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I spent the
morning wondering about getting the train to Arrochar to do the usual hills, but
I prepared my things anyway. Eventually I just decided that it’d be easier to do
the Arrochar trip another day when I could get a lift up the A82, but mum agreed
to give me a lift to Ben Lomond. So, that’s what I did. I also planned to get
the Graham Cruinn a' Bheinn which lies to the north of Ben Lomond. I didn't do
this Graham in the end, but a notable thing was that it was my quickest time yet
t0 ascend 3000 feet. I was from bottom to the top in 95 minutes which wasn't bad
going. Additionally the weather was incredible. The pictures usually don't do
things justice but they show through here what the day was like, and it was just
lush, green, bright and cloudless. (almost)
Ascent
We left the house just past 10am, and arrived at Rowardennan 11.15am. I was a
bit sick after the bumpy road north of Balmaha, but once I’d set off (11.30am) I
felt great. The place was very scenic, and I took the West Highland Way, turning
off at the path up Ptarmigan Ridge.
I followed the route upwards, (11.40am) steep initially but it soon levelled
out. I realised that I wasn’t as alone as I thought I may be – there were many
people also taking the same route as me, but no problem – there must be hundreds
all going up the main route! Views to the Cobbler and Ben Vane were opening up
NW, but not quite to Ben Vorlich and I kept on hoping I’d get a view around the
next corner. I felt I was slacking but actually kept a strong pace and even
overtook a fair amount of folk. I just worked on and on and after 40-50 minutes
on the hill, I realised that I wasn’t at the bottom anymore and I’d actually
just climbed a substantial part of the hill.
As I gained even more height, wind began to pick up – I passed a group of four
men who followed on closely behind me. Despite their age they had a strong pace
and I was pushed to keep ahead – just one of my own games! I had a bottle of
water in hand the whole time and drank out of it in common intervals between
walking (or while walking) so it kept me well hydrated, yet at the same time the
cooling wind, now blasting from the east was keeping my temperate down. Although
hot down at Loch Lomond, here it was a bit cooler, but I managed to keep going
with just the t shirt.
The path levelled out and it was an easy walk along Ptarmigan Ridge – if not
windy. Incredibly windy in fact, it knocked me off balance more than once.
Taking a lot of pictures on the way, (keen to get photos I didn’t get last time)
I made good progress, and before long I was on the final stretch to the summit.
I had most stops there and I developed a blister on my left heel, so the final
steps up to the summit were probably the hardest and certainly created the most
pain – the blister was becoming a little too uncomfortable, but I was at the
summit soon enough. (1.15pm)
The views were excellent and there were no less than 50 people there, sunbathing
or sitting taking in views. It’s no surprise to find this on a sunny Bank
Holiday though. I sat and sunbathed up there for the next 40 minutes. There was
a bit of a chilling wind, but the sun had warmth and I sat eating, taking photos
or making sketches of distant peaks I wanted to identify later. Eventually, an
hour after I’d arrived (and after a summit picture) I left at 2.15pm.
Descent
First of
all, I wanted to identify some locations from old photos from 2001 which was
easy enough, but then it was the long descent down the boring main track. I
didn’t bother taking Ptarmigan Ridge back. (Although it would probably have been
a better idea)
In retrospect, Ptarmigan would the preferred route up and down and is so much
more characteristic than the “tourist” route. Still, the normal route took a
while to get down, and spirits weren't helped by an east-to-west wind blasting its way across the
mountain. I took the track back to Rowardennan and was there by 3.45pm. I sat in
the car eating and drinking the last of what I brought up, and it felt excellent
– the last bits of the walk were a little wearing – although the sunlight
filtering through the forest was very beautiful. Left to get back home
soon afterwards.
Written 2008-05-16
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