Racing again, Stoneymollan, Clachnaben

Thursday evening saw the clubs Stoneymollan Hill Race, my first club race this year. 7 of us ran, 1st lady won easily beating my handicap system. The rest of us within a couple of minutes except one guest runner a bit further back and one lost soul, who jogged in a bit later still. Saturday and the long drive towards Banchory for the first SHR Championship race, Clachnaben,a rough heathery muddy trudge sponsored by Deeside Brewery. Three hills in succession, Threestane, Mount Shade and Clachnaben with its distinct rocky summit tor. Set off at the back, planned to keep it steady until the climb up Clachanben, just about managed. Mostly blue skies with a couple of small snow showers blowing through as we went round, chilly once out the forest and onto the hills. 14k/8 miles and 700m/2300' of ascent, provisional results show I finished a few seconds faster than 2012.

Tea, coffee, home baking and plenty of the Sponsors Product at the finish.

Sunday's recovery run, slow run up and back to the Fort.

Snow capped Arrochar run

Keen for some steeper stuff set off for Arrochar, Ben Vane and Beinn Ime the plan. Loaded up the rucksack and drove through up lochside, snow capped Ben looked good. Usual car park full again. Ran up Glen Loin, a few walkers about, arrived at the Vane turn off a bit quicker than usual. Pushed hard to the cave passing a few walking groups on the way. First big snowbank about 20 mins from the top. Over the nobbly bits at the top lots of snow to try out my microspikes, the summit strangely clear of snow.

Great views all round, pity I didn't clear my phone camera lens, pictures a bit hazy and don't do the day justice. Short break on top then down the back into Lag Uaine, boggy lower down with snow melt. Met a runner going in the opposite direction on my approach to Glas Beallach, he was doing the race route in reverse but wasn't sure he'd have time for Vorlich. Steady snowy trudge to the top of Ime and a wee rest.

Lots of soft snow for the first few hundred yards off Ime with more bog and melt water towards Bealach a Mhaim. Spikes off for the trot between the Cobbler and his wife. Delightful zig zag path to finish 13miles and 5500'+ in about 5 1/2 hours. More pictures here. Sunday cool down jog past the reservoir though the quarry to the fort running back past the radiomast.

Dumgoyne and Ime

Saturday's run, double Dumgoyne with the out and back to the Earl's Seat in between. Managed to run to the two boulders on the way up then jog walked to the top. Past a few walkers on the way up Dumgoyne. Good run along to the Earl's Seat.

Sun began to break through on the way back, the climb up Dumgoyne much easier from behind.

 

About 7 miles, finished under two hours. Boathouse afternoon just had to have another double, this time Glengoyne, in celebration of the mornings run.

Sunday, blue sky perfection, away to Arrochar, had meant to run a couple, made do with Beinn Ime, stunning day among the remnants of the recent snows. Finished inside 3 hours, more pictures here.

Luss Horseshoe

Back to Glen Luss, short horseshoe, starting with Mid Hill, never run up this one before, always down, along the ridge to the two small cairns then back into the glen and a climb up Doune Hill, snow filled gullies around the summit, along the ridge over Beinn an Lochain and Beinn Eich, finished in about 3 1/2 hours. Interesting navigation in misty conditions, a wee wander on Mid Hill, before crossing back over the path into the right glen. 
 

No views today, cloud down below all the tops and ridges.

Trossachs Night Trail Race #3

3rd and final race in the series, Aberfoyle again but the David Marshall Lodge side of the road. Trail wound up through the trees to the DML and down the trails behind the lodge only to kick up on a long forest trail to Braeval with a short muddy bit in the middle, returning behind the golf course then down through the golf course to the trail along side the 11th, a couple of twists and turns back onto forest roads and finish with soup in the Forth Inn. Good fun on a cool clear starry night, need a better head torch.

Glen Douglas

6 mile 3500' trudge round the three tussocky Glen Douglas hills, Beinn Bhreac, Beinn Reoch and Tullich Hill, kept on the move by the fresh breeze on the tops to go with the great 360 degree views of snow capped mountains and hills, Paddy's milestone in the distance. Just under three hours, pictures here.

Wintery weekend

Saturday set off for Luss, same run from a few weeks ago the road works stopped. Good day for a run, no wind, ground frozen so dryish warmish feet. Parked at the top of the glen, set off for Beinn Eich, into snow about 1500'.

