BEN VORLICH (LOCHEARN)
Ben Vorlich from Stuc a' Chroin. Photo tms.nickbramhall.com
8.7 miles 1132 metres
Start Wednesday 04.22
Ben Vorlich 05.40
Stuc a' Chroin 06.14
Finish 06.57
Squares: green - start, red - finish. Circles summits: green - this leg. Map Colin Matheson
Time: Estimated 2.30 Actual 2.35
Ian writes:
They should have renamed these two 'the big wet ones' for when I left John at the car there was a steady downpour which intensified throughout the run. The route started easily enough in attractive trees but once out on the open moor, the oozing mud and horizontal rain made for a very unpleasant ascent. The ridge onto Vorlich was long and arduous and festooned by false tops lulling me into a false sense of triumph hopes only to be dashed as higher land loomed out each time from the gloom.
Nature was having her little joke as she tortured me by reaching out with icy blasts sending damp messages down my back. The well trodden path eventually emerged on the summit. What a fine view … 10 yards in every direction! The rain came down in torrents with cats, dogs and buckets thrown in for good measure...
The route down to the col was slippery with the ascent up the craggy side of Stuc a' Chroin being even more treacherous. Got up onto Stuc a' Chroin summit and was overcome with amazement that no-one else was standing at the cairn on such a fine morning. It began to rain properly now as 'mama' nature relieved herself on my head.
I had an exilharating run down grassy slopes past a crescendo of thundery waterfalls, tumbling torrents of white foam. Turning on the speed I raced back to the car and John where I revealed I had rather enjoyed the battle with the elements.
Peaks done 245 time taken 11 days 3 hours peaks to go 32
John then drove Ian to Glen Dochart for Rob's leg.
There is no charge for reading this account but please consider donating to Worldwide Cancer Research, the new name for the charity that we ran for.
Share this page