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Twin Peaks - so cold they'd take yer eye oot!

Twin Peaks - so cold they'd take yer eye oot!


Postby Jaxter » Wed Jan 03, 2018 5:36 pm

Route description: Cruach Àrdrain and Beinn Tulaichean

Munros included on this walk: Beinn Tulaichean, Cruach Àrdrain

Date walked: 10/12/2017

Time taken: 6.28 hours

Distance: 14.54 km

Ascent: 1217m

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I had been a glorious few days and typically I had been stuck indoors. Sunday brought an opportunity to get out and Colin was free and keen to go and play in the snow 8)

My criteria for this walk was
1. Relatively close to home
2. High enough to have lots of snow to play in
3. Something awesome.
We came up with Cruach Ardrain and Beinn Tulaichean – hills that we had both been up before but it was to be a different route for me :thumbup:

Fortunately Colin had *cough* volunteered *cough* to drive and despite the temperature being arctic (was well below freezing in Glasgow :shock: ) the roads had been well gritted. However, turning down the minor road to Inverlochlarig it became a little more interesting….

A quick photo down the glen
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There were some nervous moments as we drove along a winding single-track road covered in ice….but thanks to some ballsy driving we made it to the car park at Inverlochlarig.

The temperature gauge on the car read -8.5 :shock:
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Jura and I leading the way
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It was freezing…literally….so we quickly booted up before heading off along the road for a short distance. It was a stunning view back down Loch Doine & Loch Voil.
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As we passed the farm we met a pal….
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And another one….
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Crossing over the Inverlochlarig Burn we could see that it was frozen :shock:
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Looking upwards towards our target for later
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We followed the path alongside the river for a few metres before meeting the track. Looking ahead we could see Cruach Ardrain
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Looking back
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After walking along the track for a few metres we struck off upwards through deep snow, heading directly for Beinn Tulaichean. There was no path and it was tough going across the terrain but we were warming up quickly 8)

The sun was beginning to hit the tops of Stob Binnein and it became a bit of a running joke that it bore a startling resemblance to a certain female body part.. :lol: :wink:
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Looking back
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The sun rising over the top of Stob Breac
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Colin and Jura catching up
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Now into the sunlight we had to stop to remove a few layers 8) There were still a few clouds lingering over Loch Voil in the glen
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There were some impressive looking icicles :shock:
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Looking down the glen towards Ben Vorlich
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More icicles!
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The twins of Ben More & Stob Binnein
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Loch Voil
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We struggled our way upwards and it finally plateaued out giving us a frozen lochan to slide across :lol:
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Beinn a’Chroin and towards the Arrochar Alps in the distance
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Short person problems
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Up and over another bump and we could see the final ascent to Beinn Tulaichean; the snow making the ridge look incredibly epic with the couple ahead of us near the summit.
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Stob a’ Choin
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We climbed the final few metres to the summit of Beinn Tulaichean and the views were incredible :shock: We were no longer sheltered from the wind so we had to hurriedly add some layers :lol:

Silly face!
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Cruach Ardrain
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A tit in front of two tits :lol:
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Ben More & Stob Binnein
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Zoomed towards Lui & pals
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Lui
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Ben Lomond
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Ben Lui
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We made our way down towards the bealach. The path was pretty icy and I managed to go flying with my usual dramatic flair…. :lol:

Looking back to Beinn Tulaichean from the bealach
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Professional at work
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From here we set off up Cruach Ardrain. There was a clear path here but it was well hidden under the snow and often it was easier walking to avoid it.

Jura wondering what’s taking us so long :lol:
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It was tough going in the deep snow :lol:
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Cauliflour snow!
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As we approached the summit of Cruach Ardrain we could see all the way back down the ridge towards Beinn Tulaichean
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Cauliflour snow
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Colin posing in front of Stuc a’ Chroin
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From here it was a short descent and reascent to the true summit where the views were pretty decent.
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I’d been up both of these hills before but it had been claggy on the tops and without a summit photo I wasn’t 100% sure if I’d been to the actual summit. No doubt about it today though 8)
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Such amazing views called for a summit photo in both directions :lol:
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Towards Ben Lui
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Looking towards Tyndrum
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Beinn Tulaichean & Stob a’ Choin
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It was very cold and we decided that the other top was actually a better viewpoint so made our way back towards it. It was also not a day for standing still :shock:
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We met a couple of the most enthusiastic guys ever who we stopped to chat to – they turned out to be Mountain Rescue out enjoying the good weather and offered to get a photo of us both :lol:
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Cruach Ardrain summit with Ben More & Stob Binnein behind
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Towards Lui
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Ben Vorlich & Stuc a’ Chroin
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A wee video


It was really chilly and we had talked about waiting up for sunset but on reflection it was a terrible idea partly because it was so cold but also because coming down in the dark could be tricky… So we headed back down towards the bealach before picking up our route down.

Looking back up towards Cruach Ardrain
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Towards Ben Lomond
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The route down….
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Cruach Ardrain
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Pair of tits glinting in the sunshine 8)
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We wound around crags as we made our way downwards. Sets of footprints coming up were helpful at some points as we found ourselves at the tops of crags :lol:
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Icicles with Cruach Ardrain behind
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How big?!
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It was tough going and although in many ways the snow made it easier, it also seemed to be a particularly sticky form of snow than stuck to my boots making it feel like I was wearing bricks on my feet :lol:
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We finally reached the track which was a relief after a tricky descent :shock: From here it was an easy walk out….although the track was very icy and there were plenty of near misses from our tired legs :lol:

Nearly back we could see the evening light hitting Beinn Stacath
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We had an easy walk back along to the car where it was a small matter of negotiating the icy road back to the A84. What a day 8) 8) 8)

Loch Voil
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Ardrain & Tulaichean.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts

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Jaxter
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Re: Twin Peaks - so cold they'd take yer eye oot!

Postby Mal Grey » Wed Jan 03, 2018 6:15 pm

You lucky people! That does look like a proper winter day, fabulous stuff.


(Phew. Managed to avoid making any further tit jokes.)
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Re: Twin Peaks - so cold they'd take yer eye oot!

Postby past my sell by date » Thu Jan 04, 2018 3:19 pm

Nice report and pics - looked amazingly wintery! but extraordinarily, just a few days later all the snow - except on the highest hills - had gone and we were back to the usual grey rubbish It seems to be the pattern these days. The utter joy of striding across crisp hard neve is starting to look like a thing of the past :(
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Re: Twin Peaks - so cold they'd take yer eye oot!

Postby Jaxter » Tue Jan 09, 2018 6:12 pm

Mal Grey wrote:You lucky people! That does look like a proper winter day, fabulous stuff.


(Phew. Managed to avoid making any further tit jokes.)

It was just fabulous 8) 8)

And well done, you're a better man than we were :lol: :lol:



past my sell by date wrote:Nice report and pics - looked amazingly wintery! but extraordinarily, just a few days later all the snow - except on the highest hills - had gone and we were back to the usual grey rubbish It seems to be the pattern these days. The utter joy of striding across crisp hard neve is starting to look like a thing of the past :(

Thankyou - yes there's something really special about it isn't there! This winter seems to be lasting longer so here's hoping 8)
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Re: Twin Peaks - so cold they'd take yer eye oot!

Postby onsen » Tue Jan 09, 2018 9:35 pm

Innuendo aside....that was a beautiful clear day for a mooch amongst those snow covered peaks.
Nice pics.
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Re: Twin Peaks - so cold they'd take yer eye oot!

Postby Alteknacker » Tue Jan 09, 2018 10:38 pm

WHAT a day, in a great area, captured in some fantastic pics :clap: :clap: :clap: What more can one say???

Not at all envious of your proximity to all this....
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Re: Twin Peaks - so cold they'd take yer eye oot!

Postby ancancha » Wed Jan 10, 2018 6:01 pm

My, what big icicles you have there Jaxter :lol:
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Re: Twin Peaks - so cold they'd take yer eye oot!

Postby Jaxter » Fri Jan 12, 2018 11:18 am

onsen wrote:Innuendo aside....that was a beautiful clear day for a mooch amongst those snow covered peaks.
Nice pics.

