Narnain and the Cobbler

Arrochar run, set off in the rain, quickly turned to snow, on the way towards the Narnain boulders, past the boulders windy. Up Narnain's north shoulder no one had been, made my way up managed to stay around the path although under snow and clagged in. Turned back near the top, steep n rocky. Followed my footprints back to the bealach, jog walk up the Cobbler, stayed on the grass to the central top, vision tricky, judging where the ground was, snow blind? Chat with a couple on top, gave them my thoughts on safe descent route. Fun run down the back steps in my microspikes, ran down the trail gradually coming out cloud n snow to finish just over 3 hours, photos here. A few pictures here. Sunday ran along to the stoneymollan, up and over coming down behind the reservoir, about turn n back over, a double stoneymollan, most I've ran for a while. A few pictures here.

Polaroid Cross Country

2 lap club race, round the Polaroid estate. Tussocky field to start, first minor detour round overgrown old paths. Steady run along the smooth Riverside path settled into third place, lost a place on the steps, didn't get it back to the second lap. Nice n muddy through the trees. Kept it steady through the field. Careful not to slip into the pond, slow up the hill. Short downhill recovery, worked our way across to the ditch and short run back along the verge to finish the lap. Second lap took back 3rd place, realised effort had dropped, kept a steady effort pushing on when required to keep my place, finished about 36 1/2 mins, good day for a run.

Luss horseshoe

Couldn't get to the top of the glen for ice, plan b, Bein Dubh, Mid Hill and Coille Eughain hill to finish. Snow and ice crunching underoot all the way, blue skies and a cool breeze made the effort worth while, a bit slower than usual to the top. Run-round the Corrie's plenty of photo stops, Mid Hill break taking in the views up to the top of Loch Lomond and surrounding snowy peaks. Descent off Mid Hill back to the glen fun in the snow. Ran up the road then acrosss to Coille Eughain Hill steep as usual. Steady walk up its steep sides, views opening up to a stormbound Cobbler framed by Glens  Luss and Mollochan. From the top views opened up over Loch Lomond. Descending over the paps a small herd of deer provided a welcome distraction from tussocks and bogs. Finished n 3 1/2 hours, stunning day. Pictures here. Sunday recovery run, a couple of hours over Stoneymollan, a bit stop start through brashing from felled trees, visit to the Trig Point and Fort eventually dropping down behind the reservoir and back through fields, a few photos here.

Glen Finlas

Run up the glen road to start. On to the track just before the reservoir, undulating up, a fence post signalled a right turn up to the ridge. Round the tops struggling today. Walking all the ups. Plans for Tharsuin shelved. Kept to the Finlas loop dropping down to the dam and the run back down the glen to finish about 3 hours, a few photos here.

Ben Ime

Set off from Succoth, steady run up through the forest, clear of the trees, cool breeze, Cobbler appeared, snow flakes ahead. Past the Narnain boulders and up to the bealach. Ground frozen, helped keep my feet dry and not so cold. Slow trudge up Ime's southern shoulder into cloud n snow. A bit icy on top, didn't hang about. Ran down avoiding bogs as best we could. A few walkers out today. Back down the trail between Narnain and the Cobbler walkers still coming up, took the grassy side trails where I could. Finished just over 3 hours. A few photos here.