Another weekend away in Glen Nevis campsite and with the forecast as good as its been for a while I hoped to be able to get in a few hills. Planned route was to start from the lower falls car park at Achriabach and ascend Mullach Nan Coirean via its North Eastern ridge, follow the ridge line to Stob Ban returning via the Devil's Ridge to Sgurr a' Mhaim and descending Sgurr a' Mhaims North Western ridge back to the car park, about 12km and 1600m of ascent or 8 miles and 5300'.
Set off up the forest track and straight away hit a diversion due to forestry commission work, neat wee signs and maps saying go up the glen, ok until I reached the end of the road then it was a muddy path beside the burn. Not the way I planned and when I had to cross a small stream, checked the map and the stream appeared to lead up through the trees and from there it would be a short walk to the ridge.
The climb did take me up onto the top of the ridge, an enjoyable 1500' in three quarters of a mile through conifer, birch wood then a bit of heather bashing. Along the ridge I followed a small path beside a deer fence. Luckily they had knocked a bit of the fence down due to the forestry diversions and I could cross over without climbing. The ridge is described as runnable, just about until the last few hundred feet which was a bit too steep for me to run, pretty rough as well, over rock and scree.
Mullach Nan Coirean is flat topped with two cairns, visited both just in case. By this time views all round Lochaber and beyond, the Ben the only top with any cloud and that would soon disappear. Stopped for some food and to check out the rest of the route.
Leaving the Mullach I ran along faint paths that follow the ridge over a few minor unamed tops towards the steep bouldery climb up to Stob Ban's summit. Sat and re-fuelled here, looking over the other side of Stob Ban, with it's huge cliffs bitten out of the dome shaped peak.
The run off Stob Ban is down a steep rocky path then along the ridge towards ex munro Sgorr an Lubhair, just before you start to climb the path splits, take the left fork down past a small lochan and then up a zig zag path to join the Devil's Ridge. Despite its name no real problems in good weather, there is about 20 yards where you are aware the path is a touch narrow but as you approach the lowest point follow the path left off the top of the ridge for an easy walk through. From there its a short trudge to the top of Sgurr a' Mhaim and another refuelling stop.
Sgurr a' Mhaim sits at the top of Glen Nevis, with its scree covered quartzite cap a pleasure to run down. The path zig zags almost to the bottom of the glen but once clear of the scree cap it gets progressively more difficult to run on, first rockier and then muddier towards the bottom. Once through a deer fence the gradient eases and its a short run back to the car park. Finished in just over 4 1/2 hours, link to some pictures here, however they don't do justice to the views.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
Wreckless Merrick
Friday night and home from home at Stereo in Renfield Lane for another dose of Eric and Amy. A longtime favourite of ours. Eric is getting on a bit, now a grandad. They were on good form and about 80 people enjoyed a 2 hour set, some good banter with plenty of songs mixed in. A few of his original tunes, some of Amy's and the rest either from their last album or latest album of covers. An odd mix, Eric one of the original Stiff record label performers and Amy an American Country and Western singer. Plenty of examples on YouTube even a few from Friday night.
Sunday another favourite, Merrick Hill Race. For those who can read maps, here's a link to a map of the route. Eight ands a half miles with 3300 feet of ascent. The undulating route takes in five hills and a couple of ridges.
The field of 34 set off at one, jump a stream and run for about 30 yards then drop into walk mode up the first climb of the day. The pattern repeats itself over the first four and a half miles as the route winds up to Merrick.
The route was flagged for the first and last few miles but none in the middle from the climb into the mist on Ben Yellary until you came back out the mist descending the Rig of the Gloon. However for those unfamiliar with the route there was plenty of Raynet marshalls at strategic points to help out if neccessary.
The traverse to pick up the ridge to Buchan Hill tussocky as usual and managed to pass two runners. I'd been tracking them for a while after they passed me on the second climb of the day, this gave me a bit of a lift and the extra energy to push on and soon put a good distance between us along the ridge.
An occaisonal glance up and I could see the next two runners further along the ridge. At the end its brakes off for the run down Buchan Hill, near the bottom was rather churned up, someone must have let the cows out. Got to within a few yards of the runner in front by jumping the fence at the bottom and just managed to avoid a collision with the photographer but then lost out by about thirty seconds on the short but steep uphill run to the finish.
Race time 2 hours 13 mins finishing 21st. A grand day out for this low key race over typical Galloway hill country, a bit rough but with plenty of runnable bits.
Sunday another favourite, Merrick Hill Race. For those who can read maps, here's a link to a map of the route. Eight ands a half miles with 3300 feet of ascent. The undulating route takes in five hills and a couple of ridges.
The field of 34 set off at one, jump a stream and run for about 30 yards then drop into walk mode up the first climb of the day. The pattern repeats itself over the first four and a half miles as the route winds up to Merrick.
The route was flagged for the first and last few miles but none in the middle from the climb into the mist on Ben Yellary until you came back out the mist descending the Rig of the Gloon. However for those unfamiliar with the route there was plenty of Raynet marshalls at strategic points to help out if neccessary.
The traverse to pick up the ridge to Buchan Hill tussocky as usual and managed to pass two runners. I'd been tracking them for a while after they passed me on the second climb of the day, this gave me a bit of a lift and the extra energy to push on and soon put a good distance between us along the ridge.
An occaisonal glance up and I could see the next two runners further along the ridge. At the end its brakes off for the run down Buchan Hill, near the bottom was rather churned up, someone must have let the cows out. Got to within a few yards of the runner in front by jumping the fence at the bottom and just managed to avoid a collision with the photographer but then lost out by about thirty seconds on the short but steep uphill run to the finish.
