Saturday, March 24, 2012

Luss Hill Run

Navigation run today, the plan was to start up Beinn Eich at the top of Glen Luss then go a new route anticlockwise via Cruach an t-Sidhein, Beinn a' Mhanach, Beinn Chaorach and Tharsuin overlooking Glen Fruin dropping back into Glen Luss off Coille Eughain Hill. Parked at the top of the Glen and set off into low cloud finally popping out the cloud near the top of Beinn Eich.



Ran along the ridge down into the cloud contouring to the left of Beinn Lochain to save some energy. As I reached what I thought was Creag Tharsuinn before the next climb the sound of gunfire from the MOD range encouraged a change from the planned route which skirts the range. Didn't fancy missing a turning in the cloud and running into some wargames. Sat down for 10 minutes to see if the cloud was going to clear, no change so about turn and climbed up to the top of what I hoped was Beinn Lochain, soon back above the cloud and pleased to be where I thought. Continued my run round to Doune Hill then dropped into Sith Mor and the stiff climb to the top of Mid Hill, by then the cloud had gone leaving a hazy sunshine. I would probably have been ok but I'll leave that run for another day. Finished the 9 miles and 4000' in just under 4 hours. Some more pictures here.

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Stoneymollan

My first run for a while round the Stoney in cool spring sunshine, I turned off the road and the quiet soon shattered by motorcylists scrambling round tracks in the woods. Left them behind and the only sound my laboured breathing, good to get out again moving over rough ground just fast enough to stay warm. Jogged my way round the reservoir and soon going up past the quarry, managed to keep going til the top and a nice view down the Clyde.


Followed the trail to the trig point where I stopped again, not for long in the chilly breeze. Easy run down  to the top of the Stoney passing masses of fallen conifers almost reaching the path. Down the Stoney and along the bypass returning home via Christie Park. Out for an hour and a half.

Sunday, March 04, 2012

Conic Hill Race

Turned our for the Conic Hill Race last week. Local race with a sensible start time, 11:00 am. 5k and with 1000' of ascent a nice wee race, after a short section of forest track into walk mode up the steep steps about a third of the way up then onto the open hill up Conic's lumpy spine. A few false summits and we were at the top. About turn and drop onto the WHW path running back down, leaving the path running straight on just before we were to meet the outward route. We ran down a narrow spur before dropping steeply towards some woods, across a fence onto a narrow path for as short up and down a root covered path to finish just inside 39 mins. Results here, lots of pictures here, and here.