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The Chiller Cabinet

PostPosted: Sat Mar 16, 2019 8:10 pm
by Jaxter
Another Saturday, another lunchtime finish in Helensburgh. I desperately needed some hill time so with boots chucked in the car I headed up the A82. I had no real plan in mind but as I reached Arrochar I decided to visit some old friends.

The car park was busy and it was very cold as I set off up the path. It was a familiar route and I made quick progress up the good track.

Looking down Loch Long
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As I cleared the forest I was attacked by a snow shower which didn’t last too long but thanks to the wind was fairly painful :lol:
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It was very cold – which meant there were lots of impressive icicles
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The Cobbler ahead
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The snow shower passed and the sun came out making the snow sparkle
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I was into the snow which had made the path quite icy and also looked like Christmas :lol:
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Impressive crags beneath the Cobbler
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The snow shower returned!
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Once I hit the snow there were hardly any people although this couple following me looked woefully underprepared….
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And sun again 8)
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There was a lot of loose snow around so I thought climbing up the corrie was probably not a good idea. The river looked amazing though….
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This mountain is so impressive!
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I met a couple of people returning along the path – they warned me it was cold and that I wouldn’t get any further. Challenge accepted :thumbup:

Further on, the wind was very strong and it was making it difficult to walk. The spindrift blowing around made it hard to see but I remembered that last time I was here it was windy here and fine on top so I persevered….

Looking up I could see 2 people coming down….I stopped to put crampons on here as the snow was bulletproof :shock:
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With crampons on it was easy to climb. As I climbed higher the views opened out magnificently to Beinn Ime
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And some very cool ice formations
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Cool snow
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As I approached the summit I could see Beinn Ime…
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The impressive crags of the North top
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And the way ahead to the summit – it looked amazingly alpine!
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And finally I was there 8)
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Beinn Ime
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Beinn Ime, Beinn Narnain & The Cobbler
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The Brack & Ben Donich
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Mebbe not one for today….
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The Brack
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Ben Lomond
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Ok, it was still pretty windy :lol:
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Snow and wind both stop at the same time :lol: I was tempted but it was windy and icy and realised it would be a daft idea :lol:
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Eventually it was time to go – it was cold and windy. Looking back up the ridge was incredible 8)
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Quick way down
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Looking back up
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I headed back down the way I’d come up…
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At this moment I had delusions of grandeur…. Why not go up Narnain as well? Back at the path I continued along it a short way before breaking off up the shoulder of Beinn Narnain.

Looking down towards Beinn Ime
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The Cobbler
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Looking down towards the Rest and Be Thankful during another snow shower :lol:
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Some pretty awesome cornices with Ben Vane behind
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It was tough going – on this side of the mountain a lot more fresh snow had collected and some was quite steep. I had my 50p sunnies on the keep the snow blowing into my eyes but this made visibility more difficult :crazy:

The final pull to the summit
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The sun hitting the top of the Cobbler and some impressive spindrift
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Summit in sight!
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Beinn Narnain summit – easy peasy!
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Ben Lomond (oh look, another snow shower!)
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But despite the sporadic showers, the views were tremendous and I felt the stress and hard work of the previous few weeks melting away 8) Spinning around with happiness I caught a crampon point in the ice and face-planted spectacularly :lol: Whoops :lol:

Looking back to the summit
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Care resumed, I checked the map and decided it looked ok to continue down the ridge. It’s what I’d done last time :thumbup:

Turns out my memory isn’t quite as good as I’d thought :lol: The scramble down the side of the Spearhead was very icy and full of holes – I hadn’t even remembered this bit from before! However, with the aid of crampons, ice axe and my backside acting as a 5th point of contact I was safely down. The next section was also interesting – I was very appreciative to the people who had been down here already as I could largely follow their footsteps and didn’t need to cut too many steps :shock:

It had been so steep I was underneath what I’d just come around :shock:
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Mental face 8)
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Continuing along the ridge I could look back at what I’d come down – pretty impressive!!
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The rest of the descent was easy – an outcrop provided a nice spot for some more photos as the snow showers seemed to have stopped at last
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Looking down Loch Long
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Looking North – I think this must be Ben Vorlich
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Clearly the showers weren’t over afterall :lol:
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I managed to fall into a waist-deep snowdrift which made for some entertainment :lol: Eventually I was out of the snow, the crampons were off and I’d even found a path!

