Arrochar Run

First run in the Arrochar Alps for a while. Narnain and the Cobbler was the plan. Dry and not much of a breeze made for a warm start up through the trees, onto the open hill to a slight cooling breeze, followed the path beside the buttermilk burn passed the Narnain boulder where the breeze picked up.

The Cobbler from the Buttermilk Burn path

Short break at the Bealach a Mhaim to put on my jacket. Startred up the new path and steps towards Narnains bouldery summit struggling against the wind until we got away from the bealach.

Ime from Bealach a Mhaim

Narnains Trig with a faint Ben Lomond in the background

At the top hid behind the dry stane shelter hat and gloves on.

The Cobbler from Narnain

An easy jog back to the bealach and onto the Cobbler back stairs. Steady plod, no running up here today.

The Cobblers Eastern top 

Jogged along the shoulder then another plod up to the Needle.

The Needle

Stopped for a couple of pictures then back down to the Bealach as the rain came on. Steady jog past the Boulders and down the zig zags to finish at Succoth, just over three hours today, good run.

Whinny Hill Cross Country

2nd race in this years Club GP, 5 of us. 2 had set off early leaving three to race, we had spread out by the first few hundred yards and stayed in that order to the end. Pretty good conditions cool but with a slight drizzle, started too fast which made the climb up harder than it needed to be, happy to reach the seat, from there its mostly down hill. Finished inside 47 mins.

Carnethy 5 Hill Race

Annual pilgramige to Beeslack High School for a school dinner with the Hill Race as an appetiser. Blue skies on the way over turned to rain as we left for the buses, thankfully blue skies returned by the time we were dropped off at race start.

Hiding from the wind with coffee and a biscuit. Race started about 2pm with the charge across the bog, walk jog up Scald Law, met the breeze head on at the top, hard to keep moving forward. Picked up the pace on the run towards South Black Hill my rucksack thought it was a parachute as the wind caught it. The Kips came and went, short lactic inducing bumps. Wind behind now, helping on the run down and across to the Howe. More lactic undulations on the climbs up Carnethy, nothing major just enough to make you walk while you think you should be running.

Running down Carnethy happy there's no more ups, first part grassy then heather and scree my new inov8's perform and I gain a few places. Across the bog I lose one place, happy to finish inside 85 mins with a school dinner to come.

Luss Hills

My last couple of runs in the Luss Hills were run in poor visibility in low cloud and snowing so an earlier start today to catch the sun. Parked at the top of the glen and set off up Beinn Eich, sky couldn't have been any bluer, the snow made for hard going and rather than break a trail I followed the few footprints I could find in the snow, even so I still walked most of the way up. Could see two walkers about half way up, just catching them as they got to the top!

Ben Lomond with Stob Binnien/Ben More/Cruach Ardrain back left

A couple of photos and set off towards Beinn Lochain, only one set of footprints to follow now.

Beinn Eich from ascent of Beinn Locahin

Over Beinn Locahin and up the short steep climb to Doune Hill for some more pics.

The Cobbler, Beinn Ime & Narnain from Doune Hill

Passed the other walker leaving Doune Hill. Passed a couple of runners on their way up. Towards the bottom the snow had been melted away by the sun, nice day. Slow climb up Mid Hill back into the snow, much busier here, lots of walkers out enjoying the clear skies and views.

Arrochar Alps from Mid Hill

Beinn Eich from Mid Hill

Visited the two wee cairns for some more pictures before turning back down Mid Hill, stunning day, finished in just over 4 1/2 hours.