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Warning Please note that hillwalking when there is snow lying requires an ice-axe, crampons and the knowledge, experience and skill to use them correctly. Summer routes may not be viable or appropriate in winter. See winter information on our skills and safety pages for more information.

Ben Vorlich

Ben Vorlich


Postby davidsda » Wed Dec 02, 2009 12:18 pm

Route description: Ben Vorlich via Loch Sloy

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

Date walked: 29/11/2009

Time taken: 6 hours

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I am a novice hill walker and this was my first attempt at Ben Vorlich and first snow on Ben Vorlich or any hill for that matter, so this is a novice eyes view of this hill, would appreciate the feedback on what I done right or wrong?!
Arrived Inveruglas visitor center at 8am and walked in taking about one hour to do so, it was a fine crisp morning and I was all alone with the sheep - more on that later! Read the route plan on this website and eventually found the small cairn of stones at the side of the road, started up and after a few meters my right leg dissapeared up to mid shin into a bog - I did read it was a wet walk to begin with but this was just nonsense, lucky I had some good gaitors on and they saved my foot getting a good soaking. Tried several ways around it and all were very wet - returned to road and had a good look at the hill side. walked on down a hundred meters or so until the next stream where some manmade culverts are, looked up and decided that I would give it a go until I met with the path further up. So off I went, it was all grass/heather and not too steep and taking my time it was an enjoyable assent, I spotted a small sadle and aimed for that and hey presto popped up exactly on the path. This is where I met my new friend - Phil the sheep, he was only 10 feet away and just stood and look at me - we exchanged phone numbers and arranged to go for a curry!!!!. Turned left and followed the path, it was not long until it started to get frosty with frozen puddles etc... all of a sudden you climb out of a sheltered path into a very cold strong wind - again all new to me, I instantly felt the cold bite me and freeze my hands, I was wearing base layer, micro fleece and windstopper fleece on top, but still felt the cold, there was a large boulder so hid behind it and assessed what I should do. Decided to put on Gortex over jacket, wooly hat and gloves, had a drink and a cereal bar and set off again.
It was not long before the ground was covered with snow and ice, and I had to be careful with my footing, eventually the snow and ice became very cautionary and I stopped, it was getting hard to walk without slipping - was not a problem as I had nowhere to slip too except taking a fall and getting injured and this is what I was concerned about. I did get advice on what to do by an experienced climber from my workplace but that does not negate the requirement for a winter skills course etc.. he advised looking just of path for soft snow and cut my steps as I went along, I did this and found it safe a easy to make progress. I probably took a lot of time but eventually I reached the cairn but it was windy on the open ground, made a quick trip to the large stone cairn a few hundred meters away. By this time a few people had caught up with me and they did not have crampons on either, I asked and they said it was not necessary due to easy progress in the soft snow??? took a few pictures spent about 15 minutes just looking - it was very nice indeed. The wind suddenly picked up and doubled in strength where it was actually pushing me - time to head back to that big rock for lunch. I made my way off the sumitt and found the wind dissapear almost straight away but continued down to below the big rock. Stripped off back to sensible clothing, had a bite to eat while watching the world go by. Rather than go down the way I came up I followed the well worn path which was ok until bog time started, it was very wet and bogey and I would not have enjoyed walking up through this, so I kind of justified to myself the correct decision to assend further down the road - was it the correct decision?
Painless decent and took about 90 minutes, then another hour back to the car park where a warm bowl of soup at the visitor center was very much enjoyed.
For my first winter walk i think I did ok and was happy with the decisions I took, if it was much worst at the top with the amount of ice I would have turned back as even a small slip can cause big injuried. I had a very cautious head on that day and took care and attention to what and where I was going.

Please feedback any comments if I was a muppet or not.
IMG_0469.JPG
Winter wonderland with Loch Lomond behind
IMG_0439.JPG
New best friend
Attachments
IMG_0478.JPG
View NW ish I think - from top.
IMG_0484.JPG
On top of Ben Vorlich with Ben Lomond in the background
IMG_0474.JPG
on the top of Ben Vorlich
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Re: Ben Vorlich

Postby Glenrothes » Wed Dec 02, 2009 2:31 pm

Muppet - why???

