Vane Ime

Up to Arrochar to try some bigger climbs, forecast was clear for the morning a few showers pm. Usual delays meant an afternoon run. Up through Glen Loin to start, warm, little breeze, Passed a few walkers on the way. Started up the Ben Vane path, steady trudge, could see black cloud gradually enveloping Ben Lomond, thankfully the Arrochar Alps would stay clear.

A few walkers coming down, only passed one going up, stuck at the wee crag  just before the summit with his large boxer dog. Good views all round. Set off for the turning stone for the run down to Lag Uaine. Good route choice avoiding crags and the steeper grassy banks, soon at the bottom of the ascent ridge towards Glas Bealach.

Went across to the far side for a change before turning up the last climb to Imes summit, a few people here.

Short refuel then off towards Bealach a'Mhaim avoiding the boggiest parts. Crossed the bealach and joined the buttermilk burn path towards the Narnain  Boulders. Steady run down through both sets of zig zag paths to finish over 4 1/2 hours. Good day for an Arrochar run. More pictures here. 

Cruach an t Sidhein

Afternoon run to this steep wee hill. Parked at the top of Glen Luss and ran over Beinn Eich, started the climb up Beinn an Lochain then veered off towards Cruach an t Sidhein.

Ran up the ridge to the flat topped summit, good views all round, to the Crianlarich munros and Arran, hazy Jura hills on the horizon. Turned back and ran down to the bealach with Beinn an Lochain then a rising traverse towards Beinn Eich.

Slow trudge to the top then steady run to finish, over 3 hours. More pictures here.

Arrochar run

Trying to build up my runs and set off for Arrochar to run Narnain and the Cobbler. Started just after 12, plenty of walkers out going up and down. Warm going up the zig zags through the trees, nice breeze from there to the Bealach a'Mhaim where wind picked up, hat, gloves and jacket on for a trudge up the new Narnain path. A few patches of snow from half way up and despite using my microspikes i turned back at the start of a snow covered boulder field below the summit. Good fun running down snowy banks back to the Bealach. Steady walk up the Cobblers back steps, detour to avoid the usual snow bank. Running again as the slope eased then walked up the snowy slope to the central summit.

Not much to see and turned back after a quick refuel. Soon back at the Bealach and the run alongside Buttermilk burn and back down to Succoth, finished just over 3 hours.

Beinn Dubh

Plan was for a longer run today, made do with a snowy Beinn Dubh, ran the first third then walked as the snow deepened, ranging from a few inches to a few feet. Zig zagged up picking a line up where the most tufts of grass poked through the snow. Ran the odd patch where the snow had been blown away.

Rime encrusted fence at the top. Tried running along the top, snow just too deep and soon turned back.

Might have kept going if the cloud had cleared a bit sooner, about a third of the way down, blue skies and sun. Good fun on the downhills apart from the snow buildup under my microspikes. Finished in about two hours. More pictures here.