DATE: March 2009
LOCATION: Beinn Vorlich via Loch Sloy
Power Station car park A82
CONDITIONS: Dull / overcast at base. Cloud cover and snow at summit
COMMENTS:
Having read various reviews on the many enjoyable routes associated with Beinn Vorlich, Beinn Vane and Beinn Narnain, I took the opportunity to experience one at first hand today. Usually climbed as part of a double or trio, climbing Beinn Vorlich individually has only a small number of reviews to note, but today I only had 3-4 hrs, so climbing one was enough for me.
Getting to the foot of these 3 hills was described as ‘a long walk,’ setting off from the car park adjacent to the power station on the A82. Unfortunately the descriptions weren’t far wrong. Setting off at 10am from the Inveruglas visitors centre, I quickly located the obvious path off the A82 leading up towards the access road for the Loch Sloy dam. After a protracted initial winding section of the road, built to achieve height quickly into the glen, the scenery begins to unfold, as does the tarmac under your feet.
To follow the routes detailed in the various books I had read, such as " The Munros" by Cameron McNeish, I should have continued along the road until it stopped at the dam. I just couldn’t do that. To my right, the rolling hillside called to me to rid myself of the artificial scar on the landscape and immerse myself in the mystery of the hills. Within minutes I had climbed over 50 ft on a parallel, but more direct course, towards Ben Vorlich which was just becoming visible in the distance.
Although a more direct route, it was also more demanding with the uneven ground, stream crossings and little scrambles across some isolated boulder groups, but it was worth it. If I had continued along the road I would have been down there looking up wondering, whereas now I was doing. As I gained height I gained distance from the road and felt sure this climbing would lessen that required once I was on the correct vertical approach to the summit. Within 30 minutes, the dam was ahead and 300ft below me, and it was time to stop the lateral trek and head truly upwards.
Initially gruelling, the climb stopped burning the fat of my legs as I reached the cloud line. With enough visibility ahead to realise I wasn’t near the top, I slogged on, but now the moisture in the cloud refreshed me on my way. Shortly the gradient lessened and the subsequent hollows and dips revealed themselves coated in deep snow. With no crampons or poles, the going slowed down, but was still enjoyable. I was still in my mountaineering infancy and the proximity of snow still felt like a novelty. In truth, I probably should have avoided the drifts and skirted their edges on my accent, but I ploughed through them revelling in the cold tops of my gaiters as the snow chilled my legs.
Within 20 mins or so of this childish journeying, I got my map out, corrected my bearing slightly and, with added care, headed straight for the top. To my joy the cloud began to thin and I got my first glimpses of the contained Loch below. Shortly, after only 1hr 40 mins, I gained the summit, but was unfortunately blind outside about 10 feet. Feeling just a little despondent, I shrugged of my pack and settled down for a drink and a sarny. As I was just about to head back down, full of regret for my lack of views, a gust of wind created just what I needed. For a full minute I had the glory of the Arrochar Alps laid out before me. Just before I was once again shrouded in the mist, I caught a glimpse of the white crowned heads of Beinn Ime in the distance dwarfing my next outing, Ben Vane. Relishing the prospect, I flung my bag to my back and headed downhill.
The decent was a lot quicker than my traverse, as I followed the established path zigzagging all the way down the gully towards the concrete dam below. Although the route was much quicker, it became very challenging on my joints and thighs. I tend to climb and descend at the same pace, which I need to work on, as the burn on the way down was excruciating. Reaching the dam access road after 1hr of climbing down, my legs felt like rubber, but the long road ahead would surely stretch the tired muscles back into working order. A little over 30 mins later I emerged from the foliage onto the A82 and was back at my car 5 mins later, covering the whole climb and return in just over 3hrs, 40 mins.
CONCLUSIONS:
The climb was fantastic, and I am glad I changed the route slightly. Although not much it was enough to keep things real and add a bit of something extra. The views at the summit where brief and if I could change anything it would be to get a bit more clarity for photos, but the Scottish weather, predictably, was unpredictable.
I look forward to getting some good images of Ben Vorlich from the summit of her sister, Ben Vane the next time.
RATING: 8/10
EFFORT: HIGH (due to upgrading the route only)
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