Snowy Luss

Glorious sunrise when I got up today, a bit late as a powercut stopped my noisy backup alarm from forcing me out. I had planned a new route, Beinn Eich to start then along the ridge cutting off left for an anti clockwise run over Cruach an t-Sidhein, Beinn a'Mhanaich, Beinn Chaorach and Beinn Tarsuinn before picking up the Finlas circuit returning via Coille-eughain hill.

Ran up the glen road in the cool clear still morning. Pleased to find frozen ground as I left the road at Edentaggart Farm. Soon reached the snowline, perfect at first, two or three inches on a frozen base keeping my feet reasonably dry and warm. The top third not so good, drifting snow meant a bit of a fence posting trudge, hard work and slow. By the time I reached the top I had given up on the days route and after a few pictures turned back through the deep snow. As I decended into shallower snow the enjoyment returned and by the time I reached the glen I was ready for more. Crossed the road and trudged up Coille-eughain Hill at 1200' some 800' lower than Beinn Eich the snow should be ok to run through.

Good run  down to the foot of the Glen via the Paps, finding a nice path to the left of the trees and bog, an easier exit from the hill than usual. Finished in just over 3 1/2 hours for what turned out to be 3800' of ascent and 9 miles. More pictures here.

Arrochar Trails

Set off for the forest trails round Arrochar with a forecast of gales and sunshine. Planned 16 mile 3000' route anti-clockwise round Glen Loin then along to Ardgarten and back to Succouth taking the lower trail out to Ardg and the upper trail back. Clouds ripping across the sky and Lochs Lomond and Long a trifle choppy on the drive up. Luckily the Glen Loin track is sheltered, at least in the lower section. Walked the short hills on the way up to the pylons, a bit breezy now. Onto the short road section to Corriegrogain, running straight into the wind and rain. Ran the hill from the bridge and the rocky hill towards the disappearing stream. A mixture of lashing rain, sleet and sunshine in the exposed upper glen. Crossed the stream, pleased to get back into the shelter of the trees for an easy run back towards Succouth. Didn't even think about stopping as I passed Succouth and ran along towards Ardgarten. Lashing again and into the gale up the road to pick up the upper track Pretty cold by the time I got there and turned up the track, warming up as I worked my way uphill, the rain eased and the sun came out as I reached the top. Walked along for a few minutes taking some more pictures, difficult to get running again, shuffled along for a while, gradually working up to a run. An atmospheric run today through sunshine and showers, the wind howling through the trees overhead, the air heavy with the scent of pine, gullies filled with noisy streams of froth and foam. Finished just under 3 1/2 hours, 2 hours 5 for Glen L, and 1 hour 20 for the out and back to Ardg.

Arrochar Alp

A good forecast had us in Succouth at half 8 for a clockwise run up Glen Loin, we planned to leave the glen via Bealach a' Mhaim then run over Ben Narnain, 9 miles or so and 3600' of ascent. Tops in cloud but the forecast was cloud to 800m so we should pop out into the sunshine. Steady run up Glen Loin over the stream and left to the end of the track from there a steady plod over open hillside to the Bealach. We used to go through the trees, but they are too big now so detour round them to a new improved grippy stile. Bit of a struggle getting up to the Bealach, used the new fence to pull myself up but still had to stop several times to catch my breath. Towards the top a cold breeze, jackets on as we go in to the mist and snow. Soon onto the path to Narnain, it becomes icier as we climb so we move to the side on the soft rush and grass. Still not moving very well and stopping every few yards so I took on some sugar which got me back into a steady rhythm. A bit arctic near the top, rocks and boulders treacherous, covered with an invisible film of ice and a breeze stinging any exposed flesh. We didn't hang about on the top running straight across for the Spearhead gulley, difficult to find in the mist and snow, when we got there some walkers were picking their way up, we waited while they came past. We started down what would be a tricky descent, sitting down, sliding, scrambling towards the drop into the snow filled chute with a freezing cold wind howling around us and we decided to go back and return via the Bealach. Back to the top then a short scramble through the icy boulder field before a good run down grassy slopes to the Bealach and onto the path back to Succouth. Finished in 3 hours 40 for the 12 miles and 3800' eventually covered.

Polaroid Cross Country

A lot of effort had been put in to get the race on, a group were out on Friday, clearing branches and working out ways to get past a few bigger trees and bushes that blocked the paths. Sunday morning at 10am 21 runners set off on a 2 lap mud fest round the Polaroid Industrial Estate. We ran across the tussocky field and through a mud bowl in the forest before I settled into a steady pace in 7th place along the riverbank. The runners in front pulling away, the ones behind stayed there. A short climb before the run along the back of the factory then a twisty run through the trees into another field followed by the slippy track round the pond, a quick up and down then into a swampy muddy trail before popping out to run down a grassy verge to finish lap 1, over the fence and round again for lap 2 about a minute and a half slower finishing just over 40 minutes. Another lap as a cool down while the Millie breakfast bar cooked up a sausage storm. Some photos here.

Calendar Crags

I last ran this 3 years ago, a nice low key race for runners, mums, dads and kids, must have been 60 or 70 of us today. We all set off at one on a promise of a wee sherry and a mince pie to finish, Ben Ledi gleaming white away to the west in the wintery sun. The narrow path zig zags up through the woods, a few fallen trees to negotiate this year, pretty soon the gradient eases and the trees thin out with good views to the hills to the north, managed to get running again past the monumental cairn for the short drop off the back of the hill, even managed to overtake a few. Onto the road all to soon, luckily its only for a few minutes until we get back onto the forest tracks for a fast undulating run to finish in 36:18. Back to the McLaren Leisure Centre for the promised sherry and pies and a welcome seat out of the cold breeze.