Carn Mor Dearg and the Ben

Glen Nevis weekend plan to run a few Mamore hills, slept in as it was a bit wet, change of plan to CMD and the Ben, a bit shorter and busier start and finish. Ran from Glen Nevis youth hostel up heart atTack hill onto the tourist path to half way Lochain, took the path into Coire Leis crossed the river and up steep heathery bouldery slopes until the path to Carn Mor Dearg gradually made its way onto the top of the ridge.

Getting cold, leggings, gloves and headgear on, pushed the pace towards CMD summit to generate a bit of heat then taking the chicken run path just off the top where possible.

Picked my way carefully along to the climb up Nevis, missed the posts for a while, a bit too bouldery and starting to snow , back on track and summit cairn and shelter appear out the mist, sounded like a party in the shelter.

Familiar ground now, steady run down the tourist path and down heart attack hill to the youth hostel, just over 5 hours. Good fun, more pictures here.

Mid Hill

Getting harder to get out before darkness, shorter run tonight, up and down Mid Hill and the two small tops/cairns a few minutes beyond. A bit gloomy, warm and breezy with some cooling misty drizzle.

Beinn Dubh

Holiday Monday, weather improving all day to give a sunny late afternoon run. Slow climb then easy run round the corries to the two cairned tops. Took in the views and ran back to Beinn Dubhs top, nice run down to the foot of the glen.

More pictures here.

Narnain and the Cobbler

Same hills as last week but different route to start. Straight up the front of Narnain, 2 1/2 miles and 3000' plus of ascent. Mostly walking, past a few hill walkers. Into the cloud and thankfully a wee breeze as lower down too warm.

Jacket on through the Spearhead, used the 2nd gulley for a change. On top and not much too see in the cloud. Choice was Ime or the Cobbler, chose the Cobbler a bit easier. No one else on top. Ran back to Bealach a'Mhaim passing a few walkers, down past the Narnain boulders and down the zig zags, loads of walkers out in big groups. Finished just over 3 hours. More pictures here.https://photos.app.goo.gl/4xMJTZePmLhGRV6t1

Narnain and the Cobbler

Afternoon Arrochar run over Narnain and the Cobbler, man made trails most of the way makes it a bit easier. A bit warm until past the Narnain Boulders where the weather changes as usual, a nice cool breeze this time. Up Narnain on the new path as far as its built, 4 guys working away, above that its a pile of boulders, a muddy wee path forming at the side of them. Traverse across for the last climb on grassy slopes to the boulder field.

Ben Lomond past Narnains Trig

Nice on top, no one else there. A few pictures then off back down to Bealach a'Mhaim then up the Cobbler path, a few people at the top including a climber scaling the sheer face of the North Top.

Narnain from The Cobbler

Steady run back down past Narnain Boulders and through the zig zags to finish in just over three hours. More pictures here.

Conic Hill run

Hadn't run over Conic for a few years. Up the WHW then up onto the top, over the back followed a narrow trod back down to the WHW continuing down to the bridge. About turn back up the WHW and a detour onto the top again. Sun going down and set off back to Balmaha car park.

Devils Beeftub Hill Race

Final SHR Championship race of 2017, short sharp Beeftub, over 100 started, lined up just over the fence, 20 yards from the steep climb, hands and feet used to propel us up the short grassy climb onto the undulating swampy tussocky ridge round the Beeftub, last couple of undulations drier and soon at the last top before the steep plunge back down. Managed to keep upright finishing inside 33 mins to qualify for my SHR mug.

Ben Nevis

Ben Race time, near 500 lined up in Claggan Park, nice and sunny with hint of a breeze. Felt fine along the road to Achintee, onto the tourist path ran where I could, round windy corner slowed a bit, same across the scar path to the Red Burn, stopped for a drink then straight up steep grassy slopes then the Red Burn screes where the leaders started careering back down. Gradient started to ease and running again, not enough drive, fantastic views from the summit. Took it steady on the way down, working my way round each of the runners I managed to catch, only a couple passing me. From the Red Burn back down the Scar Path to rejoin the tourist path, careful on the rocky steps. Not much energy left on the road back from Achintee, finishing a few minutes slower than last year. My 13th in 14 years.

Good race, hope to be back next year.

Sgurr a'Mhaim and Stob Bhan from Glen Nevis

New bridge at Glen Nevis Visitor Centre