James Stone (Clach Liath)

Mountaineering and the Volcanic Seven Summits

  • Home
  • About me
  • Volcanic Seven Summits
  • Top 50 Ultras of the World
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

Archives for March 2015

Benvane

29th March 2015 by James Stone Leave a Comment

A pleasant evening after doing Creag Mac Ranaich and Meall an t-Seallaidh the day before (21st March) involving food, wine and late evening craic meant that ambitions for the following day were not challenging.  The weather forecast was not as good as the day before’s either.

Benvane is a mountain that is seen far and wide with its higher neighbour Ben Ledi from the lowlands to the south.  It rises between Loch Lubnaig to the east (from where there are also routes up) and Loch Katrine to the south west.  Being isolated and with a degree of prominence there are good views in all directions.  Our chosen route was from the north at Ballimore Farm which lies at the end of a single tack dead end road leading south from Balquidder.

Balquidder was centre of Christianity in the 8th century.  St Angus preached here and there is now an attractive church with the remains of an earlier medieval one.  The grave of Rob Roy MacGregor is in the churchyard with those of his wife and two sons.

Ballimore Farm is in Glen Buckie, a southerly branch off the main Glen, and was the location of one of the last events of the 1745 Jacobite Rising when Cameron of Locheil tried to raise support for further action against George II.  He was caught and executed for his troubles.

Well we did not start our day until 12.45pm!  There was one other car parked at the farm and we met its owner within 5 minutes after we set off, he having already made the ascent.

Benvane

After crossing a couple of fields on the right of way to Brig O’Turk a gate is climbed and a turn left up the hillside is made.  There are traces of a path.  After 40 minutes it was time for lunch!  We had a view back down into Glen Buckie with a backdrop of the hills we had done the previous day.

Benvane

After weaving a way through some grassy bluffs the path became stronger along the broad grassy ridge.  The entire route was remarkably dry and the path easy to follow. Benvane looked worryingly distant across the moors but in fact reaching the foot of the final rise did not take too long.

Benvane

Cloud covered the top but the weather looked as though it would lift the cloud base.  Some higher hills to the east were clear.  We stopped at the foot of the rise for more food. My three months away from the hill was taking its toll but the energy levels were good for the final climb. We were passed by a chap and his brown lab on the final rise.

The cloud lifted for the summit but there was a stiff cool wind. The clarity of the atmosphere was far less good than the day before. But we could see Ben More and Stob Binnein, our Corbetts of the day before and Ben Vorlich and Stuc a’Chroin. Everything in the northern arc was fairly murky.

Benvane

 

Towards Loch Katrine

Benvane

 

Towards Ben More and Stob Binnein

Benvane

 

Ben Vorlich and Stuc a’Chroin

Benvane

Back down in just over an hour including another food stop!!!

Creag Mac Ranaich and Meall an t-Seallaidh from the north

28th March 2015 by James Stone Leave a Comment

Each year for many a year a group of four of us have had our winter meet somewhere in the Highlands of Scotland.  Normally this is January or February.  Last year for the first time in many years commitments prevented us from gathering.  This year the meet was delayed until the end of March and Sue was not able to come.

So it was on 20th March I got together with Cozi and John at our self-catering accommodation in Crianlarich.  Despite my best efforts to arrive earlier, traffic held me up and I did not arrive until after 7pm.  John was even later and it was 9pm before he made it.  By then Cozi and I had decided what we would be doing the next day!

Being so late in the season we were not going to have so much snow to play in.  But there were still large patches above 750m.  So we might get some fun!

As ever we did not make a particularly early start the following day.  We arrived at Ledcharrie a little after 10.15am, but the daylight hours are plenty at this time of the year.  There is plenty of parking on the verge just to the west of the farmstead.

Creag Mac Ranaich and Meall an t-Seallaidh

A public footpath runs through the farmyard and continues south to intersect the route of an old railway line.  We cut off some of the distance by heading east shortly after leaving the farmyard.  It was OK though there was a stream and associated bogginess to jump over.  But soon we were striding the gently rising but firm track continuing our eastward route.  At one point a fence had been constructed across the track but we were able to step over this.

Relics of the old line remain including sheep creeps under the embankment and bridges over.

Creag Mac Ranaich and Meall an t-Seallaidh

After about 1,500m the Ardchlyne Burn is crossed by a fairly substantial bridge and almost immediately after that there is a right hand turn into the woodland along a vehicle track that does not appear to have been used for years.  Although close to the edge of the wood, it was quite dark and in places branches sagged over the way and we had to duck under them or sweep them away with our arms.  This section did not take long and we soon emerged back out into the brightness.

