Log 4 Jan 2009

ARROCHAR 4 JANUARY 2009

Round of 3 hills: BEINN BHREAC, BEINN REOCH and TULLICH HILL from Invergroin in Glen Douglas by Loch Lomand. 1135m ascent, 10km, 5+ hours.

Crowd gathered at 9am in Milngavie & 15 in total.!
Noelle with Donald, John and Derek (McG), Kevin with Shirley, Jim and Billy Dave K with Fraser, Koon, Andy and Radley, Laurence with Laurence (Dunn)-guest and Ian Gilmore.

Cars departed laden as above and parked at the lay-by 500m east of Invergroin. Shortly after setting off, 10.10am, Donald and Dave K took the interesting route through the trees and we all met up again on the first summit, approx. 11.40am, which was clear unlike the Arrochar Alps &.good job we didn't go there !  Despite the intense cold (-3 oC at the car park so about -7 oC at 681m) and the biting wind we all laughed and joked like one big happy family sharing stories, whisky and Fraser's EXCELLENT Christmas cake. After the team photo we headed north into the wind, with a brief diversion for Koon, Donald and Derek in the deep fissure/gorge about 100m from the top of Beinn Bhreac. Three deer were spotted en route along the ridge. All enjoyed the calm in the shelter of some large exposed rocks below the second summit, approx 12:40pm. More food and photos later and we all headed for the col at An t-Sreang. On our descent we met the only other 2 people who shared the hills with us on this beautiful, wild, windy and totally dry day.

Derek, Laurence and Donald descended directly from the col, 1:30pm, south to Invergroin. The rest of us pulled up the 300m to the final summit, 2:05pm,&...well up to a wee pointy bit and then on to the summit!   We all admired views of the weapons stores(!) on the south side of Glen Douglas, the depot on Loch Long and Arrochar village to the north. A slow, relaxed, gentle descent was made back to the cars, arr. approx 3:30pm, only a wee while after the group from the col.

All reassembled at the newly refurbished Inverbeg, sharing stories including the adventures of Mountain Marathon Man and most importantly the CREDIT CRUNCH LUNCH idea was born & more from our esteemed president later.!

Report by Noelle Ryan