Stob Coire an Lochain (A Munro top of Stob Binnein)
Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 2:18 amStob Coire an Lochain 1068 metres (A Munro top of Stob Binnein)
OS Map 51, Grid Ref 438221
Start Grid Ref 445185
Distance walked 8 km’s
Height Gain 950 metres
Date of walk 3 December 2008
Apologies in advance for my shadow in some of the photo’s.
I left the car at 7:45am on a cold, clear winter’s morning
my intention to hike up Stob Binnein. There was no chance of warming up the leg muscles today, it was straight out of the car park, over a stile and then up and up and up.
A cold, crisp and clear winter’s morning
Looking to the Corbett Stob a’Choin
Early morning sun on Beinn Tulaichean
Looking south to the Graham Stob Breac
Sun on the east side of Stob a’Choin
Sunlit Beinn Tulaichean
In a few minutes i reached the snowline which made scrambling up the steep slopes very hard work
. Once through the crags the angle eased and i‘d hoped the going would get easier, but the snow got deeper the going got harder and progress was painfully slow .
Looking east to Ben Vorlich
Snow and blue skies
Beinn Tulaichean
Looking east to Ben Vorlich and Stuc a’Chroin
Stob a’Choin
Icicles with Stob a’Choin in the background
Icicles with Stob a’Choin in the background
Looking across Loch Voil to Ben Vorlich, Stuc a’Chroin
Before setting out i’d decided my turnaround time was to be no later than 2:00pm, and in the morning as i struggled up the steep slopes my hopes of getting to Stob Binnein were rapidly diminishing
, in fact on the struggle up to the minor top at 444206 i was beginning to think i wouldn’t even make Stob Coire an Lochain .
Nearing a minor top at 444206, and a first view of Stob Coire an Lochain
From 444206 looking to Ben Vorlich and Stuc a’Chroin
Cruach Ardrain and Stob Garbh
Looking along Na Staidhrichean to Stob Coire an Lochain
Crags on the ridge
After a short rest on this top i carried on, the path clear of snow at times helped a little, but all to soon i was back in soft knee deep snow. Around 12:30pm after what seemed an eternity and with aching legs i reached the top of Stob Coire an Lochain
.
Looking up to Stob Coire an Lochain
Knee deep snow making for very hard going
Snow and blue skies
First view of Stob Binnein
Stob Binnein with Stob Coire an Lochain on the right
Seeing conditions were superb
pin sharp to the horizon in most directions except in the west where cloud was moving in. Earlier because of the snow conditions underfoot i’d revised my turnaround time to 1:00pm, now after food, drink, a rest, and taking photo’s it was nearly 1:00pm.
Stob Binnein
Stob Binnein with Ben More behind
Stob Binnein was just less than 1km away and with 120 metres of height to gain would normally take me about 20 to 25 minutes, but if there was more snow to battle through it could take me an hour or more, and if i reached the summit i’d have to leave almost immediately and so decided against it, besides i was quite happy where i was.
Stob Binnein with Ben More behind
Stob Binnein with Ben More behind
The views from Stob Coire an Lochain were superb and i felt no disappointment at not going for Stob Binnein. About 1:00pm i started back and following my own footprints most of the way i reached the car about 3:30pm.
Patterns in the snow
Tracks in the snow
Ben Lomond in the distance and cloud moving in
Looking to the minor top at 444206
Loch Doine and Loch Voil
Looking south to the Graham Stob Breac
Loch Doine and Loch Voil
Stob Breac looking bleak
Stob Breac and nearly down
In conclusion, a much harder day than i’d expected but a very enjoyable one.
