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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.

Ben Vane - wintery scramble

Ben Vane - wintery scramble


Postby robbiemac » Fri Mar 11, 2011 1:21 pm

Route description: Ben Vane, from Inveruglas

Munros included on this walk: Ben Vane

Date walked: 09/03/2011

Time taken: 5.5 hours

Distance: 11 km

Ascent: 914m

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My first walk report.
And also the first time for my brother and I out on the hills together.

Weather from Glasgow teasing between heavy showers then blue skies - but decided to go for it. Setting off from Inveruglas was dry at least, and looked promising.

IMG_3114.JPG
towards Loch Arklet over Loch Lomond


'Thread through rocky outcrops', the guides say, 'No scrambling required'! Aye right. Snow had covered any signs of paths, and we were confronted with walls of anonymous rock and ice, frequently on all fours and shimmying against vertical faces to seek out a potential crevice to scramble up.
IMG_3117.JPG
steep scrambles


Lacking iceaxes, crampons, compass, map, and then visability, we were preparing for an early turnaround, untill. . .
IMG_3126.JPG
the summit
IMG_3123.JPG


An exciting and speedy decent made for quite an impressive 5.5 hours considering the conditions.
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Re: Ben Vane - wintery scramble

Postby rockhopper » Fri Mar 11, 2011 1:41 pm

Might be the smallest munro but can be tricky in places and not the easiest to climb. :D Now you've done one report, that's you started 8)

robbiemac wrote:Lacking iceaxes, crampons, compass, map, and then visability, we were preparing for an early turnaround, until. .
:? :eh: :problem: looks like the top came as a bit of a surprise.. :lol: .glad you got back down safely but at least you'll know what to take in future 8) The weather at the start compared to the top was also totally different for us when my younger son climbed this with me as his first munro. :lol:
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Re: Ben Vane - wintery scramble

Postby blueyed » Fri Mar 11, 2011 1:55 pm

hi, welcome to WH :)
i had an undeniable pleasure of walking ben vane just a week before you and had much better conditions :))
have a look http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=10263
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Re: Ben Vane - wintery scramble

Postby Paul Webster » Fri Mar 11, 2011 1:58 pm

Glad you got back robbiemac, and a big welcome to the site!

Things are very different in winter compared to summer, when you are reading a guidebook it is referring to summer conditions. You really need to get yourself an axe, crampons and learn how to use; worth reading this.
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Re: Ben Vane - wintery scramble

Postby Del246 » Fri Mar 11, 2011 6:50 pm

Good effort. Well done.
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Re: Ben Vane - wintery scramble

Postby Merry-walker » Fri Mar 11, 2011 7:54 pm

Cracking stuff, well done on the scramble...

Great pictures and cool first report :D
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Re: Ben Vane - wintery scramble

Postby Johnny Corbett » Sat Mar 12, 2011 4:56 pm

Take Pauls advice guys and get the correct gear or you could end up a pair of stiffs on a mountain one day
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Re: Ben Vane - wintery scramble

Postby gammy leg walker » Sat Mar 12, 2011 9:23 pm

Looks like you got lucky with this one guys,winter walking is not to be taken lightly.please get yourself crampons,iceaxe and map and compass,and the ability to use them,you may not be as lucky next time,better to be safe than sorry
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Re: Ben Vane - wintery scramble

Postby blueyed » Sun Mar 13, 2011 10:36 am

gammy, that actually is a golden thought for winter walking - better to be safe than sorry.
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