Ben Lomond
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The last section of descent was steep and icy and there was some imagination needed to get down in safely :shock:

Some deer!
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On the track it was an easy (and squishy) walk alongside some impressive icicles
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Loch Long
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Ben Lomond
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It had turned into an incredible evening and I was so happy to out. A last look back at the Cobbler before I reached my outward path and dropped down to the car.
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Arriving back at the car, my pockets were full of rubbish from the path :( Who takes M&S cucumber with herb dip up a hill?! :crazy: Still, a magical afternoon full of fun and practising skills 8)


Cobbler & Narnain.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts


Re: The Chiller Cabinet

PostPosted: Sat Mar 16, 2019 8:55 pm
by arjh
The Jaxter pose amidst the spindrift is brilliant :clap:

Re: The Chiller Cabinet

PostPosted: Sun Mar 17, 2019 9:38 am
by Coop
Great report Jaxter. Only live down the road myself and anytime I pass the cobbler its always good to stop and look up and see how beautiful it is.
I was on Narnain once and a group from Sheffield were having a full picnic on it. I declined all their offers- even the boiled eggs. I asked jokingly if they had any salad cream. One of the ladies almost went into a panic when she realised "oh no we've left that in the van" Haha
No doubt I'll have a wander back over these 2 again soon
Cheers and well in :clap:

Re: The Chiller Cabinet

PostPosted: Sun Mar 17, 2019 12:31 pm
by dav2930
Looked a great day out in some proper winter conditions Jaxter. :clap:
That descent from Narnain beside the spearhead etc. is pretty steep stuff - I remember it being steep going up it in Feb 2016. When I got to the top I had a wander onto the spearhead and noticed two figures standing at the summit. It turned out they'd lost their map and weren't sure of the way off so were waiting for me! :shock: They started following me down towards the col but one of them didn't have any crampons and got into difficulties on an icy slope, so I lent him my Microspikes, which did the trick. At the col we met another chap and all went up Ime together. I don't mind company but sometimes when you set off alone you really don't expect, or want, to end up in a group! :crazy: :lol:

Re: The Chiller Cabinet

PostPosted: Tue Mar 26, 2019 10:42 am
by Jaxter
arjh wrote:The Jaxter pose amidst the spindrift is brilliant :clap:

Cheers - that turned out way more epic than I’d expected :lol: :shock:



Coop wrote:Great report Jaxter. Only live down the road myself and anytime I pass the cobbler its always good to stop and look up and see how beautiful it is.
I was on Narnain once and a group from Sheffield were having a full picnic on it. I declined all their offers- even the boiled eggs. I asked jokingly if they had any salad cream. One of the ladies almost went into a panic when she realised "oh no we've left that in the van" Haha
No doubt I'll have a wander back over these 2 again soon
Cheers and well in :clap:

Pretty awesome hills to have as your locals :clap:
Your salad cream story reminds me of a bothy trip last summer where I forgot the hot chocolate powder. Genuinely thought I’d ended a friendship :shock: :lol:



dav2930 wrote:Looked a great day out in some proper winter conditions Jaxter. :clap:
That descent from Narnain beside the spearhead etc. is pretty steep stuff - I remember it being steep going up it in Feb 2016. When I got to the top I had a wander onto the spearhead and noticed two figures standing at the summit. It turned out they'd lost their map and weren't sure of the way off so were waiting for me! :shock: They started following me down towards the col but one of them didn't have any crampons and got into difficulties on an icy slope, so I lent him my Microspikes, which did the trick. At the col we met another chap and all went up Ime together. I don't mind company but sometimes when you set off alone you really don't expect, or want, to end up in a group! :crazy: :lol:

Ha yes that happened to me once or twice - sometimes it’s nice collecting folk on your travels but often I set off alone for a reason (that and no one can stand my chat :lol: :wink: )

Re: The Chiller Cabinet

PostPosted: Tue Mar 26, 2019 10:55 am
by HalfManHalfTitanium
Fantastic photos!

The spindrift one is brilliant; "and sun again" and "mebbe not one for today" would make great paintings.

Tim

Re: The Chiller Cabinet

PostPosted: Thu Mar 28, 2019 8:29 am
by Jaxter
HalfManHalfTitanium wrote:Fantastic photos!

The spindrift one is brilliant; "and sun again" and "mebbe not one for today" would make great paintings.

Tim

Thanks Tim, I couldn’t believe how good some were when I dug them out after a year! It was nothing to do with skill as I couldn’t see what I was pointing at :lol: