Stuc a Chroin Hill Race

Back for another go at the Stuc, hoping to do better than last year when I was timed out at the crossover, albeit when they reduced the cut off time due to bad weather.

Gathering at the start

Nearly 180 starters this year, the cold wind blowing around when I arrived in Strahyre thankfully eased through the day. Two miles of undulating up forest track to start. The next couple of miles a marrow trod through forest and the open hill across Meall Mor to the drop into Glen Ample.

 View across Glen Ample to Beinn Each, the Stuc peaking out behind

Beinn Each ascent

Beinn Each ascent

The next mile climbs about 1500' up to the top of Beinn Each, the first part requires some all fours work using old fence posts and wire and heather to aid the ascent, thankfully the gradient eases about two thirds of the way up where it gets a bit cooler as the wind kicks in. Over the top and onto the 2 mile ridge to the Stuc reaching the Bealach nam Cabar crossover a bit quicker than last year.

Ridge to the Stuc, back right

Jog walking now as the ridge undulates up towards the Stuc with a few short steep sections along the way.

Approaching the Stuc summit

Round the summit cairn and back along the ridge to the crossover, again a few short steep ups and downs along the way. Just past the crossover and realised I have lost my GoPro, turned back, thankfull to find it about 30 yards back up the hill.

Glen Ample checkpoint

On my way down into Glen Ample for the traverse along to the Glen checkpoint before the last big climb out the Glen, only 500 to 600 feet, probably about 15 mins of grind, feels like more, aided by some cramp reducing electrolyte fluids. Working harder now to keep a reasonable pace going over the moor and through the forest before the last two miles on forest roads to finish just over 3 hours 42, 122nd out of 168 finishers.

Glen Finlas run

Looking for a shorter run this weekend before next weeks Stuc, started at the bottom of the haul road onto the track towards Finlas dam. Cut off up the ramp to the right just before the dam, undulates alongside the reservoir. Just past it turn right up the hill beside a fence to the top of Beinn Ruisg.

Followed the path that runs alongside the fence/ridge round to the two unnamed tops spot height 657 and 693. Decided to do the out and back over Beinn Tharsuin to Beinn Chaorach.

Returning to top 693 then running down over Balcnock, cutting down a bit earlier than usual towards the NW end of the reservoir. Good descent then  picked up a rough tussocky sheep track just above the reservoir before the run back down the track to the car, finished inside 4 hours.

Beinn Dubh Hill Race

First Bog and Burn race of the year for me, 4 miles all in, 2 up and 2 down. Over 100 runners tonight. Ground very dry and a cool wind blowing at the top. Set off with a jog walk jog walk trying to keep the effort high. First half of the climb went well, eased off a bit on the second half, reached the top in about 38 minutes, round the cairn and started easy then built up as much speed as I could, the turf quite dry and springy at first. Kept it going across the plateau, ground very dry on the the last steeper drop to finish inside 52 minutes, a PB by about as minute.

Luss Horseshoe

Afternoon run, very warm today, thankful for the breeze once I gained a bit of height. Wasn't sure of the route and decided on Eich, Lochain, Doune, Mid. Set off easy up Beinn Eich, stopped to watch a couple of eagles wheeling around.

Tried to take a picture with my phone!

Thankful for sunscreen and a breeze towards the top. Stopped for a couple of pictures, only local hills, the rest lost in the haze.

Cruach an t Sidhein  from Beinn Eich

Ran off the back and stopped to look at a route change, turning left and returning via Chorach/Tharsuin, will do that another day and take in CTS. Ran over Beinn Lochain and up to Doune's trig point summit, a couple of pictures, then down and up its second slightly lower summit.

Doune Hills trig point from its second top

Running down into the glen towards Sith Mor is easier from this top, not so many gullies and steep drops to avoid, worth the few minutes of extra climb.

Beinn Dubh from last wee cairn 

Across the tussocks at the bottom and trudged up Mid Hill, took in the two wee stone cairns and a couple of pictures before turning back and dropping into the glen finishing inside 3 1/2 hours with a cool down in the Glen Mollochan burn.

Arrochar Run

First Arrochar run for a couple of months, route was Glen Loin to Coiregrogain, Ben Vane, Lag Uaine, Beinn Ime, Bealach a Mhaim, back via Buttermilk Burn path. Started before 8 through Glen Loin, cool breeze and sunny.

