Ben Vane - the wee nutter...
Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2014 11:36 pm
Having climbed Ben More and Stob Binnnein the previous day, I opted for what I thought foolishly would be an easier hill for the Sunday, something I could knock off on the way home.... what a stupid g*t am I.
As I've mentioned chatting elsewhere, it may be the smallest (?) Munro, but if Munros were people, Ben Vane would be the 5'2" wee nutter at the end of the bar who'd glass you as soon as look at you. Size isn't everything.....
The day was glorious November at it's mildest best, Loch Lomond and it's Ben very tranquil...
The walk in takes a little longer than I thought, but the objective for the day presents itself soon enough...
and there's much of "interest" along the way... sentinels of clean energy or an eyesore?
Just before the Coiregrogan Farm I was very lucky indeed... I saw an Eagle - a juvenile Golden I believe - take off from a tree by the path a couple of hundred yards ahead. There was no mistaking it, it was HUGE, about 6-7 foot wingspan, and lumbered slowly up into the air like a wheezy old Jumbo jet. White markings under the wing, and a lighter colour led me to think it was a juvenile Golden Eagle, can't think what else it could have been, bloody massive. No photo sorry, but plenty of good views to make up for that.
The path leaves the track after about 3km and heads off across bog and grass onto the south-east shoulder, very messy at first, but as height is gained rapidly the path dries out and becomes a comforting loose eroded stones and mud affair.
Looking back down the initial shoulder:
My presence on the hill caused a modicum of interest amongst the locals (Ben Vorlich in the background):
As I rose higher the views behind were ever better,
Loch Lomond....
Loch Sloy....
Lochs Arklet and Katrine...
The ascent steepens as the path starts to wind in between rocks and crags. The path is getting quite eroded, and much loose rock and mud abounds, and is easily dislodged.
There is a pretty full-on false summit, with some good scrambling opportunities, before the true summit is finally reached, with it's lochan and epic views...
Ben Narnain and Cobbler ...
Ben Ime ...
THE Ben .... (how many miles away?) ....
Ben Lomond ... again ...
It was hard to tear myself away from the summit, but time was pressing on, and a drive to Yorkshire awaited. The initial down-scrambling is a little tricky, but there are several options available. The bottom slide technique came into play on occasion. Back on the track to Inveruglas the pain in my thighs from over 7000 feet of steep ascent in 2 days (and lack of fitness!) eased a little, and the afternoon sunshine on autumn trees was truly wonderful...
So came to an end my 7th trip up North in the last 12 months, a mere 32 years after last being on a Munro. In the last 12 months I've managed 20, and nearly a 21st, (being beaten off Beinn Chabhair in March by wind, rain, snow, hunger and lack of form.... but had a laugh with londonwalker). The highlights of the year include wild camps in Fisherfield and the Black Mount, THAT view from A'Mhaigdean, and witnessing a proposal on Ben Vorlich ... but for a grand finale to 2014, I can't help feeling that Wee Shuggie Ben Vane, perfect autumn weather, with that Eagle and those views will be the perfect memory to end the year.
So, from someone who's rediscovered his ancestral DNA, and the call of the wild, thank you weather Gods, thank you all you WH geeks for support and encouragement (even when you're unaware you've given any!), and thank you Scotland. See you next year...
As I've mentioned chatting elsewhere, it may be the smallest (?) Munro, but if Munros were people, Ben Vane would be the 5'2" wee nutter at the end of the bar who'd glass you as soon as look at you. Size isn't everything.....
The day was glorious November at it's mildest best, Loch Lomond and it's Ben very tranquil...
The walk in takes a little longer than I thought, but the objective for the day presents itself soon enough...
and there's much of "interest" along the way... sentinels of clean energy or an eyesore?
Just before the Coiregrogan Farm I was very lucky indeed... I saw an Eagle - a juvenile Golden I believe - take off from a tree by the path a couple of hundred yards ahead. There was no mistaking it, it was HUGE, about 6-7 foot wingspan, and lumbered slowly up into the air like a wheezy old Jumbo jet. White markings under the wing, and a lighter colour led me to think it was a juvenile Golden Eagle, can't think what else it could have been, bloody massive. No photo sorry, but plenty of good views to make up for that.
The path leaves the track after about 3km and heads off across bog and grass onto the south-east shoulder, very messy at first, but as height is gained rapidly the path dries out and becomes a comforting loose eroded stones and mud affair.
Looking back down the initial shoulder:
My presence on the hill caused a modicum of interest amongst the locals (Ben Vorlich in the background):
As I rose higher the views behind were ever better,
Loch Lomond....
Loch Sloy....
Lochs Arklet and Katrine...
The ascent steepens as the path starts to wind in between rocks and crags. The path is getting quite eroded, and much loose rock and mud abounds, and is easily dislodged.
There is a pretty full-on false summit, with some good scrambling opportunities, before the true summit is finally reached, with it's lochan and epic views...
Ben Narnain and Cobbler ...
Ben Ime ...
THE Ben .... (how many miles away?) ....
Ben Lomond ... again ...
It was hard to tear myself away from the summit, but time was pressing on, and a drive to Yorkshire awaited. The initial down-scrambling is a little tricky, but there are several options available. The bottom slide technique came into play on occasion. Back on the track to Inveruglas the pain in my thighs from over 7000 feet of steep ascent in 2 days (and lack of fitness!) eased a little, and the afternoon sunshine on autumn trees was truly wonderful...
So came to an end my 7th trip up North in the last 12 months, a mere 32 years after last being on a Munro. In the last 12 months I've managed 20, and nearly a 21st, (being beaten off Beinn Chabhair in March by wind, rain, snow, hunger and lack of form.... but had a laugh with londonwalker). The highlights of the year include wild camps in Fisherfield and the Black Mount, THAT view from A'Mhaigdean, and witnessing a proposal on Ben Vorlich ... but for a grand finale to 2014, I can't help feeling that Wee Shuggie Ben Vane, perfect autumn weather, with that Eagle and those views will be the perfect memory to end the year.
So, from someone who's rediscovered his ancestral DNA, and the call of the wild, thank you weather Gods, thank you all you WH geeks for support and encouragement (even when you're unaware you've given any!), and thank you Scotland. See you next year...