walkhighlands

Share your personal walking route experiences in Scotland, and comment on other peoples' reports.
Warning Please note that hillwalking when there is snow lying requires an ice-axe, crampons and the knowledge, experience and skill to use them correctly. Summer routes may not be viable or appropriate in winter. See winter information on our skills and safety pages for more information.

Twisted ankle on the slopes of Ben Vorlich (LL)

Twisted ankle on the slopes of Ben Vorlich (LL)


Postby Grisu » Wed Oct 30, 2019 10:47 pm

Route description: Ben Vorlich via Loch Sloy

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

Date walked: 18/07/2016

Time taken: 5 hours

Distance: 14 km

Ascent: 1001m

1 person thinks this report is great.
Register or Login
free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).

After our adventurous weekend on Skye we went out for another walk, this time to Ben Vorlich at Loch Lomond. We parked the car at Inveruglas Visitor Center and followed the WH-description. On our way to the dam we met a walker who told us that he has turned around at the trigpoint because of heavy wind and mist :shock: We hoped for the best and continued walking.
DSC01807php690.jpg
Ben Vane

DSC01809php690.jpg
scenery

When the dam came in sight heavy clouds were darken the sky over Loch Sloy and the top of Ben Vorlich was veiled in mist.
DSC01808php690.jpg
The dam

Before we started the steep ascent we had a little break, trying to sort out were the path starts.
DSC01814php690.jpg
little break

Then the sky suddenly opened up and it became very warm.
DSC01816php680.jpg

We never really had been on the path and I didn't enjoy this walk uphill over this grassy ground almost vertical and sometimes I had the impression I would fall back in slow motion and land on my rucksack like a beetle all four up. :lol:
But the views downwards are still very impressive.
DSC01823php680.jpg
steep slopes

DSC01835php690.jpg
View towards Loch Lomond

At the summit the path divided. We went to the left and soon reached the cairn. The summit was completely covered in mist, so no views but no wind neither, and we had a little break.
DSC01838php690.jpg
summit cairn

DSC01836php690.jpg
little Haggis with a broken leg - bad Omen

On our way back we contiued along the path and soon we passed the trigpoint.
DSC01839php690.jpg
Trigpoint

Where the two branches of the path met the mist lifted again and we had nice views down the slopes and towards the Arrochar Alps in front of us on our way back.
DSC01842php690.jpg
The dam

DSC01847php690.jpg
The Arrochar Alps

DSC01850php635.jpg

During the descent I got stuck with my boots in a hole and because of the steepnes I lost my balance and I heard a very ugly sound. The pain was breathtaking and the rest of the descent was quite painful. Back on the road it became sufferable but the next four weeks I had a very thick and bruised ankle - so no more walks this summer :cry: but at least I could get into my cycling shoes and had some nice rides.
From the road I took a last picture of the mountain, teasing now in plain sunshine. :lol:
DSC01851php690.jpg

What remains from this walk is the very impressive steepness of the slopes and the nice views, but because of the tiring ascent and the twisted ankle I give this walk only a six on a scale out of ten.
Last edited by Grisu on Tue Nov 05, 2019 7:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Grisu
Walker
 
Posts: 594
Munros:122   Corbetts:4
Fionas:2   
Hewitts:33
Wainwrights:27   
Joined: Mar 13, 2017
Location: Norden, Germany

Re: Twisted ankle on the slopes of Ben Vorlich (LL)

Postby past my sell by date » Wed Oct 30, 2019 11:32 pm

Lovely photos :) i remember this being very steep but that's true of all the Arrochar Alps. Increases in rainfall have caused big mudslides recently and not just on tthe "Rest and be thankful"
past my sell by date
Mountaineer
 
Posts: 1112
Munros:282   Corbetts:86
Fionas:27   Donalds:6
Sub 2000:8   Hewitts:146
Wainwrights:159   Islands:5
Joined: Apr 24, 2013

1 person thinks this report is great.
Register or Login
free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).




Can you help support Walkhighlands?


Our forum is free from adverts - your generosity keeps it running.
Can you help support Walkhighlands and this community by donating by direct debit?



Return to Walk reports - Scotland

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: konstanci and 40 guests