Ben Vane

Turned onto the Ben Vane path just after Coiregrogain, once up the initial steep bank I could see a walker approaching the cave which would give me a measure of pace, if I could catch him. Breeze picked up and temperature dropped with height, passed the walker as the gradient eased towards the top, changed into thicker gloves and woolly hat. Through the wee scramble the ground covered in icy white drops. Reached the top, a quick photo and attempted to use my Go Pro which ran out of battery in a couple of seconds, bitter wind and didn't hang about for long.

Lui Munros from Ben Vane summit

To avoid the steep craggy ground between Vane and Lag Uaine I ran off the top on the usual 280 bearing to the rock then gradually swung left down gentle grassy ramps taking my time to avoid the black icy patches hiding underneath. Thankfully the wind eased as I dropped into the valley.

Lag Uaine

Climbed up the back of Ime, starting up the usual small ridge and through the crag, the gradient easing towards Glas Bealach between Ime and Chorranach. Traversing round Ime as I climbed helped to give some shelter from the wind but I still needed a change up to ski mitts. Ran straight over the top to get out the bitter wind, stopped for a couple of photos sheltering behind the twin summits.

Cobbler from path off Ime

Steady run down to Bealach a Mhaim onto the Buttermilk Burn path passed the Narnain Boulders and down the zig zags to finish inside 4 1/2 hours, pleasantly warm at last!

Glen Fruin

Better forecast and an early start.

View up the glen towards a cloud topped A Mhanach and t'Sithein from ascent of Auchengaich 

Cool breeze climbing Auchengaich Hill not as windy on the ridge to Beinn Tharsuin and Chaorach, misty on top and clouds blowing round the Luss hills across the Glen.

Beinn Lochain and Doune Hill from Tharsuin

Dropped off the back and down to the bottom of the Glen for a traverse on a deer/sheep trod round A' Mahanach to Cruach an t Sithein, steep climb to stunning views all round from the top.

The Cobbler, Ime and Narnain from an t Sithein

About turn and back down towards A' Mhanach, went up the West side for a change, looked a bit shorter.

Looking back to An t Sithein from ascent of A Mhanach

Small herd of deer off the side of A Mhanach

Followed a fence line passed the crags then straight up the last wee grassy climb. Steady run down the Strone to finish inside 4 1/2 hours.

Luss Horseshoe

Afternoon run over Beinn Dubh, Mid Hill and Coille Eughain Hill, good run up Dubh inside 50 mins then along round the corries to Mid Hill.

Easy run down to the Glen road, up towards Edentaggart farm and through the fields to the new wooden bridge over Luss water and the steady trudge up to the top of Coille Eughain Hill, good run back down to the foot of the Glen in just over 2 1/2 hours.

Ben Bowie

Winter snow returned and stayed low and local with a run up Ben Bowie returning over Stoneymollan, Carman and Milburn Muirs. Took it easy, wary of strains from the extra work stabilising my feet and legs as I slid along. Finished the 10 miles in about 2 1/2 hours.

Luss Hills

Snow from 2000' up kept me at Luss. Parked at the top of the glen and set off up Beinn Eich.

The Cobbler from the climb up Beinn Eich

Last time I did this route was in a few inches of snow that made for a long slow run.

View from Eichs summit to Doune Hill, the Arrochar Alps behind

The top of Eich, Lochain and Doune Hill had some snow, took a couple of pictures but didn't hang about as it was a cold cold north wind.

Ben Lomond just peekin out over Mid Hill

Stopped just before Beinn Lochains top to put on a pair of ski gloves, should have put them on earlier, don't think my fingers have ever been as cold. Thought about turning back at Doune hill but would have meant staying in that wind, ran straight passed the trig point down towards Sith Mor, too cold to stop for a picture even though the white topped Arrochar Alps were looking great. Good run into the glen then a slow wind assisted plod up Mid Hill and along to the two wee cairns for a quick photo or two.

Snow capped Cobbler, Ime and Narnain over a green Tullich Hill

No Snow on Mid Hill, just a bit of ice

Turned back for the steady descent down Mid Hill to Glen Luss to finish inside 3 1/2 hours.

Double Dumgoyne

Shorter run this week, out and back to the Earls Seat going over Dumgoyne on the way out and back. Managed to run to the two big rocks then walked for a bit, started running again from the cross path that traverses round the side to the top.

View from Dumgoyne towards Loch Lomond

A bit cloudy so not too many views with a stiff breeze along the ridge to the Earls Seat. Quite boggy in places.

Dumgoyne on the way back

Finished in about two hours with a quick up and over Dumgoyne.

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.