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Report on Ben Vorlich
19 January 2008
(3268 views)
Ben Vorlich in the Arrochar Alps
The weather wasn't as good as forecast, but after missing last weeks walk I was keen to get out.
Starting from Ardlui at 9:15am I was soon tramping thru muck and mire in the wet conditions. About 500mtrs I came to the snowline and found it heavy going, as the snow was quite deep. It took me two hours to reach the ridge where I was greeted by a snowstorm, so I took refuge behind a rock and waited for it to pass. Whilst sheltering from the storm I reflected on my last walk two weeks previous thru the jungles of Madagascar in tropical heat. On the ridge there was a covering of ice on the snow, and after slipping a couple of times I decided to put my crampons on. I reached the summit in a gale and poor visibility at 12.30pm, but the wind was so strong I didn't hang around.
Heading back I met a guy who had left his girlfriend down on the col as she didn't want to go any further, and when I spotted her I headed over to keep her company for a few minutes. It turned out she was on holiday from Brazil, we chatted and I took her photo and gave her our web site address. Just below the col the snow was perfect to practise ice-axe arrest so I spent a few minutes doing this. Then back to the car and I was home for 4pm
Michael Buchanan
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