No Mean Fiddler - Boxing Day fun on Binnien an Fhidhlier

[weaselmaster]

Today started badly Had planned to head up Ben Vorlich & Stuc a'Chroin, which had been postponed from last weekend due to bad weather. Wasn't able to get away til 8am cos was on call - but hey, it looked a cracking day. Beautiful bits of pinky red sky as I headed up towards Drymen, but when I got to Strathblane the car started doing very odd things with its steering - couldn't see any ice on the road & as I'd clunked it into a pothole coming back from a walk on Saturday I was certain that the steering was going to pack in and leave me stranded up a tiny road at Lochearnhead (or take me off the road altogether) I decided to head for home. 10am. Still a beautiful morning and no way am I doing nothing hill-wise....so I take the boy's car and decide to head up to Arrochar for BaF, which I'd looked at recently from Beinn an Lochain & thought it looked a good walk.

Got to the little car park at Butterbridge about 11 and quick change into gear. Was still a reasonable day, but cloud coming down over the tops of the hills didn't bode very well for views.


P1000474 by 23weasels, on Flickr
The intended targets


P1000475 by 23weasels, on Flickr
Beinn Chorranach (i think)


P1000476 by 23weasels, on Flickr
Beinn an Lochain


Off across the road and over the stile, then thru the gate to the left,


P1000477 by 23weasels, on Flickr


P1000478 by 23weasels, on Flickr

heading up beside the wee stream toward the grassy gully. This is steep! At the foot of the gully I had to strip off to base layer, no gloves or hat, I was that warm


P1000480 by 23weasels, on Flickr



P1000481 by 23weasels, on Flickr


P1000482 by 23weasels, on Flickr
Misty blankets coming down


After ascending the gully I got a glimpse of the hill proper dusted in snow - and clag


P1000483 by 23weasels, on Flickr


P1000485 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Again a steep walk up, with a faint path until the snow line at about 600m - still roasted and with only base layer on at this point.


P1000486 by 23weasels, on Flickr

More steepness to reach the first peak of Stob Coire Creagach, heading around the crags then into the mist.


P1000487 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Kept to the North side of the ridge, snow still soft with occasional crunchy bits. There's another steep climb up to the next little peak before a further descent - this next section was a bit disorientating as visibility was so poor.


P1000489 by 23weasels, on Flickr


P1000490 by 23weasels, on Flickr


P1000492 by 23weasels, on Flickr


P1000495 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Finally began the last section up to BaF itself - quiet and still as the wind seemed to be coming from the south and I was shielded from it most of the time - every so often there was an acoustic opening which let a faint sound of the traffic below reach up, but mostly, just that eerie silence that you seem to get in snow and white mist. Got to the trig point/little shelter at 1.30 and had a bite to eat, plus a welcome warming cup of coffee.


P1000497 by 23weasels, on Flickr


P1000498 by 23weasels, on Flickr
Bit of beard freeze going on here!

Traced my footprints back the way I'd come - a couple of the steep sections were quite tricky and slippy and needed some care. The final part down the grassy gully was also slippy and was glad I still had my axe handy for balance. Back at the car for 3pm.

[Gavin99]

What a nice way to spend Boxing Day , I'm not jealous at all
It's a steep wee hill this , I was up there in similar conditions . As you say , a bit of care needed on a couple of sections . Hope the car recovers

[Fudgie]

I had thought about doing this hill today but after eating so much yesterday I would have struggled up the slope

Well done on staying out

[weaselmaster]

I had thought about doing this hill today but after eating so much yesterday I would have struggled up the slope

Well done on staying out

It would just have been too frustrating to stay put!
Just trying to think if I can get back up and do Beinn Donich tomorrow - quite enjoying these Corbett things

[bthom8465]

Lucky man managing 2 get out boxing day, great report & pix, I'm hoping 2 get at least 1 in b4 the hols r over!

[soulminer]

A grand wee day out Had thought of being out somewhere during the festivities, but laziness took hold and prevented it At least somebody was out there braving the elements !!
A quick question- your location is Greenock, but any connection to Johnstone in the past ??

[weaselmaster]

A grand wee day out Had thought of being out somewhere during the festivities, but laziness took hold and prevented it At least somebody was out there braving the elements !!
A quick question- your location is Greenock, but any connection to Johnstone in the past ??

No - none I'm aware of!

[PeteR]

Nice one weaslemaster I was on this hills a few weekends back, but never quite got round to posting a report. Now I have an excuse to unashamedly post a couple of pictures and let you see the views I had when I was up there. Got to say, although it was a steep little blighter I had a belter of a day up there

[Johnny Corbett]

Just trying to think if I can get back up and do Beinn Donich tomorrow - quite enjoying these Corbett things [/quote]A fine walk this one and agree about the Corbett thing, the thing i like is so many of them can be climbed in under 5 hours, great for short days out