Thankyou 8) 8)



Alteknacker wrote:WHAT a day, in a great area, captured in some fantastic pics :clap: :clap: :clap: What more can one say???

Not at all envious of your proximity to all this....

Thanks dude - it was worth the cold fingers for sure :lol:



ancancha wrote:My, what big icicles you have there Jaxter :lol:

I know right!!! Look at the size of them :lol: :lol:
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Re: Twin Peaks - so cold they'd take yer eye oot!

Postby Anne C » Fri Jan 12, 2018 10:22 pm

Great photos! What a great day :clap:

We were up Beinn Tulaichean a couple of years ago, one New Years Day, similar underfoot.But the wind just about blew us over at the top and we were holding onto each other at times just to keep upright.That wee road was heck of an icy too, a hairy drive.
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Re: Twin Peaks - so cold they'd take yer eye oot!

Postby Jaxter » Mon Jan 15, 2018 7:58 pm

Anne C wrote:Great photos! What a great day :clap:

We were up Beinn Tulaichean a couple of years ago, one New Years Day, similar underfoot.But the wind just about blew us over at the top and we were holding onto each other at times just to keep upright.That wee road was heck of an icy too, a hairy drive.

Thanks!! Yes always adds an extra element to the day when you cannae stand....then you have to drive back doon that road :shock: :shock: :lol:
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Re: Twin Peaks - so cold they'd take yer eye oot!

Postby Andymac75 » Tue Jan 16, 2018 8:28 pm

The Jaxter is back :D
Beautiful clear ,crisp images.
And some good old fashioned errrrmmm inuendo :lol:
Excellent ,uplifting stuff.
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Re: Twin Peaks - so cold they'd take yer eye oot!

Postby Jaxter » Fri Jan 19, 2018 7:03 pm

Andymac75 wrote:The Jaxter is back :D
Beautiful clear ,crisp images.
And some good old fashioned errrrmmm inuendo :lol:
Excellent ,uplifting stuff.

The Jaxter has never been away - I'm just a bit behind with reports :lol: :lol:
Gotta love a bit of innuendo 8)
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Re: Twin Peaks - so cold they'd take yer eye oot!

Postby past my sell by date » Sat Jan 20, 2018 8:22 pm

Jaxter wrote:
Andymac75 wrote:The Jaxter is back :D
Beautiful clear ,crisp images.
And some good old fashioned errrrmmm inuendo :lol:
Excellent ,uplifting stuff.

The Jaxter has never been away - I'm just a bit behind with reports :lol: :lol:
Gotta love a bit of innuendo 8)

innuendo -I was always taught it was an italian suppository :lol: apologies for owering the tone :(
past my sell by date
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Re: Twin Peaks - so cold they'd take yer eye oot!

Postby Jaxter » Sat Jan 20, 2018 10:50 pm

past my sell by date wrote:
Jaxter wrote:
Andymac75 wrote:The Jaxter is back :D
Beautiful clear ,crisp images.
And some good old fashioned errrrmmm inuendo :lol:
Excellent ,uplifting stuff.

The Jaxter has never been away - I'm just a bit behind with reports :lol: :lol:
Gotta love a bit of innuendo 8)

innuendo -I was always taught it was an italian suppository :lol: apologies for owering the tone :(

To be fair I'm pretty sure the tone was already pretty low :lol: :lol:
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Re: Twin Peaks - so cold they'd take yer eye oot!

Postby andreww18 » Sun Jan 21, 2018 5:42 pm

What a brilliant day out that looks like. Your photos (as always) are stunning.
Very quick question from someone not experienced at all climbing in those sorts of conditions. Noticed from your photos you're not wearing crampons? Would you need them or not for a climb like this in really snowy conditions? Do you wear winter boots which are different from boots you'd wear other times of the year?
We were up on the Loch Turret route into Chonzie two weeks ago and it was snowy and icy on the tracks leading up to the wee lochan before the climb to the bealach. I had microspikes on but my brother was just in boots. We got to the deep snow and turned back. Noticed a couple walking up, pretty near the start, wearing proper crampons.
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