Saturday morning run over the Luss hills, start with Beinn Dubh then see what happens. Took it nice and slow and reached the cairn in 53 minutes, stopped for a couple of pictures, snow across the loch on the summit dome of Ben Lomond and also catching the top of Beinn Eich.
Cold feet again as the near freezing water flushed in and out with each step on the run along to the un named top before Mid Hill. Superb views to the North with clear skies beyond snow capped peaks. The Brack and Donich I climbed last week and the Arrochar Alps all capped with snow. Ran down Mid Hill back to Glen Luss where a weak heart was overuled by a chilled brain and instead of climbing up the South side of the Glen I jogged back down the Glen to finish the 7 miles and 2500' of ascent in just under two hours.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Sunday, October 17, 2010
The Brack and Ben Donich
Took advantage of the good forecast for Saturday and set off just after 8 for a run over the two mountains on the opposite side of Glen Croe from the Cobbler. Having run round them on the forest trails I thought it would be nice to run over them.
Planned route was 12 miles with 4500' of ascent. Starting from the Ardgarten visitor centre down the track beside loch Long, up the Coilessan Glen track to the highest point, up and over the Brack then up and down Ben Donich to finish back at Ardgarten.
The first couple of miles of tarmac road undulate uphill for 400 feet or so. Onto forest roads and soon the sign for Coilessan Glen appears, the track steepens up a bit climbing 1300 feet in two miles. Runnable apart from 10 mins of steep manmade path from where the road ends.
The path over the moor to Lochgoilhead is marked by white posts, I had been here once before in Feb 2001, a few Jooster fuelled Millies climbed up and over the moor from Lochgoilhead.
Running up Coilessan Glen I could see the ridge to the Brack summit with lots of small stick figures keeping watch from the horizon. The ridge is just over a mile long with 1000' of climbing, a few tracks and trods but no definite routes. Climbed just off the ridge line to save some of the continual up and down. Soon realised that the stick figures were a large and noisy herd of deer. I got quite close to some of them as I meandered round the lumps and bumps that make up this ridge.
Great views all round from the Brack summit, Ailsa Craig and Jura easily visible to the eye but sadly not my phone cameras lens. After a short stop I picked my way down the steep grassy bank that is the Brack's North ridge, only a few small crags to negotiate. Crossed the beallach towards Donich's east ridge and took a line south of the first hump before aiming for the crest of the ridge. No real paths here either, just deer and sheep tracks.
Closing in on Donich's summit I met people for the first time today, one of the local walking clubs. With a few Millies taking part there was no surprises that the group had split up! A short refuel on Donich's summit taking in the views before dropping back down the East ridge, this time on the North side, turning towards the white posts that mark the path back through the forest and the forest road back to Ardgarten.
Finished in just under 4 1/2 hours, nice run on quiet hills, tough underfoot with few real paths, easy route finding along the ridges but a bit of time required to work out the best lines to take. A few pictures here .
Planned route was 12 miles with 4500' of ascent. Starting from the Ardgarten visitor centre down the track beside loch Long, up the Coilessan Glen track to the highest point, up and over the Brack then up and down Ben Donich to finish back at Ardgarten.
The first couple of miles of tarmac road undulate uphill for 400 feet or so. Onto forest roads and soon the sign for Coilessan Glen appears, the track steepens up a bit climbing 1300 feet in two miles. Runnable apart from 10 mins of steep manmade path from where the road ends.
The path over the moor to Lochgoilhead is marked by white posts, I had been here once before in Feb 2001, a few Jooster fuelled Millies climbed up and over the moor from Lochgoilhead.
Running up Coilessan Glen I could see the ridge to the Brack summit with lots of small stick figures keeping watch from the horizon. The ridge is just over a mile long with 1000' of climbing, a few tracks and trods but no definite routes. Climbed just off the ridge line to save some of the continual up and down. Soon realised that the stick figures were a large and noisy herd of deer. I got quite close to some of them as I meandered round the lumps and bumps that make up this ridge.
