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Had a 4 day half-term break in the Trossachs en family, but I was allowed a day to myself & the mountains. Forecasts looked good for the earlier days of the break, but on the Thursday it was clear that the Friday would be the best day – and so it proved. So was up an hour or so earlier that than the rest of the family would have liked and after a 3 hr drive from Aberdeenshire was ready for the off at just after 11am.
The ‘off’ was Inverlochlarig for a south to north assault of Stob Binnein & Ben More. Despite the late start there was only one other car in the car park (it was a Friday). The weather was glorious with hardly a breath of wind. It was straight up for nearly 2k. Being a south facing slope there was no snow to speak of till the slight plateau of Stob Invercarnaig at around 700m. The going was fine and I was fresh, taking in fantastic views of a frozen Loch Voil and a distant Ben Vorlich.
- Loch Voil with Ben Vorlich in the distance
Once the snow line was reached it was time for some refreshment and on with the crampons as there was plenty of ice on the slight plateau. However I was soon considering taking them off again as the climb to the southern summit was on not very deep powder snow. In the end kept them on, but they weren’t really needed till near the summit of Stob Binnein.
- Looking East from Stob Binnein ridge to Cruach Ardrain
Met the owner of the sole car park car just before the southern summit – he was in his shorts! A true Scot. Could now see my first destination, just, as there was light cloud obscuring the last 100m or so.
- Well trodden route to Stob Binnein
The next hour was just perfect – easy going, no wind, views all round and the cloud had the decency to clear from the summit! Even better I encountered my first “glory” (aka Brocken spectre). There was also a glory round the sun at one point.
- Stob Binnein summit clear of clag
- Looking back down ridge from Stob Binnein summit
- A “glory” on Stob Binnein summit
- Ben More from half way down Stob Binnein
Then down to the bealach – a few peeps had opted for a seat of the descent but it looked a bit steep for me. Meet a few other folk coming the other way. A couple form Lancashire up for a long weekend couldn’t believe their good luck with the weather.
So then up to Ben More: I found this a real struggle – no great difficulty, the snow was firm, the route clear – just steep and I’m not nearly as fit as I would like to be. Also maybe hadn’t eaten or drunken enough. Glad I didn’t need to go back the way I’d come.
So 4 hrs and I’m atop Ben More. Not so lucky with the cloud this time, but by the time I’d had that last of my Bovril it had cleared. Some amazing rime on the boulders up there and great views over to Loch Tay, the Ben Lawers range & Strath Fillian.
- Rime encrusted bolder at Ben More summit
- Relieved to have topped Ben More
- Stob Binnein from Ben More
- Looking NW from Ben More (Glen Dochart & Strath Fillian)
- On the way down Ben More, looking SW
- Loch Lubhair (Breadalbane)
All downhill now. Steep with some hard névé and some deepish powder so took it very carefully. Even managed a couple of seat of my pants descents on the lower less steep parts. Snowline on this side was about 450m and once reached it was off with the crampons. Big mistake. The ground was rock hard, the grass wet and there was still lots of ice about. Ended up on my arse several times and bent my walking pole (but not irreparably). Took about half an hour to cover half a k till I reached the safety of the farm track to Benmore Fm.
All in all another great day.