Race time 2 hours 13 mins finishing 21st. A grand day out for this low key race over typical Galloway hill country, a bit rough but with plenty of runnable bits.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Whinney Hill
Woke up to a sunny Sunday morning and with committments looming for the rest of the day chose a local out and back run keeping off road as much as possible. Through Christie, Argyle and Balloch Parks then out onto the Whinney Hill trail and back again, all in 9 or 10 miles and 1100' of ascent.
Good to see three of the Argyle football parks in use on the way. Steady pace into Balloch Park and up the Fairy Glen where I met a freshly summersaulted mountain biker in my way just where I wanted to leave the path, stopped for a minute to check he was ok, no helmet so lucky, we had a laugh and then I took off towards the WH trail. A few walkers out and about as well. Ran all the hills but kept it nice n easy.
The seat was already occupied when I got there and just kept going. Tried to keep the same relaxed effort on the easier run back, fine until the last mile or so, back on the tarmac just by coincidence. Finished in about 90 mins, 45 out and 44 back.
Good to see three of the Argyle football parks in use on the way. Steady pace into Balloch Park and up the Fairy Glen where I met a freshly summersaulted mountain biker in my way just where I wanted to leave the path, stopped for a minute to check he was ok, no helmet so lucky, we had a laugh and then I took off towards the WH trail. A few walkers out and about as well. Ran all the hills but kept it nice n easy.
The seat was already occupied when I got there and just kept going. Tried to keep the same relaxed effort on the easier run back, fine until the last mile or so, back on the tarmac just by coincidence. Finished in about 90 mins, 45 out and 44 back.
Monday, September 06, 2010
Ben Nevis
Super weather for this years jaunt up the Ben. I was lucky enough to get one of the 600 entries, two hundred or so were disappointed in the February draw. Arrived in Glen Nevis campsite on Friday evening, no welly camp this year, dry underfoot, sunny and you could see the Ben.
Registered on Saturday morning then went back to the campsite for an early lunch. The race started a couple of minutes before one, a steady jog round the football pitch and onto the road to Achintee, reached the end of the road in good time, about 9 minutes, with no major effort.
The tourist path rises along Melantee from here, ignored the early shortcuts and took the one at Eddies bench which seemed to go well picking up 50 or so yards on those in front. Least favourite part round windy corner followed, a few went past but no stress, reached the Red Burn feeling ok in 54 mins, within a minute of my target time. Ok means fine as usually dizzy by now!
From the Red Burn its straight up, initially on grass, then scree and rocks, began to slow down and a few small people trains went past. Stopped for a drink and some sugar to try to recharge the batteries. Reached the top in 1 hour 50 mins which meant 9 minutes lost from the Red Burn.
Turned for the descent, and jogged along, another drink then gloves on. Wandered down through McLeans Steep and the Field of Cairns, hard to find the drive required to pick up the pace and get past the runners in front after what was a difficult up and the traffic jam of runners and walkers.
As the descent got steeper started to relax and enjoy the race, found a forgiving scree filled track further left from the Red Burn than most others which meant the brakes could be switched off for a while.
At half way you hit the Grassy bank, usually a few times. Kept relaxed and tried to stay on my feet as much as possible and maintain a steady pace. At the bottom a welcome cool blast of water in the burn then back onto the tourist track, take care on the blocky gritty man made steps back round windy corner but gradually picked off a few runners, a few courtesy stops for walkers as well.
Two short cuts on the way back, the second longer section well worth it when its drier underfoot. Back on the busy tourist track again, thankfully most walkers and runners are like minded folk who make way for each other, a few don't.
Onto the road and a steady jog back for a 54 minute descent and finish at Claggan Park in 2 hours 44 minutes, 362nd out of 481. Good to meet Ian, Rich, Elaine and Catriona at the end, although I have still to see the pictures.
Registered on Saturday morning then went back to the campsite for an early lunch. The race started a couple of minutes before one, a steady jog round the football pitch and onto the road to Achintee, reached the end of the road in good time, about 9 minutes, with no major effort.
The tourist path rises along Melantee from here, ignored the early shortcuts and took the one at Eddies bench which seemed to go well picking up 50 or so yards on those in front. Least favourite part round windy corner followed, a few went past but no stress, reached the Red Burn feeling ok in 54 mins, within a minute of my target time. Ok means fine as usually dizzy by now!
From the Red Burn its straight up, initially on grass, then scree and rocks, began to slow down and a few small people trains went past. Stopped for a drink and some sugar to try to recharge the batteries. Reached the top in 1 hour 50 mins which meant 9 minutes lost from the Red Burn.
Turned for the descent, and jogged along, another drink then gloves on. Wandered down through McLeans Steep and the Field of Cairns, hard to find the drive required to pick up the pace and get past the runners in front after what was a difficult up and the traffic jam of runners and walkers.
As the descent got steeper started to relax and enjoy the race, found a forgiving scree filled track further left from the Red Burn than most others which meant the brakes could be switched off for a while.
At half way you hit the Grassy bank, usually a few times. Kept relaxed and tried to stay on my feet as much as possible and maintain a steady pace. At the bottom a welcome cool blast of water in the burn then back onto the tourist track, take care on the blocky gritty man made steps back round windy corner but gradually picked off a few runners, a few courtesy stops for walkers as well.
Two short cuts on the way back, the second longer section well worth it when its drier underfoot. Back on the busy tourist track again, thankfully most walkers and runners are like minded folk who make way for each other, a few don't.
Onto the road and a steady jog back for a 54 minute descent and finish at Claggan Park in 2 hours 44 minutes, 362nd out of 481. Good to meet Ian, Rich, Elaine and Catriona at the end, although I have still to see the pictures.
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