Sounds like you did well. OK, you maybe should have had crampons and an ice axe, but hey, we have all been there on our 'first' winter walk and as long as you learned from the conditions and your experiences, you will be just fine.

Try and do a winter skills course at Glenmore Lodge or at Plas y Brenin in Wales as you will feel so much more confident for doing so :thumbup:
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Re: Ben Vorlich

Postby monarchming » Wed Dec 02, 2009 3:09 pm

Hey David and I think you done well.You were always aware of the weather and conditions underfoot,you had plenty of warm clothing and you had a safe,enjoyable day! :D As Glenrothes said there are winter skills courses or get out with experienced people who know how to handle winter conditions.I learned that way and my mates taught me how to walk in crampons,cutting steps,ice axe arrest etc.A good report as well! :thumbup:
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Re: Ben Vorlich

Postby Caberfeidh » Wed Dec 02, 2009 3:56 pm

Excellent photos, espesh. on top of Ben Vorlich with the sun behind you. Good stuff, and well done on getting out and into it. Winter skills courses are expensive and brief, joining a club would get you in contact with more experienced climbers/walkers who can give you hints, tips, help and advice on a regular basis, also maybe lend you gear or sell you second hand stuff. A lot of clubs have websites so try googling for clubs in your area.
:D Shiver me timbers, the spirit of Nelson lives on! Oh, and get a helmet, those rocks are hard if you slip and get one on the noggin.
excellent for downhill snowploughing.gif
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Re: Ben Vorlich

Postby davidsda » Thu Dec 03, 2009 9:29 am

Thanks everyone, will investigate winter courses and look into local clubs. Helment sounds like a good idea and I do have a helmet I used when skiing, it is one of the light weight ones but would protect from a fall etc - need to look that one out.
Can anyone suggest a Monroe or Corbett which would allow a walk in just like Ben Vorich, Snow part not to steep or would cause issues with dangerous slips or slides. If they all require crampons then I am happy to pospone the higher walks until I learn how to use etc...
Does anyboy know of clubs in the east end of Glasgow Uddingston/Hamilton area?

Thanks again for the advice.

regards

David.
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Re: Ben Vorlich

Postby Milesy » Thu Dec 03, 2009 10:53 am

There is the Monklands Ramblers based out of Coatbridge which is just a few miles from you, but I am sure there might be others.
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Re: Ben Vorlich

Postby Glenrothes » Thu Dec 03, 2009 2:23 pm

Caberfeidh wrote::D Shiver me timbers, the spirit of Nelson lives on! Oh, and get a helmet, those rocks are hard if you slip and get one on the noggin.


Have I missed something here?? Unless the OP is planning on climbing/scrambling whilst on the hill, forget the helmet for a walk in the snow (never seen anyone else wearing one) - poor guy will look a right divvy
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Re: Ben Vorlich

Postby Caberfeidh » Thu Dec 03, 2009 3:44 pm

Glenrothes wrote:
Caberfeidh wrote::D Shiver me timbers, the spirit of Nelson lives on! Oh, and get a helmet, those rocks are hard if you slip and get one on the noggin.


Have I missed something here?? Unless the OP is planning on climbing/scrambling whilst on the hill, forget the helmet for a walk in the snow (never seen anyone else wearing one) - poor guy will look a right divvy


Winter walking or climbing is still winter mountaineering. Of course, you must be right. If you fall and smack your head off a rock or ice, it wont hurt coz you're only "walking".
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Re: Ben Vorlich

Postby davidsda » Thu Dec 03, 2009 4:08 pm

Hi Guys

Thanks for the advise and I will take onboard whether or not to wear a helment. When I learned to ski I wore a helment and never went without it and it did save me on a few occasions, the better the skier the faster and steeper were my falls, so I learned to keep the helmet on. As for walking, due to my inexperience I will probably take the helment along and decide if I feel safe not wearing it - depending on where I go etc... so lets not get into discussion on looking like a plonker as i will wear it or not as I see fit, I have a high degree of self preservation.
Again thanks to everyone for their input - it was all valuable.

