Glen Finlas

Setting off about half nine we could see the tops were covered in snow and didn't fancy a slog up either Shantron or Creachin hills so we ran along the road towards the damn. Just before the damn a track leads off to the right and makes for a runnable climb, once past the loch we leave the track and head towards the low point on the ridge just past Beinn Ruisg. Following a faint trod up the side of the glen to begin with, once into the snow we take what looks like the smoothest route onto the ridge avoiding a big gulley near the top of the glen.

On the ridge we work our way round anti-clockwise towards the two un-named tops marked 657m and 693m, only sheep for company today. From top 693 we run away from the Finlas horseshoe, West out to Beinn Tharsuinn then North to Beinn Chaorach, these hills overlook the top of Glens Luss and Fruin. This stretch is bit more exposed and I could feel my face freezing as we run along. The top of Chaorach is like a blast freezer, we didn't wait too long at the trig point before turning back towards the Finlas horseshoe. Its hard going in the snow, one second your on top then the crust breaks and you sink in up to your knees, by the time we get back to top 693 my legs are like jelly, we run straight over on a snowy path towards Loch Lomond. Working hard now over tussocks and snow drifts we maintain a steady pace to Balcnock and down towards Craperoch where there's a few peat hags and bogs to negotiate, difficult to run now and after a few shin crunching tumbles into icy bogs we escape by turning North East straight towards the glen from the top of Craperoch for a steep run down to cross the damn wall and an easy 2 mile run back to the car. We covered 4 hills plus two un-named tops (one twice) in 12 miles with 4000' of ascent in just under 4 hours. A few  more pictures here.

Balloch Park Cross Country

Great morning for the first of the Club Cross Country races, pity my effort didn't match the day. Nineteen runners in all, three laps for most, a few two & one lappers as well. The Spaniels providing moving hurdles when you weren't looking. Took the first lap nice n steady then got slower and slower, it was a nice day for a run. Team Millie out in full with cups of tea and coffee to finish, there was soup, a fry up and mulled wine if it took your fancy.