I actually managed to haul myself out of bed at a decent time and set off for Loch Earn Shortly after 7am. Promising outlook, breezy but blue skies. Parked up at Ardvorlich before 9 and ready to set off just after. There was just my car and one other belonging to a couple who set off as i was parking up.
- Ben Vorlich from the lochside
It was looking a lot more welcoming than on my November visit. Could clearly see the path up from a distance.
This one was as much for fitness as it was fun, so i tried to keep a decent pace. I'd managed to resume my regular cardio since struggling up Cairn Gorm last month and i could feel the difference, still plenty huffing and puffing though.
A disappointing lack of wildlife to be seen, aside from sheep and noisy cows(seemingly moo-ing in annoyance at the noise from the work on the hydro-electric project) all i spotted was lapwings, finches and a single grouse.
- Spot the grouse. Although for all i know it could've been called something else.....
Pressed on up. It was far easier on a path that wasn't topped with ice. Clear enough skies at this point. Good views to the Lawers range.
- Beinn Ghlas and Ben Lawers
A fairly strong breeze from the west when i got higher up and out of the shelter of Ben Our. Still nice blue sky to the east, but i could see this coming from the west. The couple who'd set off shortly before me didn't hang about at teh top and headed straight back down while there was only wind to contend with.
- impending doom and gloom
Once i saw that it turned into a race to the top to beat the cloud. I lost. Couldn't see the loch down below or the summit above. Lower down I'd been wishing i'd taken the shoftshell option before i left the house, but i was glad i'd gone for the gore-tex when the weather came in. Horizontal snow reared it's ugly head.
- Loch Earn is somewhere under those clouds.
Reached the summit a little after 11. Visibility wasn't too bad at the top initially The summit cairn was clearly visible from the trig point.
- Summit cairn from trig point.
- Summit cairn
This is how the trig point looked from the summit. The wind driven snow was battering straight into my face. Like i said at teh beginning, i had intended on doing Stuc a'Chroin, but in light of what the weather was like when i was up high i decided to leave it for another day.
- Trig point? What trig point?
I was glad i'd set off as early as i did, I had the summit to myself but when i could see down lower on the hill there were a good number of people on the way up. I met a trio a short way down from the trig point, i think two of them were regretting opting for shorts. The sun was trying to shine through when they were getting on top.
- Come on Sol! You can do it!
I don't think i've ever felt so good coming down off a hill. I was buzzing and virtually skipping down. Aside from a few brief showers weather was largely blue skies again until i got to my car so i snapped a few more pics.
- Cloud creeping over the summit.
- Loch Earn and Lawers in the distance
Met so many people on there way up. Fromteh 2 cars when i set off there was now over a dozen. having not stopped for a munch i was starving and glad to get back to my car. I'd just settled on a perch by the loch to watch my boots and gaiters and enjoy a coffee when the rain came back. Ate my lunch in the car then headed home. Satisfied with that time of 3 and a half hours. I briefly tempted doing something smaller on the but quickly came to my senses.
All in all a thoroughly enjoyable day, even if i missed out on doin Stuc a'Chroin.
I need to go back as well as it was a bit too snowy when I went up and I was knackered, need to improve my fitness, getting there though.
- won't catch me doing that 
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