Ben Lomond
Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 12:19 am
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.
Through the forest by headtorch
Looking across Loch Lomond to Inverbeg
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
Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond
Sunrise
Looking to Ben Lomond
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
Minor top before the summit
Brocken Spectre
Loch Lomond
Beinn Lomond’s triangulation pillar
Beinn Lomond’s triangulation pillar
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.
Ben Vorlich just left of centre
Looking south east along the summit ridge
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.
Looking back to the summit
Crags on the north side of Beinn Lomonds summit ridge
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.
Crags on the north side of Beinn Lomonds summit ridge
Looking northwest back along to the summit
Looking northwest back along to the summit
Crags on the north side of Beinn Lomonds summit ridge
Brocken Spectre
Loch Lomond
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.
Loch Lomond at dusk
Sun setting over Beinn Dubh
Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond
Lights across Loch Lomond at Inverbeg
Loch Lomond. Click on the above photo for a bigger photo
Lights across Loch Lomond at Inverbeg
Lights south of Loch Lomond
Lights across Loch Lomond at Inverbeg