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Ben Vorlich (Loch Lomond)

Ben Vorlich (Loch Lomond)


Postby xpfloyd » Sat Jan 29, 2011 6:39 pm

Route description: Ben Vorlich via Loch Sloy

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

Date walked: 29/01/2011

Time taken: 4.25 hours

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Time up - 2 Hrs 30 Mins
Time down - 1 Hr 45 Mins

Well after reading Davgil's report last week for Ben Vorlich I decided I would do it myself today. I headed off at around 8am from home with my fiance Lynn. It was to be her 3rd Munro. We were in the carpark and heading away from the car at 8:45. Some nice views were to be had across Loch Lomond towards Ben Lomond with the sun coming up and the water calm.

IMG_0699.JPG
Sun coming up over Ben Lomond


After walking through the padlocked gate and under the railway we followed the tarmac track around towards Loch Sloy reservoir looking out for the small cairn that marked the path up the hillside. After a while walking we got to what looked like a path and further up the hill there were 3 people already half way up. There was no small cairn but it looked like I could trace a route from where I was to the top so we headed onwards.

IMG_0701.JPG
Loch Sloy Reservoir


About half way up the steep section from the track I turned to realise I had shot ahead from Lynn over the last minute and she was struggling behind. I waited on her to catch up and it became clear she was having issues. Her new boots were rubbing the back of her heels and two blisters had formed already. Every step was now painful and she was really struggling. We suspected before we came that the boots could have done with being a size bigger and it was now clear they had to be. She decided that she couldnt go on any further and would head back to the car while I headed to the top.

IMG_0703.JPG
Lynn heading up


Now that I was alone I headed up the next section as fast as I could so that she wasnt waiting on me too long. I wasnt on a path but after coming around the side of a large crag (on the right of the photo) I found the path I should have been on and continued onwards.

IMG_0704.JPG
A Path !


I was starting to reach the cloud that was hugging the summit and the views downwards and ahead were starting to get obscured.

IMG_0705.JPG
Looking down at Loch Sloy

IMG_0707.JPG
Heaading into the cloud


After walking in the clouds a while over some icy/snow covered ground and also after taking a slight setour on to the top of a craggy section and back (see walk route diagram) I eventually caught site of the 3 guys I had followed up the slope just ahead of me. As I got closer they asked me where the summit was as the path they were on had dissappeared. After a quick check of the OS map we all headed directly up the slope from where we were standing and out of the mist appeared the trig point. I let them know that the actual summit would be a bit furhter on and headed across for a flag shot.

IMG_0709.JPG
Summit Flag Shot


I didnt hang around long at all and headed across to the trig point before starting my descent back to the car.

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Trig Point & Cairn


Coming out the cloud I got some nice views of Loch Lomond and the surrounding areas.

IMG_0711.JPG
Looking back to Loch Lomond

IMG_0715.JPG
Looking across to Loch Arklet Reservoir


On the way down I ran a few sections where I could. This was a first for me as im ususally done in but my fitness must be improving as I was quite enjoying it. I would just slow to a walk when the steep bits came.

I briefly bumped into two guys coming up who asked me if they had to go much further, but since I had took a detour on the way up and had ran a bit of the way back I wasnt really sure. I think I just said it wasnt too much further to be safe.

A short while later I bumped into a couple coming up with two dogs who had already stopped and talked to Lynn on her way back. I stood and spoke to them for a few minutes before heading on. They were very friendly and the whole time I was going to ask if they were on this forum but I bottled it, so if your reading this it was nice talking to you both :)

I continued down this path which was badly eroded in places and also a little boggy at bits before reaching the tarmac track and low and behold there was a small cairn to mark the route. I was planning on jogging back to the car from here but after 20 seconds of running I realised my legs were jelly so I ended up having to stroll back.

Lynns boots are going on ebay if anyone is a size 5 looking for new boots :D

Eddie
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Re: Ben Vorlich (Loch Lomond)

Postby davgil » Sat Jan 29, 2011 6:56 pm

Great report and photos Eddie.

I too came up slightly below the path and from your photo I think I joined it exactly where you did :o

David
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Re: Ben Vorlich (Loch Lomond)

Postby pruney84 » Sat Jan 29, 2011 6:57 pm

Hey eddie, it's a good walk aint it, although very steep and tough going on the ascent! I did it back in November. Just back from doing Ben Chonzie today, my first of the year, much easier going!

