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| Early morning view of Ben Lomond & Loch Lomond.24/02/2013 (Photo: A J Thorley) |
After yesterdays escapades it was nice to be able to have a little lie in and enjoy a cooked breakfast before being picked up by Mary at 9.30am to head along the shores of Loch Lomond to the Inveruglas visitor center.
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| Loch Sloy Dam. 24/02/2013 (Photo: A J Thorley) |
Arriving at the visitor center (NN323098) it was the usual hustle and bustle that greeted us with coach trips arriving and other walkers out to make the most of the great weather. With day trippers out enjoying the views from the view point at the back of the centre the place had a real buzz to it.
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| A'Chrois & Beinn Narnain 24/02/2013 (Photo: A J Thorley) |
We quickly readied ourselves and it was good to escape the the visitor centre and begin the walk into Ben Vorlich. 1st crossing the main road and walking back on yourself towards Glasgow to the 4x4 track (NN318092) that provides access to the high voltage sub station where the track forks (NN309093). Taking the left track it soon forks again (NN303092) and this time taking the right track we continued towards Loch Sloy Dam.
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| The broad ridge of Ben Vorlich with Ben Lomond & Loch Lomond in the background. 24/02/2013 (Photo: A J Thorley) |
Just after an electricity pylon there is a small cairn that marks the start of the foot path (NN294105) that rises steeply up the open hill side. It zigs and zags its way up the hill side steeply until you gain the broad ridge (NN300112). From here the gradiant eases and it becomes pleasant walking all the way to the trig point that marks the summit of Ben Vorlich (NN295123).
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| Mary at the trig point of Ben Vorlich. 24.02/2013 (Photo: A J Thorley) |
Once we arrived at the summit of Ben Vorlich we enjoyed lunch whilst I pointed out the surrounding hills to Mary. The cloud level was quite high so we had views as far north as Glen Coe and we could see all the Arrochar Alps. Ben Lomond looked stunning with the vast expanse of Loch Lomond below it.
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| Mary practicing self arrest. 24/02/2013 (Photo: A J Thorley) |
It soon dawned on us both that it was colder than we thought and wrapping up we took our summit photos and started to descend before we got too cold. On the way down I talked Mary through some simple things to do when descending steep snow and it did not take long for Mary to get the knack and soon we were on our way setting a nice steady pace.
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| Mary practicing self arrest. 24/02/2013 (Photo: A J Thorley) |
On the way down I spotted a nice gentle slope and demonstrated to Mary how to self arrest using an ice axe. This proved to be great fun and we must have spent over an hour or so running up and down this slope practicing self arrest. We also practiced ascending steep slopes by cutting steps, this was a great way to keep warm in between practicing self arrest.
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| Mary practicing self arrest. 24/02/2013 (Photo: A J Thorley) |
Time was ticking by so we continued our descent enjoying fine views of the surrounding hills lit up by the afternoon sunshine. Just like yesterday this was a great way to end an enjoyable fun day out.
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| A'Chrois & Beinn Narnain with Ben Vane on the right. 24/02/2013 (Photo: A J Thorley) |
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