Walkhighlands

I had been a glorious few days and typically I had been stuck indoors. Sunday brought an opportunity to get out and Colin was free and keen to go and play in the snow

My criteria for this walk was
1. Relatively close to home
2. High enough to have lots of snow to play in
3. Something awesome.
We came up with Cruach Ardrain and Beinn Tulaichean – hills that we had both been up before but it was to be a different route for me

Fortunately Colin had *cough* volunteered *cough* to drive and despite the temperature being arctic (was well below freezing in Glasgow ) the roads had been well gritted. However, turning down the minor road to Inverlochlarig it became a little more interesting….

A quick photo down the glen


There were some nervous moments as we drove along a winding single-track road covered in ice….but thanks to some ballsy driving we made it to the car park at Inverlochlarig.

The temperature gauge on the car read -8.5


Jura and I leading the way


It was freezing…literally….so we quickly booted up before heading off along the road for a short distance. It was a stunning view back down Loch Doine & Loch Voil.


As we passed the farm we met a pal….


And another one….


Crossing over the Inverlochlarig Burn we could see that it was frozen


Looking upwards towards our target for later


We followed the path alongside the river for a few metres before meeting the track. Looking ahead we could see Cruach Ardrain


Looking back


After walking along the track for a few metres we struck off upwards through deep snow, heading directly for Beinn Tulaichean. There was no path and it was tough going across the terrain but we were warming up quickly

The sun was beginning to hit the tops of Stob Binnein and it became a bit of a running joke that it bore a startling resemblance to a certain female body part..


Looking back


The sun rising over the top of Stob Breac


Colin and Jura catching up


Now into the sunlight we had to stop to remove a few layers There were still a few clouds lingering over Loch Voil in the glen


There were some impressive looking icicles


Looking down the glen towards Ben Vorlich


More icicles!


The twins of Ben More & Stob Binnein


Loch Voil


We struggled our way upwards and it finally plateaued out giving us a frozen lochan to slide across


Beinn a’Chroin and towards the Arrochar Alps in the distance




Short person problems


Up and over another bump and we could see the final ascent to Beinn Tulaichean; the snow making the ridge look incredibly epic with the couple ahead of us near the summit.




Stob a’ Choin


We climbed the final few metres to the summit of Beinn Tulaichean and the views were incredible We were no longer sheltered from the wind so we had to hurriedly add some layers

Silly face!


Cruach Ardrain


A tit in front of two tits


Ben More & Stob Binnein


Zoomed towards Lui & pals




Lui


Ben Lomond


Ben Lui


We made our way down towards the bealach. The path was pretty icy and I managed to go flying with my usual dramatic flair….

Looking back to Beinn Tulaichean from the bealach


Professional at work


From here we set off up Cruach Ardrain. There was a clear path here but it was well hidden under the snow and often it was easier walking to avoid it.

Jura wondering what’s taking us so long


It was tough going in the deep snow


Cauliflour snow!


As we approached the summit of Cruach Ardrain we could see all the way back down the ridge towards Beinn Tulaichean


Cauliflour snow








Colin posing in front of Stuc a’ Chroin




From here it was a short descent and reascent to the true summit where the views were pretty decent.


I’d been up both of these hills before but it had been claggy on the tops and without a summit photo I wasn’t 100% sure if I’d been to the actual summit. No doubt about it today though


Such amazing views called for a summit photo in both directions




Towards Ben Lui


Looking towards Tyndrum


Beinn Tulaichean & Stob a’ Choin


It was very cold and we decided that the other top was actually a better viewpoint so made our way back towards it. It was also not a day for standing still


We met a couple of the most enthusiastic guys ever who we stopped to chat to – they turned out to be Mountain Rescue out enjoying the good weather and offered to get a photo of us both


Cruach Ardrain summit with Ben More & Stob Binnein behind


Towards Lui




Ben Vorlich & Stuc a’ Chroin


A wee video


It was really chilly and we had talked about waiting up for sunset but on reflection it was a terrible idea partly because it was so cold but also because coming down in the dark could be tricky… So we headed back down towards the bealach before picking up our route down.

Looking back up towards Cruach Ardrain


Towards Ben Lomond


The route down….


Cruach Ardrain


Pair of tits glinting in the sunshine


We wound around crags as we made our way downwards. Sets of footprints coming up were helpful at some points as we found ourselves at the tops of crags


Icicles with Cruach Ardrain behind






How big?!