Oh and sorry to here about lynn's boots :(
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Re: Ben Vorlich (Loch Lomond)

Postby Del246 » Sat Jan 29, 2011 7:23 pm

Hi. Liked your piece. I have just got back into hill walking and this one is on my list to do. Was there much snow and ice about ? I'm heading out tomorrow ( a rare weekend off ) and it's between this and Ben Lomond.
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Re: Ben Vorlich (Loch Lomond)

Postby xpfloyd » Sat Jan 29, 2011 7:28 pm

Thanks dave

Pruney - yeah the first bit is fairly steep but a nice walk all in

Del - at the summit there is some hard packed snow and some icy sections but I didn't feel the need for crampons and the ice axe stayed strapped to my bag. You can safely make it up and back with just your boots

Eddie
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Re: Ben Vorlich (Loch Lomond)

Postby ChrisW » Sat Jan 29, 2011 7:46 pm

Great report and some cracking photo's, hope your fiancé didn't suffer too much :(
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Re: Ben Vorlich (Loch Lomond)

Postby xpfloyd » Sat Jan 29, 2011 7:54 pm

ChrisW wrote:Great report and some cracking photo's, hope your fiancé didn't suffer too much :(


She's away out on a night out so it can't be too bad :)
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Re: Ben Vorlich (Loch Lomond)

Postby ChrisW » Sat Jan 29, 2011 7:59 pm

And I thought my mrs was the only one who would force a stiletto over a fine bunch of blisters and stagger off down the high street :lol:
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Re: Ben Vorlich (Loch Lomond)

Postby Del246 » Sun Jan 30, 2011 1:37 am

Thanks Eddie

I have spent a small fortune getting back into the walking but will need to wait until next year for winter boots and crampons. If I bought them just now it could lead to a divorce !!!!
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Re: Ben Vorlich (Loch Lomond)

Postby xpfloyd » Sun Jan 30, 2011 8:05 am

I know the feeling, I got my other half into hill walking to soften the blow of how much I was spending but she liked it and now I'm paying double!! :)
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Re: Ben Vorlich (Loch Lomond)

Postby 2dalmatians » Sun Jan 30, 2011 9:32 am

Nice report - I always like the flag shot you take at the summit. Youre not a tartan army member are you???? I did this walk in the summer and like just about everyone else missed the little cairn on the way up, though on the way back it was like a giant pyramid (sort of)! Didnt get any pics at the summit though due low cloud. Nice to see yours.
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Re: Ben Vorlich (Loch Lomond)

Postby monty » Sun Jan 30, 2011 10:53 am

Well done XP...
Shame about the boots and the blisters. :( Thats a nice hard slog uphill on this one :lol: Love the photo of Loch Lomond in the first picture. :D
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Re: Ben Vorlich (Loch Lomond)

Postby xpfloyd » Mon Jan 31, 2011 1:32 pm

2dalmatians wrote:Nice report - I always like the flag shot you take at the summit. Youre not a tartan army member are you????


Hi 2Dalmations, No not a fully fledged member of the Tartan Army :) Its just something I started about 15 years ago, anywhere I travel in the world I get a pic with that flag and the habit has now transferred onto my munro challenge with the hope of getting it to the top of all 283 of them. Its one of those things that once I started it its hard to stop. The flag has became a prize possession and id hate to lose it now.

monty wrote:Well done XP...
Shame about the boots and the blisters. :( Thats a nice hard slog uphill on this one :lol: Love the photo of Loch Lomond in the first picture. :D


Thanks Monty - yeah the first pic is one of my favourites and now my windows desktop pic
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Re: Ben Vorlich (Loch Lomond)

Postby Alastair S » Mon Jan 31, 2011 1:54 pm

Some nice views there Eddie/xp (when you weren't in the cloud).

As for blisters I used to suffer a lot until learnt that the trick is to wear 2 pairs of socks - but not just any two. The first layer needs to be a thin Cool-Max pair (or similar), followed by you preferred thick walking sock (merino wool for winter, cotton for summer). Getting the right sized boots also helps :lol: Easy mistake to make as I've found out. When trying (& buying) as well as using our own thickest socks do the fittings after you've been on your feet for a fair while as you feet swell over the course of the day (if you're on them).
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Re: Ben Vorlich (Loch Lomond)

Postby baggervance » Mon Jan 31, 2011 2:02 pm

Alastair S wrote:Some nice views there Eddie/xp (when you weren't in the cloud).

As for blisters I used to suffer a lot until learnt that the trick is to wear 2 pairs of socks - but not just any two. The first layer needs to be a thin Cool-Max pair (or similar), followed by you preferred thick walking sock (merino wool for winter, cotton for summer). Getting the right sized boots also helps :lol: Easy mistake to make as I've found out. When trying (& buying) as well as using our own thickest socks do the fittings after you've been on your feet for a fair while as you feet swell over the course of the day (if you're on them).




XP - Got to agree with the sock remedy from Alistair. I used to suffer from blisters until I discovered 1000mile sock liners. They are a double sock in one, the friction is between the outer and inner of the sock and not your skin. Sometimes boots that are actually too big can cause blisters because of the amount of movement between the foot and boot

BV
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