1.49
Graeme writes:
The day was spent moving back and forth between Crianlarich, Glen Falloch and Loch Lomondside with a seeming abundance of changeovers taking place. I don't remember getting any real sleep with all the comings and goings but I don't remember feeling particularly tired either.
I do remember a certain apprehension building up through the afternoon though with the likelihood of a short daylight leg over ground with which I was familiar, looming ever closer. This apprehension rose to a state of complete alarm when belted into the passenger seat of the montego, with Ross at the controls, weaving its way through lines of tourist cars south round Loch Lomond, through Balloch and up to Rowardennan. A visit to the public toilets was then needed.
Thus I started on the Ben Lomond leg in a slightly irritated manner having been unnerved by the rather exasperating drive round Loch Lomond. The plan had been to run steadily just picking and chipping my way up the motorway path, but my body didn't feel in gear at all.
Having waited in anticipation all afternoon it was now early evening, time for tea, a deep breath, a cigar or whatever and I felt deflated, far from excited and even further from enthusiastic. I plodded on up the steepening path and into the murk. This murk reduced visibility to around 30m but it was still quite bright, unusual I thought since I now associated murk with darkness.
An ominous feeling in the air produced a scurry in my step, then a trot, and soon a steady jog along the lesser gradient of Ben Lomond's long southern shoulder. I met several sheep about here, the only living things during the leg. They looked at me strangely as if querying why I was where I was at that time of day. “Don't you know all the tourists, walkers, day trippers are back down below?” I pushed on, confident I knew the way having been up twice before, but still taking notice of the path cut off point for the way down.
On the top, I was there but the view wasn't. Back to the cut off point where I took a bearing for Comer and just as well as I'd have been miles off if I'd just followed my nose. It didn't take long to come down to the squelch and out of the murk into what seemed a much more settled and pleasant side of the hill compared with Loch Lomondside, in fact it was a beautiful evening.
On inspection from above I reckoned I could cross Duchray Water downstream from Comer thus saving time and distance so I went for it although it did involve climbing two deer fences, hopping over the furrows of a new forestry plantation, crossing an oily swamp and clonking my knee nastily on a rock as like hittling the funny bone in your elbow.
On reaching the track I swapped fell studs for road flats and bounced into action, bounding along in big springy steps. A wise decision it was to take my road shoes since the recently re-metalled forest track was rock hard and seemed to go on and on, but I was in fine triumphant fettle and ran strongly to the awaiting Ross at the Loch Dhu track end.
On driving to Callander I chirped away happily, quite full of myself following my exhilarating run and now very relaxed while driving. Perhaps dangerously relaxed since Ross kept grabbing at the dashboard and throwing anxious glances in my direction. My silly verbal babbling was probably falling on unlistening ears with the mind more concerned on his own safety. I thought I was driving smoothly but this relaxed state I was in could well have had the same effect on my body as alcohol.
When dropping Ross off north of Callander at Braeleny in the growing darkness with horribly looming clouds in the sky I felt for him, but glad also it wasn't me heading out. Back down the steep brae to Callander and the feeling was strangely settled once again. The weather up there was obviously brewing for later.
The reception at the mothership was to match my own feelings at that moment, high spirited, especially Steve who always seemed to be happy with things. I think they'd been in the pub. Better was to come however with Colin serving up a multi course meal capped by strawberries and cream bought during the shopping trip that afternoon.
I was still polishing off this lot as Colin drove to our night's stopping point on the Ben Lawers road beneath the Lochan na Lairige dam. On the way through the oncoming darkness we were battered by monsoon like rain and it certainly didn't make me envy Ross.
Peaks done 98 Hours elapsed 110 Peaks to do 179
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