Now whats another good hill near Glasgow to get winter walk number 2 under my belt? Summer walks have been, cobbler, vane, ime, narnairn, tinto, worth re-doing in the snow?
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Re: Ben Vorlich

Postby Milesy » Thu Dec 03, 2009 4:11 pm

You could try Doune Hill?
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Re: Ben Vorlich

Postby HighlandSC » Thu Dec 03, 2009 5:07 pm

Well done David, like you I'm a novice, and still honing navigation skills, etc. Personally I wouldn't have went into the snow just yet - not least because I have no winter skills, axe, or crampons, but the thought of micro-navigation in a white out scares me. If you could see next to nothing do you think you would have been okay navigating?
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Re: Ben Vorlich

Postby Glenrothes » Thu Dec 03, 2009 5:38 pm

Caberfeidh wrote:
Glenrothes wrote:
Caberfeidh wrote::D Shiver me timbers, the spirit of Nelson lives on! Oh, and get a helmet, those rocks are hard if you slip and get one on the noggin.


Have I missed something here?? Unless the OP is planning on climbing/scrambling whilst on the hill, forget the helmet for a walk in the snow (never seen anyone else wearing one) - poor guy will look a right divvy


Winter walking or climbing is still winter mountaineering. Of course, you must be right. If you fall and smack your head off a rock or ice, it wont hurt coz you're only "walking".


I may not be 'walking' in the same places as you, but seriously, I have yet to see anyone in Cumbria/Scotland/Wales who is wearing a helmet whilst 'walking' in winter - if they are attempting a scramble on a ridge or climbing in a gully or on a crag, then that would be dfferent.

After all, unless your very unlucky, nothing is going to fall from the sky unless your participating in one of the above, or your just bloody unlucky - or maybe it's the norm for you living a life dodging missiles from the 'crows nest' :lol:
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Re: Ben Vorlich

Postby davidsda » Fri Dec 04, 2009 9:33 am

Re- navigation, I found Ben Vorlich a straight up and down type hill, it was a perfect clear day with good weather report, the downward trek I use the very well worn path and it would be extremely hard to miss it, as even if you did it was just one big easy slope to come down until you hit the access road, then very easy walk out to the car park. I do have a good compass and a general bearing would be fine.
To be honest it would have been very difficult to get lost on the way down, even if you could only see a few feet.
I have been picking hills with simple access and well worn routes which do not need a high degree of navigation, just common sense and an ability to be smart and make a good decision on whether to proceed or not, I will not go where I cant see on the way up, but if the weather does turn bad then I turnaround as well - I will turn back as like you say I have limited map reading and navigation skills.

Will look into Doune Hill today/tonight and see what the weather is like for Sunday if I am allowed out to play - xmas shoppingitis might infect me if my wife has anything to say about it.!

Again thanks for the help etc..
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Re: Ben Vorlich

Postby Milesy » Fri Dec 04, 2009 11:40 am

You would be suprised at the number of hills which look a doddle navigation wise and you can end up coming off the wrong way in really bad weather - which can come up and skelp you in the arse without you even seeing it lol - Done it myself. As you said the best tool you can have is common sense. But if you can start learning some nav it might save you in the future.

I suggest the book "Mountain Navigation" by Peter Cliff. It is a great little book and only costs a few quid 8)
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Re: Ben Vorlich

Postby HighlandSC » Fri Dec 04, 2009 3:07 pm

Milesy wrote:I suggest the book "Mountain Navigation" by Peter Cliff. It is a great little book and only costs a few quid 8)


Agree with that. I did a navigation course with a private guide and he recommended that as the best book to learn. Comprehensive enough to detail all the major aspects of navigation without the surrounding waffle a lot of books have.

I've read it a few times now and am putting the skills learned and read about to practive each time I go out. I'm quite confident now but by no means highly skilled yet.
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