free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
Having done Ben Lomond for the first time last month using the tourist route, I decided to go up Ptarmigan ridge route this time. Mr. google was not very helpful in finding me a detailed report about this route, I decided to go up and then do a report myself. Hopefully this will help people who are interested in going up Ben Lomond via Ptarmigan.
Left Rowardennan Tourist Information Centre, I turned immediate left on to a dirt track.
10 minutes into the walk, you will see the sign
Well, follow the sign for another 2 to 3 minutes, you should see this,
This photo was taken after I got back, since I was so lost trying to follow someone's recommendation of 'going from the back of the youth hostel'...well, 20 minutes was wasted doing that.
There's some very kind person put a sign up beside the purple board, which I didn't see until I got back round second time
If you see the sign above, there's nothing more to say, it's pretty much straightforward, do what the sign says and follow the path.
Waterfall not far from the start of the walk
And this is a typical image of the lower path
When I started, it was cool and quite hazy near the ground, so not much of a view. It is a shame, since I heard it's a great view going up this way.
And then the path continues...
The path is a steady, somewhere steep way up, not many places for flat walk, so be prepared for sore legs if you are not used to it.
As I went up, the mist has settling in, since I was on my own(haven't met anyone yet), and still not much a map reader, I started to think about alternatives...and then there came Frank. Well, after I introduced myself and asked if I could walk along with him, he was very kindly said yes.
He was up Ben Lomond twice last week, and a lot fitter than me, so I had to say to him to leave me behind, but by this time, the sun was shining. At least now I have my shadows as my companion.
An hour and bit into the walk, I saw the summit.
And as it got closer, it didn't diminish in size
I started to like false summits, at least you get there quick...but this walk towards the summit did drag a bit. Well, I could see it, it's there, it's just not getting any closer.
Some pretty rock pool on the way
Well, after another half an hour, the sun's really shining, feels like Jesus should come out of that.
The last bit of the climb was easy scrambling, I was happy that I was going up instead of coming down.
When you are in the most undignified position - aka, all fours, there's always someone watching
There you go, the top. It was an anti climax somehow, aren't all things? Happy I was at the top though. The wind picked up fairly strongly, had to rescue my hat a couple of times.
I didn't stay up at the top for long, spoke to a couple of hill walkers, and came down using the tourist route.
On the way back
If you are coming up the tourist route, that's what you should see
Nearly back down, at this point, the mist has gone, both Ptarmigan and Ben Lomond is easy to see.
Had my lunch on the beach near the car park, put my tired feet into cool water, my day was complete!
