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Beinn Chabhair fail, Parlan Hill Pass

Beinn Chabhair fail, Parlan Hill Pass


Postby jwramsay » Sun Jan 13, 2013 8:05 pm

Munros included on this walk: Beinn Chabhair

Date walked: 13/01/2013

Time taken: 5 hours

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Peter and I had decided to go for our first munro of the year today - Beinn Chabhair up at Loch Lomond.

Due to the short day and forecast of snow, we decided on a single munro.

I picked Peter up in Glasgow just after 7:30am and we were suited and booted at the Inverarnan Drovers Inn by 9am, the drive had been eventful with lots of lying snow at Luss on the A82.

We followed the WalkHighlands route up past the waterfall where we encountered our first difficulty. With the lying snow, losing one's footing could pose a slide down the gully and what looked like a potentially deadly drop into the ravine! Out came the ice axe and got us past this "potentially tricky/deadly" wee bit.

Our first sighting of the Beinn Ghlas falls:
Image


Looking back down to the entrance to Beinn Ghlas farm and Inverarnan Drovers Inn on the left:
Image

A wooded bit where the "tricky bit" with the potential drop resides:
Image

Trees looking wintery with Inverarnan Drovers Inn well below:
Image

Then it's out onto the open Moorland, we could see the ridge but that was about it. We saw another walker coming down the path that heads up to the left ( I assume this is the left higher route fork that the WH trip report talks about).

Bleak looking route ahead:
Image

It turned out to be Paul, over from Northern Ireland for 10 days, he'd overnighted in his car and was setting out with a massive backpack to bag all of the Crianlarich Hills in Winter conditions. We hooked up and decided on the lower route, so followed the burn on the "straight ahead" fork.

We got to around the top of Parlan Hill at 666m around midday and decided to turn back due to the poor visual navigation, lack of time, and bloody freezing feet! (on my part at least). This was the correct decision, the hills will always be there, and we were gonna get no views anyway. We got back down at 3:15pm, so 5.15 hours for 2/3rd distance == correct decision!

We had a bite to eat with Paul and said our goodbyes as he was high camping up there - good luck mate and let us know how you got on when you read this report.

Peter posing at a big split rock:
Image

Loads more snow had fallen and our tracks were disappearing, but we got back OK, just the tricky bit to navigate again. Glad when that was past - a slip there really could have been fatal.

Conditions were "mince", so glad we wrapped it, almost back in the forest bit near the "tricky" section:
Image

Further down we spotted two black mountain goats with a fair set of horns on them, Peter took photos and will post them soon.

Glad to get back to the car and get changed out of our soaking gear.

Only around the end of the journey home did my feet thaw out!

Glad we made the correct decision and hope that Paul is fine up there.

Short Video
Last edited by jwramsay on Sun Jan 13, 2013 9:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Beinn Chabhair fail, Parlan Hill Pass

Postby gammy leg walker » Sun Jan 13, 2013 8:11 pm

Nowt wrong with turning back when you dont feel its right.
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Re: Beinn Chabhair fail, Parlan Hill Pass

Postby jwramsay » Sun Jan 13, 2013 8:26 pm

gammy leg walker wrote:Nowt wrong with turning back when you dont feel its right.


That's my motto, the hills will always be there. I'm sure we'll have a great day up there in the summer and get cracking views!
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Re: Beinn Chabhair fail, Parlan Hill Pass

Postby mrssanta » Sun Jan 13, 2013 8:28 pm

you got some superb "black and white" pictures though
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Re: Beinn Chabhair fail, Parlan Hill Pass

Postby jwramsay » Sun Jan 13, 2013 8:34 pm

mrssanta wrote:you got some superb "black and white" pictures though


LOL - no tinkering, these were indeed right out of the camera. LOL
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Re: Beinn Chabhair fail, Parlan Hill Pass

Postby peter tindal » Sun Jan 13, 2013 8:38 pm

Summitting is optional, getting down compulsary!!!!
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Re: Beinn Chabhair fail, Parlan Hill Pass

Postby Bod » Sun Jan 13, 2013 9:07 pm

Some great pictures there, always great to get out there and give it a go, but you must turn back when you feel its not right to go on, well done :D
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Re: Beinn Chabhair fail, Parlan Hill Pass

Postby Fudgie » Sun Jan 13, 2013 9:08 pm

jwramsay wrote:
gammy leg walker wrote:Nowt wrong with turning back when you dont feel its right.


That's my motto, the hills will always be there. I'm sure we'll have a great day up there in the summer and get cracking views!


I did the same on Meall nan Tarmachan last week metres from the summit as the warning signs were telling me to turn around. I went back today with a couple of friends and managed to complete it in what was actually worse weather. Just pick a nice day in the summer :lol:
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Re: Beinn Chabhair fail, Parlan Hill Pass

Postby Peter913 » Sun Jan 13, 2013 9:20 pm

Nice report there Jim i hope you can feel your toes :D

After today felt great to be back on the hills and trying munros again after the winter heres a few of my images

Comments welcome

Peter
Attachments
IMG_0560.jpg
And Jim in the winter wonderland
IMG_0579.jpg
IMG_0564.jpg
IMG_0544.jpg
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Re: Beinn Chabhair fail, Parlan Hill Pass

Postby jwramsay » Sun Jan 13, 2013 9:22 pm

That last photo is top drawer Peter!
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Re: Beinn Chabhair fail, Parlan Hill Pass

Postby jwramsay » Sun Jan 13, 2013 9:46 pm

Added a (short) video to the first post
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Re: Beinn Chabhair fail, Parlan Hill Pass

Postby NickScots » Sun Jan 13, 2013 10:05 pm

I did this a few years ago, It's actually quite a big hill with two wide long ridges.

That experience will help you on another day when you make a judgement.
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Re: Beinn Chabhair fail, Parlan Hill Pass

Postby Silverhill » Sun Jan 13, 2013 11:07 pm

A valiant effort nonetheless! :D
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Re: Beinn Chabhair fail, Parlan Hill Pass

Postby morag1 » Mon Jan 14, 2013 8:51 am

These are great photos :clap:

Nice to read a report from someone who's got the sense to know when to call it a day :D
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Re: Beinn Chabhair fail, Parlan Hill Pass

Postby PeteR » Mon Jan 14, 2013 3:06 pm

Always frustrating to turn back, but as is often said on this site it's always the best thing to do. I did my turning back before I got out of the car on account of the fact that a couple of uncomfortable experiences on the roads has made me wary of driving when snow is forecast.

Despite the lack of summit you both captures some great images there. Demonstrates just why winter walking can be so great, but also the reason why we have to be cautious when we don't feel the conditions are quite right.
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