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Ben Vorlich - Back after a slight gap

Ben Vorlich - Back after a slight gap


Postby Scott (Walker) » Sun Jun 12, 2011 8:11 pm

Route description: Ben Vorlich via Loch Sloy

Munros included on this walk: Ben Vorlich (Loch Lomond)

Date walked: 12/06/2011

Time taken: 5.15 hours

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Today was my first time back on the Arrochar Alps in nearly 20 years. The last Munro I attempted back then was Ben Vorlich from Ardlui but bad weather forced my friends and I back – so I had unfinished business. The intervening years have seen too many nights out and not enough exercise. I didn’t want to hold anyone up with my wheezy waddling so I thought I’d try this one solo, I did a couple of hills with a fitter friend at the end of last year and had trouble keeping up (although he politely slowed down) so I thought I’d start early and go at my own, easier pace.

I got to the Inveruglas car park at 9.30 and set off in my bright green fleece, red rucksack and blue hat looking like Timmy Mallett’s wackier brother and set off along the A82 roadside path up to the private road that leads around to Loch Sloy dam.

A82 path.jpg


You shall not pass.jpg


There were patchy clouds kissing the tops of the mountains, Ben Vane wore a distinguished white mop making it look like Father Ted or maybe Slobodan Milosevic. I passed the power storage wotsit, it was humming merrily, as were all the sheep pellets that were squished underfoot.

This mountain is far away....jpg


The road walk is quite long but nice easy going. I was thinking to myself ‘If this goes all the way to the top I’m laughing’ – Then I came to the cairn marking the start and looked up at the almost vertical slog to the top. The ghost of Frankie Howerd whispered into my ear ‘titter ye not…’

Where's Wally.jpg


I’d never used a walking pole before but I must say I found it really useful for climbing big steps and vaulting mucky bogs – both of which dominated the hour or so up to the ridge. I started up my ancient mountain mantra from back in my climbing days:

The gold road’s sure a long road
Winds on through the hills for fifteen days
The pack on my back is aching
The straps seem to cut me like a knife

Eventually the vertical climb turns and merges into an easier ridge walk of sorts along to the summit. I had planned to stop for something to eat here but I was so relieved to be off Frodo’s staircase of hell and the clouds had cleared from the hilltops so I soldiered on.

Almost at the ridge.jpg


The ridge walk was a joy by comparison. I had hardly encountered anyone on the walk and it was very liberating being alone with my strange little thoughts ( I had told my worried girlfriend that there would be loads of people out on the hills to help me out if things went wrong. She was sceptical ‘Don’t come running to me if you break both your legs etc.).

Eventually the summit rose into view. A couple were lunching by the trig point so I gave them an ‘I’m not a psycho, honest’ wave and smile combo and went over to the true summit for my Marks and Spence feta pasta. Tears may have welled up as I purveyed the amazing views, or it might have been my sweat drenched indie haircut flopping in my eyes, but I had done my first solo climb and, after far too long a gap, finally completed the Arrochar Alps.

Loch Lomond.jpg


The return trip was slower than I thought due again to the steepness and the muck (walking pole a lifesaver again) and finally interacted with some other humans literally as I stepped back onto the dam access road. I felt quite the expert as I conveyed my intimate knowledge of the Vorlichian terrain. Strode manfully back to the car for 2.45

I really enjoyed walking solo but I don’t think I could do it all the time. It’s great for recharging the mental batteries but there’s just something to be said for a shared experience. Like drinking alone – it’s fun enough but don’t go making a habit of it. Plus it’s really hard to take self-timer photos when it’s windy:

Thats me in the corner.jpg


Scott
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Re: Ben Vorlich - Back after a slight gap

Postby skuk007 » Sun Jun 12, 2011 8:31 pm

Nice report and pics Scott, glad you finally got back to bag this one. :)
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Re: Ben Vorlich - Back after a slight gap

Postby gammy leg walker » Sun Jun 12, 2011 8:36 pm

Very entertaining report,Scott (walker),I bet you have "No Regrets" about completing the Arrochar Alps after all these years
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Re: Ben Vorlich - Back after a slight gap

Postby pollyh33 » Sun Jun 12, 2011 8:43 pm

Brilliant report Scott. Very entertaining :lol:

Your photos with marked path and cairn are so helpful! Please please submit more reports like this! :D
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Re: Ben Vorlich - Back after a slight gap

Postby Caledonia84 » Mon Jun 13, 2011 2:53 pm

Great report :D , did this myself recently and really enjoyed it, those anotations on your pictures are great, did you use photoshop for that?
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Re: Ben Vorlich - Back after a slight gap

Postby Scott (Walker) » Tue Jun 14, 2011 9:52 am

Non, Gammy Leg Walker, Je regrette rien except my tendency to be pessimistic – when I saw all that cloud cover I thought ‘The sun ain’t gonna shine anymore…’ Photoshop’s a bit fancy for me so I opened the photos in Microsoft Paint and scribbled on top of them.
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Re: Ben Vorlich - Back after a slight gap

Postby Del246 » Tue Jun 14, 2011 2:56 pm

Well done and good report. At the same time I was across Loch Sloy on Ben Vane !!
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Re: Ben Vorlich - Back after a slight gap

Postby Jabber » Tue Jun 14, 2011 9:11 pm

Hi Scott

That was me and the missus you met coming off the bottom, just as we were about to ascend.(Had been waiting for 5 minutes whilst a whole trail of 4x4's went past.) We were kind of concerned because she only had cross terrain trainers on and if it was too boggy then it was going to be an event. We found it quite a hard slog up tbh, however we were glad because the views were tremendous at the top, along with a French fella we met at the top who was taking his six month daughter :shock: on a Munro bash. We were down in Good time for a pint and a glass of wine at the Inverbeg Inn and I still managed to get home in time for Buttons fantastic win in Canada! Here's some picks including that illusive cairn. Sure it's you bud..Green fleece blue hat and red rucksack .
Road block.JPG
Attachments
100_1184.JPG
True Summit.JPG
Look turn at the cairn!.JPG
Rob Ben Vorlich Trig Meg WTF.JPG
Very windy at the top...Meg our Westie looking confused at the muppet
No turn 10 yards from the cairn!.JPG
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