Trailing undulations

Arrochar trails beckoned in the low cloud and rain. Plan was to stat at Succoth up onto the trail to Ardgarten and back followed by a loop round Glen Loin, if the weather cleared on the way back to Glen Loin go up the Cobbler trail to Bealach a'Mhaim and come back through Glen Loin. Drizzly to start then lashing as I ran along the high trail to Honeymoon Car Park just past Ardgarten.

Looked like today's pictures would be the waterfalls along the way, did manage to snap a couple of hazy pictures of The Brack and Ben Donich through the gloom.

Started back up the lower trail keen to get back into the shelter of the trees, looking back the Cobbler's SW top above Glen Croe was clear.

The rain and wind eased so I went up the Cobbler trail, its a good climb reaching 2000' in 3 or 4 miles. Past the Narnain Boulders any sheltered spot was covered in snow. The weather closed in again on the approach to the Bealach, hail instead of rain.

The run across to the Bealach fun as I found a few ditches and streams hidden under a smooth layer of snow. Big detour to avoid the swamp at the exit from the Bealach, happy to drop down into the shelter of the Glen, nice new fence to hold onto down the steep slippy ground.

Took the rougher path to the right of Alt Coiregrogain to avoid crossing the swollen river further down. Hail had turned to rain for a soaking steady run down the Glen back to Succoth, 16 miles, 3500', 3 1/2 hours.A few more pictures here. Sunday we had a recce round next weeks Whinney Hill race route from the Moss O'Balloch, rain pouring down as we started, gradually cleared and dried up with some blue skies as we finished, underfoot went from wet to muddy to wet to muddy.

Good fun despite the weather. A squidgy 6 miles in 1 1/2 hours.

Local runs

First club race of the year, Polaroid Cross Country, 17 starters and 16 finished. 2 Laps, just over 2  miles per lap. Started out in third place, gradually dropped back to fifth and stayed there till the end, slowed in the second lap. Sunday, another lazy late start, a run round Whinney Hill, our next club race in a couple of weeks. Plenty of mud and a few fallen trees look set to make it an interesting run. Low cloud so no views of the Luss Hills from the Seat.

Cold Toes

Woke up late today hoping for bad weather but it was to clear skies. Got my gear together and set off for Luss. Arrived at the bottom of the glen under a dark cloud emptying out sleety rain. Sat for a few minutes, didn't fancy being up on the ridges in this and set off for Arrochar for a trail run instead. The skies cleared within a mile or so and I returned to Glen Luss for the planned run over 4 hills, about 13 miles and 5000'.

Today's route, left to right, Beinn Eich, Doune Hill, Mid Hill and Beinn Dubh,

Ran up the glen to start, snow dusted hills all round. Ran and walked up Beinn Eich, into the snow about half way up. Reached the top, great views, ran along to Doune Hill into the teeth of a freezing cold wind over the minor top of Beinn Lochain. Stopped for a few pics on top of Doune Hill, a trifle cold to hang about. Pleasant run into Sith Mor, in the sun most of the way down and sheltered from the wind.

On the slow trudge up Mid Hill my feet start to freeze, worse a squall approached as I arrived at the top luckily it passed by, the wind helping send it off down Glen Douglas.

Ran along to Beinn Dubh, legs tiring and happy to reach the cairn for the 2 mile run down to the foot of the glen, finishing in about 3 hours 50. Some more pictures here.

Sunday and we met for a run round next weeks Cross Country route, luckily the flooding from the Leven is starting to subside and we could get all the way round with dry feet. Disturbed a Heron on the small pool, it hung around long enough to watch our vain attempts to photograph it. Followed the trail back round to the bridge and from there we decided to go for a run over Stoneymollan including a new trail through the quarry up to the fort. Good run along Overton and Bromley Muir's except for my icy feet, no Sealskinz today. 10 miles, 1200' in just over two hours.

Arrochar Trails and Ben Lomond

Set off for Arrochar for a run round some undulating trails, starting in Succoth, along to Ardgarten, a nice run on the trail to the top of the Rest and Be Thankful, back down towards Ardgarten on the new tarmac surface on the old road before taking the upper trail back to Succoth. About 14 miles and 2800' in just over three hours.

Clouds just above the tops, most of the them snow covered, we were lucky and got it dry. Some more pictures here.

Sunday's run, Ben Lomond, we set out early to beat the forecast wind and rain. Pleasant running up the lower slopes, dry and not too windy. On the climb up to the plateau the wind picked up, time for wooly hats, into the cloud with the first snow on the ground. The snow got deeper as we went along the plateau, but the wind dropped so not too cold. Had a go at climbing up to the summit ridge, ok but didn't fancy coming back down so I waited at the end of the plateau while my companion went on up to the summit ridge, not quite topping out, too icy. Waiting for him to come back I put on my spare fleece, jacket and overtrousers, only my feet suffering from the cold, even with Sealskinz.

Easy run back down, snow and ice along the plateau, nice slippy rocks for the rest of the way. Came back out of the clouds as we left the plateau, wind reduced to a gentle breeze, jacket, overtrousers, hat and gloves all had to come off, it was too warm, some contrast to the arctic world a 1000' feet above.

We ran about 7 miles with 2800' of ascent in 2 1/2 hours including my 15 minute wait.