Creag Mac Ranaich and Meall an t-Seallaidh

Here we removed layers and had a quick snack.  The day was gorgeous.  The burn sparkled in the sun to our right and slipped over small waterfalls.

Creag Mac Ranaich and Meall an t-Seallaidh

The track was quite dry but now rose a little more steeply for almost a further couple of kilometres.  We would tackle Creag Mac Ranaich first.  We broke away from the track just before the 450m contour line as shown on the map and followed the course of the stream to the side of the incipient crags.  This brought about 300m of stiff climbing before the gradient eased a bit.  Here we found a large patch of firm snow that made the going easier.

Creag Mac Ranaich and Meall an t-Seallaidh

From there it was a straightforward 40m up to a cairn a little short of and below the 809m summit cairn.  Cozi decreed it was time for lunch.  Well it was 1pm so who were we to disagree.  We sat down in the sun.  The air was chilled but there was hardly a breath of wind so it was really rather pleasant.

The panorama from the west around to the north and then to the north east was stunning.

Creag Mac Ranaich and Meall an t-Seallaidh

The arc took in Ben Lomond, Ben More and Stob Binnein, Ben Lui, Beinn Challum, Meall Glas, Sgiath Chuil, Meall Ghaordaidh, The Tarmachans, the Lawers Group and distant hills further to the east.  Killin and the western end of Loch Tay were spread out below.  Above only a little thin high cloud spoiled the blue of the sky.  Voices drifted over from a couple who were sitting at the summit proper as we had our leisurely lunch.

I packed up and walked to other couple to disturb their peace and quiet.  They had taken the route up from Lochearnhead and were debating whether or not to tackle Meall an t-Seallaidh, as was I.  Cozi and then John joined me.

Creag Mac Ranaich and Meall an t-Seallaidh

Creag Mac Ranaich and Meall an t-Seallaidh

Creag Mac Ranaich and Meall an t-Seallaidh

Ben Vorlich and Stuc a’Chroin now came into view as did Creag Mac Ranaich’s south top and Meall an t-Seallaidh.

Creag Mac Ranaich and Meall an t-Seallaidh

We strolled over the south top and then made a bee line for the col between the two Corbetts.  Any descent off the west side of Creag Mac Ranaich is going to be steep and caution needs to be taken amongst the broken crags.  But 40 minutes saw us down to the track that runs over the col.

Creag Mac Ranaich and Meall an t-Seallaidh

Creag Mac Ranaich and Meall an t-Seallaidh

The direct route to Meall an t-Seallaidh didn’t look great with large patches of snow in the shade.  But Cozi fancied a bit of sport so she went that way.  John and I trended to the south over the rough ground to pick up a ridge by spot height 695m.  My idea of avoiding the heather and bog by following some large snow patches was soon ditched after my left leg disappeared up to my crotch and it took John and I a couple of minutes to dig me out as the leg was not for moving!

At the foot of the ridge John and I stopped for a quick snack.  The ridge above was covered in snow.  I lent John my ice axe for surety and he led the way kicking steps in the 100m of ascent as I followed.  The snow was great, firm enough for the steps and not soft enough for the steps to collapse.  Cozi had found this too and her direct route meant that she was at the top 15 minutes before us.

Creag Mac Ranaich and Meall an t-Seallaidh

Creag Mac Ranaich and Meall an t-Seallaidh

This summit was busier with the couple we had met earlier on Creag Mac Ranaich plus a few others.  By now the wind had picked up a little, so we sheltered amongst some rocks just below the trig point and cairn to discuss the return route and for some more food.

The views here were as good as from Creag Mac Ranaich.  Though we had lost Killin and Loch Tay we had gained Loch Earn.  Ben More and Stob Binnein still dominated the western view.

Creag Mac Ranaich and Meall an t-Seallaidh

Creag Mac Ranaich and Meall an t-Seallaidh

We had thought about heading for the glen to the west.  But the combination of rough ground and the snow did not appetise.  We also did not fancy climbing over Cam Chreag and Meall an Fhiodhain as, in my case, after a long lay off from the hills I was now becoming a little weary.  The way off from the col just before Cam Chreag did not look too bad.  The snow at the top of the slope back to the glen to the east was soft enough to run down.  But as it steepened it became harder.  Any danger of me slipping was soon avoided by my leg (right this time) puncturing the surface and plunging knee deep into it!  Having extricated myself we were quickly back down to the track.  A couple of cyclists were there, one of whom we had overtaken on our way off the last hill.

