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Ben Vorlich (Lomond) - a friend's final Munro

Ben Vorlich (Lomond) - a friend's final Munro


Postby HalfManHalfTitanium » Fri Jun 01, 2018 12:36 pm

Route description: Ben Vorlich via Loch Sloy

Munros included on this walk: Ben Vorlich (Loch Lomond)

Date walked: 26/05/2018

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Although this route is tabbed as from Loch Sloy, in fact we went up by the delightful path from Ardlui.


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I took a lot of photos, but most of them are of friends as there were a large group of us on the walk - and partaking in celebratory champagne and whisky at the summit!
But these photos are those that show the scenery rather than the people.

All the same, it was a wonderful occasion in perfect May weather.

I set off from Fort William, passing idyllic scenes at Ballachulish.

Image. by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

Image. by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

We all met at the Drover's Inn and then drove in convoy the short distance to Ardlui, finally starting the walk around 1pm.

The path goes under the railway and then meanders gently uphill, with views of what looks like the summit (but isn't) ahead.

Image. by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

The path steepened and passed the patch of snow visible in the above photo, after which views really opened out. Ben Lui and its neighbours are the prominent hills.

Image. by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

From there, it is a very pleasant wander up a broad ridge to the succession of summits. Beinn a'Chreachain is the highest hill visible on the left skyline (very faint) and of course Ben More and Stob Binnein dominate the right skyline.

Image. by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

Narnain, Vane and Ime dominate the view southwest. The white thing in the bottom right isn't a patch of snow: it is a rather empty Loch Sloy.

Image. by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

Along the ridge, with Narnain, the Cobbler and Vane in the background.

Image. by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

And a bit further along... nearly there...

Image. by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

I took lots of summit shots of our happy party, but haven't included them. This was my friend's moment.

We varied our route on the way down to look at the lochan.

Image. by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

Ben Lomond beyond the Little Hills.

Image. by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

A big gully hidden on the hillside.

Image. by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

Afternoon light, looking north.

Image. by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

Ben Lui and Ben Oss.

ImageIMG_5015 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

Unidentified flower!

ImageIMG_5018 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

Evening light on the descent.

Image. by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

Image. by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

Image. by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
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HalfManHalfTitanium
Mountain Walker
 
Posts: 3399
Munros:119   Corbetts:28
Fionas:6   Donalds:6
Hewitts:152
Wainwrights:103   
Joined: Mar 11, 2015

Re: Ben Vorlich (Lomond) - a friend's final Munro

Postby The English Alpinist » Sun Jan 22, 2023 10:17 pm

Beautiful photos Tim, and thanks for the avalanche info! What a superb site that is. I ran a check and I see that there was no avalanches on Buachaille this month, though the corrie is an obvious hotspot historically. Meall a' Bhuiridh had several on the east face this month, but you were well clear of those! I'm surprised to learn that 90% of folk trigger their own avalanches. I knew this could happen, especially on a small scale but 90% is very sobering, and I'm happier than ever I chose not to perservere all the way up the corrie head otherwise I might have created a little red dot where there was none!
I see you went down by the Little Hills on Ben Vorlich - it does look a beautiful route, but I'm glad I avoided it on my snow and cloud mission, the confusion could have been dire I think. I look forward to your report of Bhuiridh.
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The English Alpinist
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Location: Lancashire England.

Re: Ben Vorlich (Lomond) - a friend's final Munro

Postby HalfManHalfTitanium » Mon Jan 23, 2023 1:50 pm

Thanks! Yes Vorlich is a fine hill from that direction. I agree that our descent route was a quite meandering exploration of the lochan and the Little Hills area that was great on a long May evening, less so in winter!

Will hopefully post up my Meall a’Bhuiridh TR soon, plus Ben Ledi and an underrated Fiona, Sgiath a’Chaise, which I did on the other days of my weekend at Stirling.

Also looking forward to your next TRs!

Tim
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HalfManHalfTitanium
Mountain Walker
 
Posts: 3399
Munros:119   Corbetts:28
Fionas:6   Donalds:6
Hewitts:152
Wainwrights:103   
Joined: Mar 11, 2015

Re: Ben Vorlich (Lomond) - a friend's final Munro

Postby The English Alpinist » Mon Jan 23, 2023 5:11 pm

HalfManHalfTitanium wrote:Will hopefully post up my Meall a’Bhuiridh TR soon, plus Ben Ledi and an underrated Fiona, Sgiath a’Chaise, which I did on the other days of my weekend at Stirling.
Tim

Sgiath a' Chaise - that's a name that brings back memories! I did it last summer with the 'other' Vorlich. It is underrated, a great sense of airyness on top and 360 views. I was shattered at the end of a long day, and it was warm enough to lay down at the summit for 20 minutes (there's a thought!). Ben Ledl is a gem. I had quite a rugged autumn experience linking it from Benvane.
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The English Alpinist
Mountain Walker
 
Posts: 383
Munros:73   Corbetts:13
Fionas:31   Donalds:28+16
Sub 2000:2   Hewitts:136
Wainwrights:214   
Joined: Oct 27, 2015
Location: Lancashire England.

Re: Ben Vorlich (Lomond) - a friend's final Munro

Postby HalfManHalfTitanium » Wed Jan 25, 2023 12:17 pm

The English Alpinist wrote:
HalfManHalfTitanium wrote:Will hopefully post up my Meall a’Bhuiridh TR soon, plus Ben Ledi and an underrated Fiona, Sgiath a’Chaise, which I did on the other days of my weekend at Stirling.
Tim

Sgiath a' Chaise - that's a name that brings back memories! I did it last summer with the 'other' Vorlich. It is underrated, a great sense of airyness on top and 360 views. I was shattered at the end of a long day, and it was warm enough to lay down at the summit for 20 minutes (there's a thought!). Ben Ledl is a gem. I had quite a rugged autumn experience linking it from Benvane.


Yes I thought Sgiath a' Chaise was a fine summit. I did it on a sleety day when I had been planning to go to Benvane but did not fancy driving the little road to Immeroin Farm in the slippery conditions - the A84 was already turning white... I parked in Strathyre village and looked at the map for a local walk I could do.

Yours was quite an epic! I think many people do the two Loch Earn Munros from the north and leave it at that. Stuc a'Chroin in particular is a very interesting hill with several possible lines of ascent.

tim
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HalfManHalfTitanium
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Posts: 3399
Munros:119   Corbetts:28
Fionas:6   Donalds:6
Hewitts:152
Wainwrights:103   
Joined: Mar 11, 2015

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