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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.
Cobbler by Moon light
Cobbler by Moon light
by mgmt! » Wed Feb 04, 2015 9:03 pm
Route description: The Cobbler, Arrochar
Corbetts included on this walk: The Cobbler
Date walked: 03/02/2015
Time taken: 5 hours
10 people think this report is great. Register or Login free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).Ive always wanted to do some winter climbing by moon light. this week there was a full moon and a weather window that could not be missed. being mid week it had to be some where local so i choose the cobbler. a quick post on my climbing club website and i was soon joined by 4 other club members who wanted to join me,. Billy, Fraser, Peter and Jim. i originally wanted to do central gully, but i hadnt done this before and with it being a grade 2/3 and some recent snow fall me Billy and Fraser opted for chalkstone gully followed by great gully as we wanted something without a rope. Peter and Jim opted for south east ridge and arete which is grade 3 so they had ropes and gear with them.
We set of from the car park at 6.15pm and headed up the icy path, the full moon was out and there was no need for head torches. once out the forest the views were superb, the moon was lighting up everything and it was an unusuall experience heading up for a climb at this time. we split with Peter and Jim just after the dam, wished them luck and we headed up past the narnain boulders. ive not really got the words to describe the beauty of the views all around, all i can say is that what was to come ahead was one of my best times out on the hills. i wish i had a nice camera to capture what i was experiencing, but i didnt, i got a few shots from loads that i took but most where just blurred images.
once past the boulders we cut of left up the climbers path, before the last little rise we traverssed right toward the start of chalkstone gully.
snow was quite soft and the turf wasnt as frozen as i thought it would be, be we were soon in the gully and heading upwards.
we were soon at the chalkstone,
there was some good neve when needed at the step up and onto the wall above the chalkstone. the 3 of us were enjoying this strange but absorbing night. once over the little wall we were out of the gully.
once out of the gully we walked round and up towards great gully. much the same as before with only one little move we were soon at the top of the gully and at the north summit.
the views were fantastic, you could see for miles and seeing the light in the citys and town just topped everything off.
we then walked over to the summit.
we sat and lapped up the moment, one of my best moments in the outdoors.
we sat and had cuppa and a snack, we were hoping to meet the Peter and Jim, but headed down after our stop. we could see their head torches on the ridge so we headed down to the car park. im really sorry that my pictures and words don't do this trip the justice it deserves, all i would say is if you get the chance to go out on a similar night the don't miss it.
ps, got a txt at 2 am from the boys saying they were safely of the mountain.
We set of from the car park at 6.15pm and headed up the icy path, the full moon was out and there was no need for head torches. once out the forest the views were superb, the moon was lighting up everything and it was an unusuall experience heading up for a climb at this time. we split with Peter and Jim just after the dam, wished them luck and we headed up past the narnain boulders. ive not really got the words to describe the beauty of the views all around, all i can say is that what was to come ahead was one of my best times out on the hills. i wish i had a nice camera to capture what i was experiencing, but i didnt, i got a few shots from loads that i took but most where just blurred images.
once past the boulders we cut of left up the climbers path, before the last little rise we traverssed right toward the start of chalkstone gully.
snow was quite soft and the turf wasnt as frozen as i thought it would be, be we were soon in the gully and heading upwards.
we were soon at the chalkstone,
there was some good neve when needed at the step up and onto the wall above the chalkstone. the 3 of us were enjoying this strange but absorbing night. once over the little wall we were out of the gully.
once out of the gully we walked round and up towards great gully. much the same as before with only one little move we were soon at the top of the gully and at the north summit.
the views were fantastic, you could see for miles and seeing the light in the citys and town just topped everything off.
we then walked over to the summit.
we sat and lapped up the moment, one of my best moments in the outdoors.
we sat and had cuppa and a snack, we were hoping to meet the Peter and Jim, but headed down after our stop. we could see their head torches on the ridge so we headed down to the car park. im really sorry that my pictures and words don't do this trip the justice it deserves, all i would say is if you get the chance to go out on a similar night the don't miss it.
ps, got a txt at 2 am from the boys saying they were safely of the mountain.
- mgmt!
- Mountaineer
- Posts: 540
- Joined: Oct 18, 2010
Re: Cobbler by Moon light
by Collaciotach » Wed Feb 04, 2015 11:29 pm
Aye need to do this one day .... great stuff 

Re: Cobbler by Moon light
by onsen » Thu Feb 05, 2015 9:16 am
Mesmerising moonscape....a special moment indeed.
-
onsen - Munro compleatist
- Posts: 289
- Joined: Oct 10, 2012
- Location: The Great Southern Land, Australia
Re: Cobbler by Moon light
by weaselmaster » Thu Feb 05, 2015 9:47 am
That looks beautiful.
I've never done a moonlight in winter walk so far - I'm tempted now!
I've never done a moonlight in winter walk so far - I'm tempted now!
Re: Cobbler by Moon light
by basscadet » Thu Feb 05, 2015 9:57 am
Looks like a brilliant evening you had 
I love being out in the snow at night.. although for us its usually walking up to a camp spot on a Friday night, there is just something special about it

I love being out in the snow at night.. although for us its usually walking up to a camp spot on a Friday night, there is just something special about it

Re: Cobbler by Moon light
by BoyVertiginous » Thu Feb 05, 2015 2:51 pm
Excellent stuff, thanks for sharing.
Re: Cobbler by Moon light
by gman » Thu Feb 05, 2015 6:58 pm
Great stuff, did the same route today in the sun - cheers for breaking trail!
Re: Cobbler by Moon light
by Mountainlove » Wed Feb 18, 2015 3:45 pm
And there is me thinking that a late afternoon was a late start up a mountain!
Great pictures in my opinion and what a great adventure!!


Great pictures in my opinion and what a great adventure!!
Re: Cobbler by Moon light
by Sarah86 » Thu Feb 19, 2015 1:38 pm
Excellent, completely different walk report of the cobbler 

Re: Cobbler by Moon light
by mgmt! » Fri Feb 27, 2015 4:48 pm
no , not a blatant attempt to plug my own trip report
. do people actually do that ?????
the next full moon is next thursday 5th march, i will be keeping an eye on the weather, here is hoping for some clear skies


the next full moon is next thursday 5th march, i will be keeping an eye on the weather, here is hoping for some clear skies
- mgmt!
- Mountaineer
- Posts: 540
- Joined: Oct 18, 2010
Re: Cobbler by Moon light
by Graeme D » Sat Feb 28, 2015 11:31 am
I feel an idea beginning to formulate in my mind! 

Re: Cobbler by Moon light
by Ian Johnston » Sun Mar 01, 2015 1:38 pm
Brilliant - always worth getting out on a clear night with sonw on the hills!
Kind Regards
Ian
Kind Regards
Ian
Re: Cobbler by Moon light
by spiderwebb » Mon Mar 02, 2015 1:42 pm
Wow, that's superb, love the pics of the distant city lights, fantastic....5th of March you say hmmm
I'm assuming you used some sort of tripod for the shots ?

I'm assuming you used some sort of tripod for the shots ?
Re: Cobbler by Moon light
by mgmt! » Mon Mar 02, 2015 11:17 pm
spiderwebb wrote:Wow, that's superb, love the pics of the distant city lights, fantastic....5th of March you say hmmm![]()
I'm assuming you used some sort of tripod for the shots ?
thanks spiderwebb, no tripod im afraid, just jammed the camera in the snow and thankfully a few came out. tripod is on the "need to get" list.
- mgmt!
- Mountaineer
- Posts: 540
- Joined: Oct 18, 2010
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