We had one last look back at our second hill.

Creag Mac Ranaich and Meall an t-Seallaidh

And returned the way we had come.

Video from the summit of Pico de Orizaba

25th March 2015 by James Stone Leave a Comment

I am getting around to sorting out some of the videos taken on the Mexico/South America trip.  Here is one taken by me on the summit of Pico de Orizaba.  Sorry about the wind noise which drowns out a little of the commentary.

I hope you can get a feeling for the experience from this video – be it the stunning views, the breathlessness in my voice or the jaws of the crater.

Mummies on Pico de Orizaba

11th March 2015 by James Stone Leave a Comment

Crikey!  I am glad that Derek and I did not find these on our ascent!

 

Welcome

Thank you for taking the trouble to read this blog.  You can find out more about me by clicking on the “About Me” tab above.

The blog started out just as a mix of mountain climbing and other travel reports interspersed with a few random musings prompted by a trip that I made to Mexico and South America in November and December 2014.  You can find details of that trip using the Tags and the Archive below.

It has since developed into a bit of a resource on the Volcanic Seven Summits or the V7S.  For this the best place to start is probably here.  Comments are welcome!

Links

  • Walkhighlands
  • Parkswatchscotland
  • Peakbagger
  • Alan Arnette
  • Mark Horrell
  • Ted Fairhurst
  • Cookie policy

Tags

8000m peaks Aconcagua Antarctica Australia Ben Nevis Bolivia brumlow top Corbetts Damavand Dan Bull David Hamilton Francois Bernard Giluwe Hewitts Humour Iran Iztaccihuatl Katie Sarah Kilimanjaro Kosciuszko Llullaillaco Marilyns Mount Bogong Mount Elbrus Mount Hagen Mount Mukal Mount Rainier Mount Sidley Munros Ojos del Salado Pico de Orizaba Ruapehu satyarup siddhanta Scottish Mountains Seven Summits Taranaki Ted Fairhurst Teide Tochal Toubkal Ultras Volcanic Seven Summits Volcanoes Yorkshire 3 Peaks Zhang Liang

Recent posts

  • Volcanic Seven Summits: Defining the Continents
  • Entering the Marilyn Hall of Fame
  • Deception in Antarctica?
  • Will you Dare to Reach?
  • So just how much does it cost to climb the Volcanic Seven Summits?

Archive

  • December 2020 (1)
  • November 2020 (2)
  • July 2020 (1)
  • May 2020 (2)
  • April 2020 (1)
  • March 2020 (1)
  • February 2020 (2)
  • January 2020 (6)
  • December 2019 (1)
  • November 2019 (1)
  • October 2019 (1)
  • September 2019 (1)
  • July 2019 (1)
  • January 2019 (2)
  • December 2018 (3)
  • November 2018 (2)
  • October 2018 (1)
  • September 2018 (1)
  • July 2018 (1)
  • June 2018 (3)
  • May 2018 (2)
  • April 2018 (1)
  • March 2018 (1)
  • February 2018 (3)
  • December 2017 (1)
  • October 2017 (4)
  • September 2017 (4)
  • August 2017 (2)
  • June 2017 (2)
  • May 2017 (1)
  • April 2017 (2)
  • February 2017 (1)
  • January 2017 (1)
  • December 2016 (2)
  • November 2016 (4)
  • October 2016 (3)
  • September 2016 (1)
  • August 2016 (1)
  • July 2016 (1)
  • May 2016 (7)
  • April 2016 (4)
  • March 2016 (3)
  • February 2016 (1)
  • January 2016 (2)
  • December 2015 (3)
  • November 2015 (4)
  • October 2015 (4)
  • September 2015 (2)
  • August 2015 (1)
  • July 2015 (5)
  • June 2015 (1)
  • May 2015 (5)
  • April 2015 (2)
  • March 2015 (4)
  • February 2015 (1)
  • January 2015 (2)
  • December 2014 (2)
  • November 2014 (25)
  • October 2014 (3)
  • August 2014 (1)
  • June 2014 (1)
  • April 2014 (1)
  • March 2014 (1)
  • February 2014 (2)
  • August 2013 (1)
  • July 2013 (7)
  • June 2013 (3)
  • May 2013 (1)
  • April 2013 (1)
  • February 2013 (3)
  • October 2012 (1)
  • June 2012 (3)
  • April 2012 (2)
  • March 2012 (2)
  • February 2012 (3)
  • November 2011 (2)
  • August 2011 (1)
  • July 2011 (2)
  • April 2011 (1)

Copyright © James Stone 2014-2021