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Beinn Narnain
Dad and cousin Allan dropped me off at the car park opposite Arrochar at
12.50pm. It was a fairly clear day, and the temperate was just right. After
crossing the road, I followed the winding path up and because I'd made good time
up The Cobbler the week before, I decided
I'd monitor my progress again. Well, it turned out that I made the
first 1100 feet in half an hour again - progress was good. However it was hot
and I would hope some cumulus would move over just to cool things of a bit; of
course it didn't. Although I was a little on the hot side, I
thought that if there was a westerly wind blowing through the valley, then it
should keep me cool. On the other
hand, I also forgot sun cream. Hopefully not too much of a problem, though.
After reaching the dam at 1100 feet after
about half an hour of walking, I just pressed on. I didn't exactly
stop for anything, I just wanted to get to
2000 feet by an hour of less! I discovered I could enjoy the speed aspect of
hillwalking - I found it actually enjoyable and strangely satisfying. The next
1000 feet were better as I felt as if I was getting somewhere, the ground wasn't
as steep and a gentle breeze whisked down the valley. The sun was still out
although it didn't bother me in the slightest. I just walked
on, gradually upwards, approaching 2000 feet. And it was great.
It was however very busy.
But that was about to change. I turned off the main path and continued going
between The Cobbler and Beinn Narnain. I decided to do Narnain first, and then
go along to The Cobbler. But the path was
strange, because it was ... quiet. That was the main thing I suppose. I wasn't
used to it. Being 2000 feet up, walking through a valley you haven't been in
before, alone. If anything I felt slightly vulnerable. I knew fine well where I
was going, I just had to tell myself "keep going and you'll see where to go."
Well, it was fine actually. I found where the path turned off for Beinn Narnain,
and it was actually nothing but a tiny bit of worn grass. As most people turned
off to go up the back of The Cobbler, I went the opposite way. If anything I was
becoming more solitary, as the path between the two mountains still had people
on it. But I felt good about where I was. Maybe it was because I could almost
see my final goal. The other thing I found is that I had a surprising amount of
energy. By this point the week before on the Cobbler, I was tired and slow, but
maybe that did me a lot of good, because this time around I was still strong as
ever and I was walking up towards 2300 feet! I couldn't believe my strength.
It's maybe because I'd never seen fitness have such a profound effect
before. I'd only ever experienced minor
changes, but to have so much energy when I was so drained the week before was
amazing. I also began running up at 2300 feet, and I hadn't a clue where the
energy was coming from!
I saw one person high above me, which was good to know. Good to know that there
was someone else on the mountain. I spotted one or two distant figures slogging up the side of Beinn Ime, but apart
from that I didn't see anybody else.
About 3000 feet up I ran into an old woman who didn't even see me until I was
a few metres away from her. She turned around, got a bit of a fright
and then we yapped for five minutes about different routes up the mountain. She
was going to look for a shallower route to the summit instead of climbing
directly up the boulders and we parted ways there.
I went up the last steep, rocky section up, and ended up on the plateau. Then
finally! The summit was there ... I could see the trig point now, and there was
a surprising amount of people about. I saw a fair few more than I expected.
I reached the summit at 2.25pm. I asked a guy
who was also at the summit if he could take a picture of me and he kindly did.
After a few minutes spent at the summit I went to find somewhere a bit more
secluded and went around the west side a little and found a small area where I
sat down and took some water. I tried a roll
but really didn't feel like it. Instead I sunbathed! I have to say, this is
probably the most relaxed I have been on a hill, and it was absolutely
brilliant. From my view point, I could see right down Loch Long and Ailsa Craig
sat perched on the horizon some 70 miles
away. Ben Lomond was to my left, and in front was the Cobbler.
The Cobbler
I decided to leave after maybe five minutes. I wanted to press on again, and get
over to The Cobbler. I packed up my stuff, and left. I passed by the summit, and
continued west over the plateau, and down the side I came up. I even passed the
woman again and we talked a little more before carrying off on our own journeys.
My descent down Beinn Narnain was incredibly fast I think, and maybe
uncontrolled? I'm not sure, but it certainly did not take long to get down. I
took the bealach at 2000 feet again and began going up the side
of The Cobbler. I slogged up the side, now exhausted and with a wind blowing
from the west. I walked behind the north peak,
came to the high bealach and continued around the back of the mountain. In
addition to sun cream I should have brought a hat...
By 3.10pm, it came of no surprise to me that the summit was packed. Absolutely
packed. I can't say I wasn't expecting it either, but there couldn't have
been less than 20 or 30 people all huddled up around the pinnacle. There was one
person on the pinnacle using ropes to descend through the eye of the needle
presumably because she couldn't get onto the slope. And if so, I don't blame her
either, I would be lying if I said I didn't nearly sh*te myself when I tried it.
In the end I took a quite summit picture of myself, and abruptly left. There's
something I seem to love about the solo form of hill walking, everything about
it feels different, but in a good way. Something changes in the way you think or
make decisions, to me anyway.
I left The Cobbler's summit and began to
make a quick descent. Every time I descend I always say I'll need trekking poles
for the next one, but never get them of
course. I got down to the dam in about 40 minutes. I had some time to spare so I
spent ten minutes at the river putting my feet into the water to refresh them
and finishing off the remainder of my food. It was nice I'll say that although I
never seemed to get completely comfortable. Maybe it was the lack of a flat surface to lye on ... or
something like that :-)
After a while, I put my boots back on to began the final descent. This was mainly
featureless although I did make plans to wait by the car park until
dad and Allan arrived. And guess what? I was twenty seconds off hitting the road
when dad and Allan began walking up the path! They were going to go up to about
1000 feet, or so they were hoping and my
quick return meant we were back to the car before they'd had a chance to do any
walking. I felt sort of funny about it,
because it would have been great to see them up at the dam! Although I have to
say, as I write this on the night of Monday the 15th of October 2007, I am
taking Alan up Beinn Ime and maybe a few others so that evens things out a
little! Plus, and I got off at 4.40pm - 3 hours and 50 minutes to climb a Munro
and a Corbett - bloody hell!
Overall, this was one of my favourite climbs to date, and upon reflection, the
route and time I took felt very satisfying. A superb day.
Written: 2007-10-15
Proofed: 2008-06-14
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