It was tough going and although in many ways the snow made it easier, it also seemed to be a particularly sticky form of snow than stuck to my boots making it feel like I was wearing bricks on my feet


We finally reached the track which was a relief after a tricky descent From here it was an easy walk out….although the track was very icy and there were plenty of near misses from our tired legs

Nearly back we could see the evening light hitting Beinn Stacath


We had an easy walk back along to the car where it was a small matter of negotiating the icy road back to the A84. What a day

Loch Voil

You lucky people! That does look like a proper winter day, fabulous stuff.


(Phew. Managed to avoid making any further tit jokes.)

Nice report and pics - looked amazingly wintery! but extraordinarily, just a few days later all the snow - except on the highest hills - had gone and we were back to the usual grey rubbish It seems to be the pattern these days. The utter joy of striding across crisp hard neve is starting to look like a thing of the past

Mal Grey wrote:You lucky people! That does look like a proper winter day, fabulous stuff.


(Phew. Managed to avoid making any further tit jokes.)

It was just fabulous

And well done, you're a better man than we were

past my sell by date wrote:Nice report and pics - looked amazingly wintery! but extraordinarily, just a few days later all the snow - except on the highest hills - had gone and we were back to the usual grey rubbish It seems to be the pattern these days. The utter joy of striding across crisp hard neve is starting to look like a thing of the past

Thankyou - yes there's something really special about it isn't there! This winter seems to be lasting longer so here's hoping

Innuendo aside....that was a beautiful clear day for a mooch amongst those snow covered peaks.
Nice pics.

WHAT a day, in a great area, captured in some fantastic pics What more can one say???

Not at all envious of your proximity to all this....

My, what big icicles you have there Jaxter

onsen wrote:Innuendo aside....that was a beautiful clear day for a mooch amongst those snow covered peaks.
Nice pics.

Thankyou

Alteknacker wrote:WHAT a day, in a great area, captured in some fantastic pics What more can one say???

Not at all envious of your proximity to all this....

Thanks dude - it was worth the cold fingers for sure

ancancha wrote:My, what big icicles you have there Jaxter

I know right!!! Look at the size of them

Great photos! What a great day

We were up Beinn Tulaichean a couple of years ago, one New Years Day, similar underfoot.But the wind just about blew us over at the top and we were holding onto each other at times just to keep upright.That wee road was heck of an icy too, a hairy drive.

Anne C wrote:Great photos! What a great day

We were up Beinn Tulaichean a couple of years ago, one New Years Day, similar underfoot.But the wind just about blew us over at the top and we were holding onto each other at times just to keep upright.That wee road was heck of an icy too, a hairy drive.

Thanks!! Yes always adds an extra element to the day when you cannae stand....then you have to drive back doon that road

The Jaxter is back
Beautiful clear ,crisp images.
And some good old fashioned errrrmmm inuendo
Excellent ,uplifting stuff.

Andymac75 wrote:The Jaxter is back
Beautiful clear ,crisp images.
And some good old fashioned errrrmmm inuendo
Excellent ,uplifting stuff.

The Jaxter has never been away - I'm just a bit behind with reports
Gotta love a bit of innuendo

Jaxter wrote:

Andymac75 wrote:The Jaxter is back
Beautiful clear ,crisp images.
And some good old fashioned errrrmmm inuendo
Excellent ,uplifting stuff.

The Jaxter has never been away - I'm just a bit behind with reports
Gotta love a bit of innuendo

innuendo -I was always taught it was an italian suppository apologies for owering the tone

past my sell by date wrote:

Jaxter wrote:

Andymac75 wrote:The Jaxter is back
Beautiful clear ,crisp images.
And some good old fashioned errrrmmm inuendo
Excellent ,uplifting stuff.

The Jaxter has never been away - I'm just a bit behind with reports
Gotta love a bit of innuendo

innuendo -I was always taught it was an italian suppository apologies for owering the tone

To be fair I'm pretty sure the tone was already pretty low

What a brilliant day out that looks like. Your photos (as always) are stunning.
Very quick question from someone not experienced at all climbing in those sorts of conditions. Noticed from your photos you're not wearing crampons? Would you need them or not for a climb like this in really snowy conditions? Do you wear winter boots which are different from boots you'd wear other times of the year?
We were up on the Loch Turret route into Chonzie two weeks ago and it was snowy and icy on the tracks leading up to the wee lochan before the climb to the bealach. I had microspikes on but my brother was just in boots. We got to the deep snow and turned back. Noticed a couple walking up, pretty near the start, wearing proper crampons.