Mount Mallow

Last run of the year, short one just under 5 miles in about an hour. Ran along verges and fields to the path that pops up behind Carman reservoir, up through the quarry to the fort at the top of Mount Mallow, returning on path and fields past the radio mast and cemetery.

Balloch Park Cross Country

Last race in this years club GP, a three lap run round the grassy bit of Balloch Park. 10 of us took part this year including a couple of walkers who set off early. A bit of sleet and snow around, good for cross country and underfoot a bit easier than usual, not much mud. Pleased to finish 3rd inside 40 minutes.

Trossachs Trail Race

Missed the first of these three races as I couldn't find my old headtorch, new one in place, a rechargeable LED Lenser, big improvement on my old Petzl Myo. Race started and finished in Tulipan Crescent using the forest trail the Calendar Crags race finished on. Good field of 140 started along the trail and onto the road for a short stretch and back onto trails, head-torches ahead giving a clue to the gradient coming. We ended up on a loop beside the Bracklin falls returning forest roads, through the Golf Course and narrow trails before the Crags finish road/trail. Happy to finish in 76th place. Final race of the series is 6th Feb.

Buchaille Etive Mor and Stob Dubh

Set off from the Vale about 7:00 am for a run over the 2 Buchles or as far as we could get in the daylight. Parked at the end of the Lairig Gartain, started running about 9, along the road to Altnafeadh and the track for Coire na Tulaich. Picked our way up the bouldery corrie trail, easy going until the last 100 feet onto steeper ice and snow covered ground, needed some encouragement to "follow the footprints" and made it safely to the ridge! On the ridge it's a short jog up to the multiple tops of Stob Dearg and a break to take in the airy views to Glencoe below.

Buchaille Etive More has 4 tops, the two at either end are Munro's. Off we went along the stunning snowy ridge, our luck was in, the cloud was off the tops, only a slight breeze with snow cover just about perfect for running.

Stob na Doire left, Stob Coire Altruim behind right

Stob na Doire first, a wee bit icy towards the top, the zig zag path taking the sting out the climb, dropped off the other side and past the path that would take us back in to the glen. 

Stob Corie Altruim right and Stob na Broige back left from Stob Na Doire

Glen Etive Cloud Machine

Stob Coire Altruim next, a minor top, only a few minutes climb through some patches of drifting snow on the way up. 

On the way to Stob Na Broige

Stob na Broige soon comes into view. Good fun running along the ridge, the last wee climb not as steep as it looked and we were soon on the last top of the Big Buchle where we stopped for a refuel and to take in the superb 360 degree views.

Looking back along the ridge to Stob Dearg

Loch Etive

The Bidean nam Bian massif from Stob  na Broige

Wee Buchle Ridge - next

Cooling down quickly with the lack of effort we set off back along the ridge over Stob Coire Altruim to the exit col for the Lairig Gartain below, took the lowest exit point which turned out to be a bit slow and scrambly as we picked our way through some rocks. The higher snowy path would likely have been easier. Slabby rocks about half way down again slowing our descent. Climbed up to the Wee Buchles ridge following a path that disappeared into mud towards the top. 

Stob Coire Altruim from the Wee Buchle ridge

Stob Dubh's top at the end of the ridge

Along the ridge first an unnamed  top with about 200m of ascent, then a run along an undulating ridge to a steeper than expected looking climb to Stob Dubh .Great running again and the climb not as steep as it looked!

Arriving at the top as the sun was setting

A wee break to take in the views then back along the ridge before the light failed, it felt wrong to leave this place but we wouldn't be able to take in the last munro, Stob Coire Raineach, that's saved for another day! Descending back into the Lairig Gartain the sky fades with pale blues and pinks as darkness fell while we jogged back to the car.

A few more pictures here from our grand day out, 13 miles, 5500' of ascent in 7 1/2 hours, with Lindsay Cunningham.  

Beinn Dubh

Easy run up Beinn Dubh and out and back to the first of the unnamed tops. Some snow on the top, cold toes despite sealskinz as the ground was not frozen.

A bit misty so no views on top, didn't hang about finishing inside 2 hours.