Monday, March 23, 2009

Ben Vane Sat 21st March

More hills this weekend, hopefully beating the weather as forecast to change through Saturday, set off for a circuit starting up Glen Loin, leaving the track to tackle Ben Vane & Beinn Ime, descend to Beallach a'Mhaim returning to Succouth between Narnain & the Cobbler about 13 miles & 5700' of ascent overall.

With only the tops with any cloud set off just after 8:30, walked the steeper parts of the Glen Loin track, arriving at the Ben Vane path in just under 50 mins. Steady plod up Ben Vane, increase in erosion noticeable again this year with many walking pole holes just beside the path which will no doubt crumble by next year. Mist came down to meet me and about 2000'+ came across 2 Ptarmigan, near where I saw them a couple of years ago, still in winter plumage.

Reached the top of Vane in just under 2 hours, no views, clagged in. The descent off the back to Lag Uaine is either a nightmare if you get the line wrong, or easy....this time easy & quickest yet, about 15 mins with no real effort, what a difference when you get the line right. Only problem still clagged in until the last few feet meant I couldn't pick out the line up to Glas Bhealach & Ben Ime. Lag Uaine is a lonely place in the mist.

Opted for a route change through to Glen Loin, a nice run, coming out above the dissapearing river then set off towards the top of the Glen & back into the mist for the climb out to Beallach a'Mhaim returning to Succouth after feeling my way to the path between Narnain & the Cobbler, didn't see much of either.

Distance as planned but the route change meant about 500' less ascent. Cloud level dropped about 1000' in the hour or so either side of Ben Vane and then returned to blue skies by the time I arrived back in the Vale. A few pics in the Galleria.

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