Pronunciation/Translation: Ben Lomond - Ben Low-mund (beacon hill).
I had noticed rather last minute that the GWHC were planning on doing Ben Lomond via the Ptarmigan Ridge. Having descended this way on Ben Lomond a few times, I was keen to see what it was like as an ascent route, so signed up to join them on this midweek hike.
The carpark at Rowardennan is one of those rare parking areas that is free of charge, but you get what you pay for as they say and alas the puplic toilets are usually locked. Due to it's southerly positioning I guess, this walk had attracted alot of new faces on the hike today. The weather had looked promising on the forecasts, but chose to dump a morning shower of rain on us as we prepped up at the start point.
With waterproofs adorned, we began making our way along the track towards the Youth Hostel. Alfie was glad to be on the move at last and as quickly as I could, I moved to the front of the group to ensure he wasn't getting under other's feet. The rain had ceased by the time we cleared the wooded area, and once we had gained a little altitude we could feel the sun begin to beat down and dry off our wet shells. By the first fence everyone had the same heat issues and were peeling off their outer layers to cool down.
From this point onwards the route offers great views of Loch Lomond to the south and across to the Arrochar Alps to the west, but apart from these views the hill itself is pretty much a trudge up a never ending horizon. Just as we reached the western shoulder, the cloud rolled in, or maybe it was already there. Goodbye views, hello cold. I was out in front with Alfie and Mark who was a newcomer to the group. This was his first munro, but as he played five-a-side football regularly, he found the brisk pace ok.
Every now and then we would stop to let the group bunch up, then head off again. Over the marshy area, using the stepping stones and onwards we strode until we began to reach the final steep parts near the summit.
Once upon the summit (974m) we waited shrouded in cloud for the rest of the group to arrive. One by one they all crept onto the summit, tapped on the trig point and then scouted around for a luncheon spot just out of the stiff westerly breeze. When the last had gone through this ritual, I decided that I had been stood on the summit for long enough and moved to make my descent. I'd have rather gone down the tourist track, just to keep the scenery changing, but the group had declared their intention to go back the way they had come, so reluctantly Mark, Alfie and I took that route too.
It turned out not so bad, on the way back down the sun poked through the clouds again and we were treated to those lovely Loch lomond views once more. At about half way down we met a group of four people going up, who asked... "are we nearly at the top?" We were tempted to joke and point to the western shoulder and say "yep, just a little bit to go" but instead chose to be more sadistic and inform them of the brutal truth.
Back at the carpark we quickly got out of wet boots and sweaty tees to smarten up and meet everyone as they poured into the post hike refresher that was the Rowardennan Hotel Bar. It might have just been an off-day for him, but we found the barman of this establishment quite grumpy. When ordering at the bar, you're told of the cost of your drinks and expected to hand over the cash before he starts pouring anything. I wondered how this would pan out if I were choosing to use my visa card? Later as we sat in the conservatory dining area with our drinks, a few us heard a foreign guest ask the barman for the same again as he was clearing away an empty coke can from the man's table. He was given the reply... "aye, the bar's through there pal." Scottish hospitality at it's finest
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