 From Beinn Eich towards Doune Hill

About a foot deep at the top, kept to the less snowy south (left) side of the ridge. Run towards Beinn an Lochain kept low (left) avoiding the snowier ridge path. Doune Hills top nice and snowy, picked my way down the back keeping to the tussocky ground where I could avoiding the smoother steep snow slopes.
 

 Mid Hill from Doune Hill

Climb up Mid Hill back into some snow at the top before an easy run off into the glen now filled with warm sunshine, finished under four hours, photos here. Sunday's plan was a short run over Stoneymollan, sun and blue sky changed that, set off for Arrochar. Both car parks full to overflowing, ran up the tourist path, got a row for taking a shortcut from a guy who claimed he helped make the paths.

 The Cobbler

Out the forest and a white topped Cobbler shining above a heathery hillside, the path clear of snow until the Narnain boulders, maybe that's why they are there. Ran up Narnain from the bealach, snow smoothing the way, microspikes on as it got steeper. Walkers and climbers everywhere. Snow cover made crossing the boulder field easy, stunning views from the top.

 Views down Loch Long to Arran from Narnain

Stayed and took in the views for a few minutes, fun run down in my microspikes. Finished inside three hours, more pictures here.

Ben Bowie

Saturday, first run for a week, touch of manflu, through Chrsitie Park to the Stonymollan, followed the 3LW to Ben Bowie.

 
Hail shower sent me back towards Stoneymollan after a couple of minutes, along past the Trig, Fort and Radiomast, finished the 10 or so miles in just under 2 1/2 hours. Sunday recovery run up behind the reservoir, through the quarry to the Fort, back down via the Radiomast.

Carnethy 5

Snowy day for this years charge round 5 Pentland Hills.

Not at my best so took it easy across the bogs, 1st climb felt ok, good stretch on my legs, passing a few on the way up, flats and downhills slow, repeat another 4 times, good to pass folk going up for a change probably as I wasn't using much energy or oxygen on the flats or downs. Slowest C5 time and my 1st race where it snowed the whole way. RO insisted on an extra layer worn or carried, sensible, very cold on the tops, although fine if you kept moving. Report and links to pictures here. Finished 408th out of 499 in about 97mins.

Luss

Plan was Eich, Doune, Mid, roadworks half way up the glen threatened to delay the drive home. Back to the bottom of the glen, route change, Dubh, Mid, Coille-eughain, a bit shorter and less climb, still about 10 miles and 3500' of ascent.

Not too cold to start, breeze picked up nearer the top into the cloud then snow, jacket and wooly hat on. Run along to Mid's snowy tops.

Drop back into the glen into sleety hail, the cloud level had dropped. Easy jog up the glen road before crossing the new bridge and slippery trudge up CE Hill. Steady run down the Paps across the fields back to the bottom of Glen Luss, just over three hours.

Ben Bowie

Set off late pm, along the bypass to Stoneymollan, followed the 3LW turning off to summit Ben Bowie.

Ran back the same way to the top of the Stoney then along the moor passed trig and fort descending past the radiomast, always seemed to be running into the wind with a bit of snow about and flesh eating hail squalls every15 minutes, finished in about 2 1/2 hours, more pictures here.

Trossachs Night Trail Race #2

Second of three races, this one at Calandar, smaller field, about 70, cold, mixture  of clear skies and sleet, going better than the last one until about 1 mile from the end, took a wee detour out an back to a Calandar Housing Estate, oops, trundled in about last, warm soup in the Wheels Cycling Centre, good fun.

Carman Muir, misty Luss

Saturday's PM run up behind Carman Resrvoir, through the quarry to the fort along and back to the trig then home via the radio mast, out for just under 90 mins. Sunday, PM again, Beinn Dubh, Mid Hill, Coille Eughain Hill finishing down the Paps. A warm 13 degrees in the valley, all the snow gone from the top, windy up there too, no views, into cloud above 1500'. Easy run up Dubh, only saw 5 people today. Ran along the trail to mid hill and down into Glen Luss, across the new bridge.

Trudge up Coille E's steep flank back into the clag, worked my way round the peat hags to the wee trod down to the paps and back out the cloud, 10 miles, 3500' inside 3 1/2 hours, finishing as it began to get dark.

Whinny Hill and Beinn Dubh

Took the times at Saturday mornings club cross country managed a run in the afternoon through a snowy Balloch Park.

