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Ben Lomond

PostPosted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 12:19 am
by canisp

Ben Lomond, Munro, 974 metres
OS Map 56, Grid Ref 367028
Start Grid Ref 359986
Distance walked 11 km’s
Height Gain 960 metres
5 January 2009

It was pitch black as i left the car at about 6:30am and headed up through the forest under torchlight, being careful to avoid the many icy patches.

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Through the forest by headtorch

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Looking across Loch Lomond to Inverbeg

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At dawn, looking south with Loch Lomond just visible

Once out of the forest i kept stopping to photograph Loch Lomond which looked stunning in the dawn light. Ben Lomond on the other hand was shrouded in cloud :(

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Loch Lomond

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Loch Lomond

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Loch Lomond

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Sunrise

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Looking to Ben Lomond

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Path just below the ridge

I followed the path up into the cloud and then on till i reached the summit. The cloud kept coming and going but never fully cleared, other mountain summits were also covered in cloud so no distant views were had :( On the other hand brocken spectres were seen every few minutes :D

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Minor top before the summit

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Brocken Spectre

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Loch Lomond

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Beinn Lomond’s triangulation pillar

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Beinn Lomond’s triangulation pillar

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Brocken Spectre

Near the summit i came across the stone object below which seemed to have a number 3 carved on the top of it.

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Ben Vorlich just left of centre

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Looking south east along the summit ridge

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Big cloud

I was in two minds whether to go for the Graham, Cruinn a’ Bheinn, but with the cloud persisting and a strong breeze i had the gut feeling that it would be better to leave it for another day, so instead decided to have a slow stroll back and try to photograph the sunset.

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Looking back to the summit

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Crags on the north side of Beinn Lomonds summit ridge

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Crags on the north side of Beinn Lomonds summit ridge

As i was heading back along the summit ridge i heard the noise of an engine getting closer and closer, but because of the cloud could not see anything. The noise became ear shattering and a helicopter emerged out of the cloud a few 10’s of metres away.

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Crags on the north side of Beinn Lomonds summit ridge

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Looking northwest back along to the summit

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Looking northwest back along to the summit

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Crags on the north side of Beinn Lomonds summit ridge

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Brocken Spectre

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Loch Lomond

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A look back at Ben Lomond

I sat near the path at about the 500 metre mark for over 1 hour watching as the sun set over Beinn Dubh, then sat a while longer watching the town lights appear at the south end of Loch Lomond. The moon was well up and past first quarter so the head torch was not needed till i entered the forest, after which a short walk saw me back at the car about 7:00pm.

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Loch Lomond at dusk

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Sun setting over Beinn Dubh

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Loch Lomond

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Loch Lomond

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Lights across Loch Lomond at Inverbeg

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Loch Lomond. Click on the above photo for a bigger photo

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Lights across Loch Lomond at Inverbeg

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Lights south of Loch Lomond

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Lights across Loch Lomond at Inverbeg

Re: Ben Lomond

PostPosted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 4:32 am
by mountain coward
Blimey! it was dark when you set off wasn't it! Great photos, especially the sunrise ones (I have to admit to never seeing sunrise when I'm out, just sunset).

Re: Ben Lomond

PostPosted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 9:51 am
by maddjock
v nice... looks like a great day you had...
still havent seen a brocken spectre myself yet...(prob cause im more of a fair weather walker tho..)

Re: Ben Lomond

PostPosted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 6:04 pm
by Paul Webster
Great report and really stunning photos. I especially love the 'Big Cloud' shot with the lone walker - surely a classic 8)