free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
Due to the severe gales on Xmas morning and Boxing day (although we did get up and were ready for the off on boxing day) we had decided to take advantage of the weather window on the Tuesday and head an hour up the road from Glasgow to the "Arrochar Alps" .
Leonide was designated driver so on the journey up we had to endure some extremely dodgy music from Twilight, she howled out that score all the way to Ardgarten - excruciating
Luckily i had brought a CD for the journey home
Myself, Leonide, Graeme and Gordon arrived at the visitor centre car park at Artgarten 9.30am, David and Ross where already kitted up and waiting.
Our plan was to simply do the Brack, following the WH route, but as usual with our little group we ventured off and ended up doing Ben Donich too
Our route
Follow the path 2k West through the woodland
till you come to this sign
A steep narrow path asends for 500m through the woodland
before the views open up - looking North to Beinn Ime
Now free of the woodland we decide to continue SW and head straight for the summit via Elephant Gully -
i think we all had a go at impersonating an Elephant which Gordon won hands down....he is from Gourock!.
Incidentally his and Graemes webbed feet came in handy ascending the steep wet gully to the summit
Elephant Gully - Cobbler & Narnain NE
A wee scramble
Ben Lomond East - my mate Woodsy was up this with his partner and the dog, Buckfast cocktails no doubt
Ascending the Gully to the summit prevented no real difficulties, but could present problems if your not used to pathless wet ground, and was an interesting detour - we all thought how much fun this would be if covered in Snow.
When all at the summit it was time to pull out the goodies - thankfully Gordon kept his trunk in his trousers!!
Being Xmas and way up high on the hills it seemed that everyone was up for mixing drinks
First it was Kronenberg with Vodka, Guinness & Apple Lucozade soon was added...and surprisingly it tasted great
We decided to name this new cocktail "The Brack". .i wondered if the local drinking hole served this up
Dooter Drunk!!
Ross showing off his new seating pad - santa got him it
AA meeting at the Summit
View West to Loch Long.....and is that another summit?????
A quick check of the map identified Ben Donich and we all decided it would be worth the 5k detour to "bag" the bugger.
Off we went NE
Getting ready to asend the SE face of Ben Donich
Summit in the distance
It took us no time at all to reach the ridge that led to the summit but by now the weather had changed - the clag had appeared and wind was up.....i kept looking about as i'm sure Gammy Leg Walker was probably in the vicinity
Summit
From Beinn Donich simply retrace your steps for 2k before turning South another 2k and you pick up a path through the woodland. Follow the path for 6k which takes you back to the start - the end in our case.
A belter of a wee walk for our group - thanks to Gordon (elephant man) for suggesting it.
We all enjoyed a beer in the local pub - no "Brack Cocktails" on offer though
Thankfully Leonide allowed me to pop my CD in the player and we all got tuned into Nicolas Jaar on the way home
Next trip is Saturday followed by a walk on New years day - should be interesting