Out n back along the Whinny Hill Trail.

Finished in just over an hour.

Sluggish start to Sunday, eventually managed a trot up and down Beinn Dubh, visibility nil at the top, white clouds and sky merged into one.

 Looking up or looking down?

Made an attempt at the ridge to Mid Hill, soon gave up the snow too soft and deep with the lack of walkers. Easy run back down, 4 miles, 2000' in just over 90 mins. More pictures here.

Beinn Eich n others

Run walk up Beinn Eich into cloud and snow, cold wind and little visibility at the top.

 Beinn Eich summit cairn

Ran down the back to the coll before Beinn an Lochain, nearly under the clouds, kept off the ridge out of the wind for the up and over BaL, difficult to find the path off the back to Doune Hill, short steep trudge and the trig point appeared through the mist. Stopped for a quick re-fuel hiding behind the trig to escape the wind.

 Doune Hill Trig

The run back a bit easier only walking the climb back up Eich, straight over the top eventually dropping out the clouds about 2/3 of the way down, 8 miles, 3000'+ in just under 3 hours.

Ben Bowie

Last run of the holiday's, through Chrstie Park to the Stoneymollan, followed the 3LW turning off to take in Ben Bowie's misty twin summits, no views today. Back to the top of the Stoney then along Bromley and Carman moors past the Trig point to the Fort, home past the radio mast and Cemetery. Just over two hours, about 20 minutes quicker than last time.

Glen Finlas

Finlas loop, probably about 10 miles, up the road towards the dam, taking the rough trail off to the right past the reservoir then straight up onto the peat hagged clagged in ridge. Undulating run round the ridge, cold when exposed to the wind from about the coll at the top of the glen and most of the way back.

Dropped down to the reservoir before the last top on the ridge and an easy run down to finish in about three hours. A few pictures here.

Beinn Dubh and Mid Hill

Up Beinn Dubh, along the trail to Mid Hill and back in a couple of hours, quite a few walkers out today, cloud level about 2000', the tops with a little snow, best day for a while, sunny, little wind, the white capped peaks of the bigger hills to the north and Ben Lomond to the east disappearing into cloud. More pictures here.

Luss

Set off for Luss this morning, missed the better weather, a bit wet n windy by the time I started up Beinn Dubh. Managed to run the bottom half, closer to the top more of a stagger and avoid getting blown over. Not many out today. Round the summit cairn without stopping and steady down, the wind easing with height, warm for the time of year but wind chill could catch you out, character building run, finished in about 90 mins.

Whinney Hill

 
After timekeeping at the club cross country, went for a run up and down the Whinny Hill trail, freezing conditions helped firm up the muddy bits, great views from the seat, Finlas and Luss hilltops sitting above the clouds, majestic white Ben under a pale blue sky, good day for a run.

Wreckless running

Thursday night Wreckless Eric in the Glasgow CCA, took the Friday off rather than risk the new dd laws.

Friday run up to the Fort then along to the trig, instead of turning back ran striaght for the Vale.

 Stopped for a photo of the valley from Balloch to Dumbarton.

Ben Bowie

Set off about half two, sealskinz socks, gloves, wooly hat and head torch, along to the stoneymollan, up through the trees for shelter, along the deforested forest trail, wet n windy. Back in to the forest for some more shelter before an exposed climb to Bowies tops, staggered about in the wind, turned back for the Stoney, detour on the way back via trig and fort, the last descent in the dark, finished just over two and a half hours.

Trossachs Night Trail Race

Good crowd for tonight's trail race, about 5.5 miles, the first in a series of three, website here, the other races are Jan 27th and March 9th. My Petzl Myo headtorch outshone by ones masquerading as car headlights. Good mixture of firm trails, rootsy muddy trails, a couple of wee uphills and mostly downhill towards the end. Soup in the Forth Inn to warm us up after, finished in about 50 mins.

Stoneymollan

First weekend run for a couple of weeks, planned for an easy run up to the fort. Breezy with a hint of moisture in the air, decided to run on to the Trig point and continued down to meet the Stoneymollan trail. Short rest then turned back for home, nice and soft underfoot, toes took a while to thaw out, time for Sealskinz, finished inside two hours.

Stoneymollan

Short run Saturday, round the reservoir, through the quarry and up to the fort, out for just over an hour finishing in the dark. Stopped for a few pictures otherwise might have reached the trig point.

