Arrochar Alps hill run

First run in Arrochar for a while, planned route was Glen Loin to start then up and over Ben Vane an Beinn Ime, returning via Bealach a Mhaim and the Buttermilk Burn path, forecast was low cloud/fog to start clearing around mid day. The info I had on snow cover was not much left. Started up the Glen Loin trail, no one else on that route until I joined the road from Inveruglas which was busy with walkers. Turned up Ben Vane just after Coirgrogain, good to see a few groups of walkers ahead I could use as a target to help maintain my effort. Cold gusty wind picked up with height, quite damp once I got into the mist, a few easily avoidable patches of snow and ice. The rocky scramble thankfully clear and dry. Reached the top, pretty cold, didn't hang about, set off for Ime, straight into a large snowbank, thick fog as well, couldn't see much at all, white on all sides, above and below, returned to the top, had a digital compass, got that out, the bearing I take from Vanes summit is 280 degrees, my compass was like a spinning top, no way to take a bearing. Didn't fancy trying my luck, it's easy to end up in completely the wrong place. Turned back going down the way I came up, path busy with walkers, probably encouraged by the good forecast. Reaching the Glen Loin trail, I decided to continue the loop instead of straight back, it's about 5 years since I last ran the complete loop.

Vane from Glen Loin

Misty on top

Loch Lomond, Arklet and Katrine from Vane

Disappearing stream in Glen Loin

Thundery Beinn Ime

Long run on a Friday for a change, fine day for a run if a bit hot, planned route was Glen Loin, Lag Uaine, Beinn Ime, Narnain. Turned out slightly different. Steady run round Glen Loin from Succoth, the trail goes up in a series of ramps round the base of A'Chrois into Coiregrogain, left the trail at the top of the loop into the glen between Vane and Ime, briskish walk to start, narrow paths and sheep tracks fade in and out on the way to Lag Uaine, at the end of this flat plain turn up Ime's steep slopes on pathless ground, climbing a series of small grassy ridges beside rocky crags before the main corrie opens up, one last climb to the summit ridge, as I topped out views to Narnain and the Cobbler opened up, in the back ground the Luss hills were invisible in black cloud and rain, thunder rumbling, thought I might be ok as there was little wind and its a few miles away, as I left the summit I could see a need to get off the hill a bit quicker, initially running towards Bealach a'Mhaim and the storm then turning left down into Coiregrogain, hopefully away from the storm, and somewhat safer among fir trees, heavy rain, quite refreshing, and loud extended rumblings as I reached the valley floor, the first lightning flash followed by more thunder a few seconds later, pushed on down the glen, the next flash and bang thankfully further apart. Running back round A'Chrois the rain went off and sun came out again, the only moan was sore feet running on the stoney forest trail.

A Chrois from Lag Uaine

Lag Uaine

Lochs Lomond, Arklet & Katrine from Ime

Narnain front right, Ben Lomond in the distance from Narnain

Narnain & The Cobbler from Ime

The Cobbler