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Ben Vorlich (Loch Earn)

Ben Vorlich (Loch Earn)


Postby bobsmart71 » Thu Nov 25, 2021 12:38 am

Route description: Ben Vorlich and Stùc a' Chròin

Munros included on this walk: Ben Vorlich (Loch Earn), Stùc a' Chròin

Date walked: 24/11/2021

Time taken: 4 hours

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I had fancied trying a Munro in the snow, with the Met Office promising a load of the white stuff to be dumped on Vorlich, I arranged a day off and set off to Ben Vorlich at Loch Earn, which is one of the closest Munro’s to me in Fife.
The Met Office got it wrong though, and the day looked as good as you could hope for in Scotland at the end of November.
This walk gets pretty steep from the beginning, but with this being the first Munro that I’d done by myself, I was able to set a pace that suited my slightly heavier frame 😄.
It got windier as the climb progressed, with a reported 38mph gusts, but it remained dry for all of the assent.
With the snow not making an appearance, I had a choice to make, should I try my first scramble on the neighbouring Stuc a’ Chroin?…I decided that I should, but unfortunately on the way down from the summit of Vorlich, I sliid on the notorious boggy section and twisted my knee.
I was wary of the scramble when I was 100%, but with a limp I decided that I should use my head for once and leave Stuc a’ Chroin for another day….it’ll still be there😄👍.
I can’t emphasise how boggy the boggy section actually is on this walk…your waterproof boots need to be up to the job.
Knee aside, this was a really enjoyable walk, with stunning views…
Attachments
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Maybe next time…
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Stuc a’ Chroin
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What views…
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Made it :)
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Summit only meters away…
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Getting closer…
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Getting there…
bobsmart71
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Re: Ben Vorlich (Loch Earn)

Postby The English Alpinist » Thu Nov 25, 2021 6:12 pm

I can relate to everything in your report! i'm considering these two as my first winter expedition this year. Lately I've had miserable experiences with bogs and boots that can't keep them out (despite being good boots). Never mind Stuc a Chroin, any Munro you return from safely is a success. An injury is precisely the thing that scares me most about solo walking, especially in winter, if we were to get truly incapacatated it would be very cold and lonely up there. Sensible decisions make us good mountaineers (I hope).
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Re: Ben Vorlich (Loch Earn)

Postby HalfManHalfTitanium » Thu Nov 25, 2021 7:02 pm

The English Alpinist wrote:I can relate to everything in your report! i'm considering these two as my first winter expedition this year. Lately I've had miserable experiences with bogs and boots that can't keep them out (despite being good boots). Never mind Stuc a Chroin, any Munro you return from safely is a success. An injury is precisely the thing that scares me most about solo walking, especially in winter, if we were to get truly incapacatated it would be very cold and lonely up there. Sensible decisions make us good mountaineers (I hope).


I too found Ben Vorlich to be a slippery customer, and in thick clag, I decided to omit Stuc a'Chroin. That was many years ago, and I think the path has become more eroded and probably boggier since my visit. BV is in a list on WH of 10 easier Munros, but personally I could name many others that I've found a lot easier!

Tim
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