free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
After much deliberation and based on a a good chance of clear summit report on MWIS I desided to head west to tackle Beinn a'Chleibh and Ben Lui so set off at 6.45am and up A82 along Loch Lomond side. Going by the layby's enroute it looked like it was going to be a busy day on the hills.
I reached the carpark at NN239278 at approx 8.40am there was a bit of drizzle / light rain and the sun (if there was to be any) had a bit of work to do to to clear the summits, so I desided to have a light snack before getting kitted up.
- Upward view from carpark at NN239278
- Upward view 2
Whilst snacking, a number of cars arrived in the carpark and it wasn't long before people were heading for the hills, so thought I'd best get my RS in gear and get on with planned walk. On reaching the river I pondered whether or not to walk down to the bridge crossing or take the chance I wouldn't slip and cross at the noted Ford.....ford it was to be.
- River Lochy ford at NN238276
I then trudged up the woodland track which was extremely boggy and on a couple of occasions I was up over the ankles in mucky sludge......so with keeping an eye on the track condition, I missed the fork for the track upwards and continued on the track I was on and eventually crossed stream at NN253275
- Left woodland track to start assent at NN253275
Albeit a little steeper in assent this was probably a more obvious track, so I made my way up the side of the hill...that was until I reached a point in the track that required the slightest of scrambles and my little legs weren't long enough to take the required upward steps...so whilst trying to negotiate the obstacle (rather than take a slight detour) my foot slipped on the wet rock and down I went......thrusting my hand out to break my fall (as you do) I landed rather heavily on same and felt a bit sickly afterwards.....but had managed to negotiate the obstacle....so picked my self up, not quite dusting myself down I took stock of my situation...ankles a bit sore I must have turned it a little (weakness stems from an old football injury from..phew must be around 1971)....right hand and in particular the 3rd finger is throbbing......it could be broken. The obstacle was a rocky part of the track around NN252268 that required an escalation of no more than 6 foot and I failed miserably I could have walked round a muddy part, but no I was in my Chris Bonnington zone
- View towards Ben Lui
after regaining my dignity I took another upward photo and with doubt starting to creep in I hobbled onwards. After continuing for approx a further 250 feet in height (but in a more lateral direction) I again stopped to take stock and looked up as the cloud appeared to be rolling down the hillside
- The cloud creeping down hillside
- cloudy hillside 2
Nah!..what was the point sore ankle..sore hand..what am I going to see, by the looks of it nothing so I desided enough was enough and headed off the hillside and down an even muckier track than the one I ventured up
- Falls on downward track
I had read a number of reports with fantastic photo's from Ben Lui and was so looking forward to this walk.....but it didn't look like there would any good photo's today...so it's packed away for another day........Oh!!! for anyone interested....the finger in question is currently approx 1.5 times size and a shade of deep purple.
Best regards.....................B