Great views all round from the Brack summit, Ailsa Craig and Jura easily visible to the eye but sadly not my phone cameras lens. After a short stop I picked my way down the steep grassy bank that is the Brack's North ridge, only a few small crags to negotiate. Crossed the beallach towards Donich's east ridge and took a line south of the first hump before aiming for the crest of the ridge. No real paths here either, just deer and sheep tracks.
Closing in on Donich's summit I met people for the first time today, one of the local walking clubs. With a few Millies taking part there was no surprises that the group had split up! A short refuel on Donich's summit taking in the views before dropping back down the East ridge, this time on the North side, turning towards the white posts that mark the path back through the forest and the forest road back to Ardgarten.
Finished in just under 4 1/2 hours, nice run on quiet hills, tough underfoot with few real paths, easy route finding along the ridges but a bit of time required to work out the best lines to take. A few pictures here .
Tuesday, October 05, 2010
Ben Venue
Full course this year after the wind curtailed 2009 premiere of the race. The start and finish is from the access road to the Loch Katrine sluices. The first and last miles on forest tracks through Gleann Riabhach, the middle section off road up and over Ben venue then Creag a' Bhealaich.
About 90 or so runners including 4 Millies, set off in pouring rain on an undulating run across Achray water and into the Forest. It wasn't looking good for the climb up Ben Venue then shortly before we hit the hill the rain stopped.
Followed the crocodile up the hill and managed to lose only a couple of places. From the first top a rocky path takes you across a few minor ups and downs to Creag a' Bhealaich, a short climb and you pick up a narrow track that switches over to the north side of the hill, then a sharp left on a faint path over the hill to start the steep slippery descent back towards the forest.
Just before the forest you pick up a rough roller coaster path with a few streams to jump. The run through the forest starts on the forest road you crossed on the ascent, at the same place you turn back into the forest for a run back to the finish where you have to suffer the last couple of hundred yards on the road before you get to sample the sandwiches and cakes laid on by the host club.
A new race with a variety of terrain, probably too much forest track for the purists and more running than usual which meant I got past two or three I usually struggle to match. Only the climb up Ben Venue and a short section over Creag a' Bhealaich where I had to walk.
Link to course map here.
Splits;
18 mins to CP1 exit from the forest.
34 mins climb to CP2 the top of Ben Venue.
26 mins ridge run to CP3 Creag a' Bhealaich.
17 mins descent to CP4 re-enter the forest.
10 mins to the finish.
Finished just over 1 hour 45 for the 7 1/2 miles and 3000' of ascent. A few good runners out and as next year it is an SHR champs race we will see if todays 70 minute winning time is beaten.
About 90 or so runners including 4 Millies, set off in pouring rain on an undulating run across Achray water and into the Forest. It wasn't looking good for the climb up Ben Venue then shortly before we hit the hill the rain stopped.
Followed the crocodile up the hill and managed to lose only a couple of places. From the first top a rocky path takes you across a few minor ups and downs to Creag a' Bhealaich, a short climb and you pick up a narrow track that switches over to the north side of the hill, then a sharp left on a faint path over the hill to start the steep slippery descent back towards the forest.
Just before the forest you pick up a rough roller coaster path with a few streams to jump. The run through the forest starts on the forest road you crossed on the ascent, at the same place you turn back into the forest for a run back to the finish where you have to suffer the last couple of hundred yards on the road before you get to sample the sandwiches and cakes laid on by the host club.
A new race with a variety of terrain, probably too much forest track for the purists and more running than usual which meant I got past two or three I usually struggle to match. Only the climb up Ben Venue and a short section over Creag a' Bhealaich where I had to walk.
Link to course map here.
Splits;
18 mins to CP1 exit from the forest.
34 mins climb to CP2 the top of Ben Venue.
26 mins ridge run to CP3 Creag a' Bhealaich.
17 mins descent to CP4 re-enter the forest.
10 mins to the finish.
Finished just over 1 hour 45 for the 7 1/2 miles and 3000' of ascent. A few good runners out and as next year it is an SHR champs race we will see if todays 70 minute winning time is beaten.
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