Dumyat Dash

My first race for a while, the short sharp apt Dumyat Dash. 120 plus runners for the 3 miles and 1300' of climb. Different route again this year with a wee diversion to go through some scree and then Castle Law 's summit before Dumyat. Uphill's mostly walking, running the undulations in between, steady run off the back of Dumyat to finish just inside 58 minutes. Collected my SHR Mug for completing 4 of the 6 selected races, Birnam, Ben Lomond, Slioch and Durisdeer, in this year's championship.

Beinn Dubh

Shorter run this week, Beinn Dubh to Mid Hill, then either down and across the glen or back the way I came. Turned out the latter, set off, early confrontation with the residents of the first field, negotiated safe passage. Stop start on the climb for a few pictures, the trees and hills taking on their autumnal cloak.

Warm on the climb until near the top a cooling breeze, jacket, hat and gloves kept it comfortable for the run to Mid Hill. New fence round the peat hags and bog. Took the easier option and turned back for Beinn Dubh instead of crossing the Glen to Coille Eughain Hill.

Clouds began to clear, glimpses of blue skies and the sun on the way back, a few walkers out today. Finised in just over 2 hours. More pictures here.

BOO, Beinn an Dothaidh, Beinn Achaladair

Drove up to Bridge of Orchy, planned to run out and back over Beinn an Dothaidh, Beinn Achaladair and Beinn A'Chreachain, or as far as I could. Thick fog dissolved as I drove up Loch Lomondside.Clear, windless day as I started up the hill to the col between Dothaidh and Dorain, frosty in the shade.

View looking east from col between Beinn an Dothaidh and Dorain

 Found a good route through the bogs under Dothaidh's triple summit, ran over the NE one and down a steep grassy ridge onto the long undulating ridge to Achaladair's summit, three ups later I was there.

Ridge to Achaladair, Chreachain centre back.

Stunning views to the hills beyond Rannoch moor. Decided that was enough, Beinn a'Chreachain, next along the ridge too far for today. Easier run back along the ridge.

The climb back up to an Dothaidh's summit would be slow.

Ran round the summit plateau taking in the views from each of the summits. Bypassed most of the bog to the col, from there a rocky boggy run, tough on tired legs, shoes visited one bog too many, sole coming apart added to the fun.

 View looking west from col between Beinn an Dothaidh and Dorain

Finished in 5 hours, stunning day and views, plenty of pictures here.

Stoneymollan

Slightly longer variation on last weeks run, ascent on trail behind reservoir.

Wedge of Geese coming in to roost. Ran up through the quarry to the Fort.

Another good sunset. Out and back to the trig, descent via radiomast trail to finish just over 90 mins. More pictures here.

Stoneymollan

Running again, nice n easy, up past the radiomast to the Fort and along to the Trig point, plenty of rest breaks, returned the same way, about 80 minutes. Pictures here.

Nevis Weekend

Couldn't run, went up for the weekend anyway, walked up Heart Attack hill for a few photos of the returning runners. On the way home, lunch on the bank of the River Orchy then visiting the new structures at the Falls of Falloch and Inveruglas

More pictures here.

The Cobbler and his wife

Plan was to run up the trail to the Cobbler, then Narnain, returning via a new hill for me, A'Chrois. We climbed through the south eastern corrie to the Cobblers central summit, didn't thread the needle, again.

Ran down the back stairs to Bealach a Mhaim and up the short pull to Narnains broad flat top. Cloud too low for the untried ridge to A'Chrois and we ran back to the Bealach then past the Narnain Boulders, trotting down the path took a fall and tried to smash a rock with my knee, limped back to Succoth. Some more pictures here.

Pappert Well Race

Club GP Hill race, 12 of us set off in reverse order, took it nice n easy, finished 7th in 52 minutes.

Beinn an Lochain and Ben Bowie

First long run in a while, ran from the RandB Thankful car park past Loch Restil crossing tussocky ground to join the path that follows the NE Ridge to the double summit.

Cloud well above the tops, views to Jura.

Returned the same way, a lot of walking today, finishing a bit over two hours, only a couple of people out today. More photos here. Sunday, more runnable, Stoneymollan to Ben Bowie and back, late afternoon run with plenty of photo/rest stops.

Finishing in just under three hours. More photos here.