Stob Binnein and Ben More, Crianlarich - 4th March 2012

Pronunciation/Translation: Stob Binnein - stop binyan (hill of the anvil), Ben More - byn moar (big hill).

(Entry by Shona)

These are a couple of mountains that we considered doing last year but due to a bit of confusion over the parking at Ben More farm, we did Ben Chabair instead. However, today is the day that we decided to get these 2 monsters done, and monsters they were!

After a long, winding drive along a single track road from Balquidder to the farm at Rob Roy’s house, we get our kit on in beautiful sunny weather. A quick look at the map and we decide to go straight up the shoulder of Stob Coire an Lochan instead of walking east along the road and up the valley. It doesn’t look it from the car park but this way is steep and boggy with a lot of little rivers due to melt water higher up.

We make our way at a steady pace up the path and Eric decides to cheat and uses Alfie to pull him up on the lead. I trudge on, trying to keep pace with Eric and the dogs but struggle to catch a proper breath. Eric and I then have a 5 min discussion on how the change in weather affects breathing.

Eventually we cross the sheep fence and head up onto the shoulder of Stob Coire an Lochan where we take some pictures of the surrounding mountains. From here, we can look south east and see the summits of Ben Vorlich and Stuc O’Chroin. To the south we have the other Ben Vorlich at Loch Lomond side.

We can also see right up the valley to the west, which is beautifully lit by the midday sun.
After getting another layer on, buff pulled up and gloves on, we head up and are soon ploughing our way through snow covered boggy ground. We head along the shoulder and up towards the summit. The weather is getting worse and the clouds are rolling in. Soon we are being battered by freezing rain and then snow. Visibility has dropped and we eventually pass a couple of hikers that started out in front of us (who didn’t look like they were well equipped).

I foolishly think that this is the summit of Stob Binnien. How wrong was I?
After heading along the wide ridge, we are faced with what feels like a never ending steep ascent. Being weather beaten isnt helping and we cannot see the summit from here…which is maybe a good thing! We just keep heading up at a steady pace. Eventually we reach the summit, quick tap of the small cairn and we walk off the north side, heading towards Ben More.

We descend steeply here and after 5 mins, I start to think that we are heading too low. The map shows the descent between the 2 mountains is approx 350m, but we can’t see any surrounding mountains due to cloud cover, so we check the map again and plough onwards, passing a group of 4 tired looking hikers heading up to the summit of Stob Binnein.

We reach the bealach and see some people descend off here to the west, which seems like it could be a good way down after we get Ben More bagged. So we start our long slow hike up the side of Ben More. It is pretty steep and covered in about 6 inches of snow, so going is steady as we kick steps and make sure our footing is good.

This mountain is full of one of the most frustrating things for me, false summits. Im drained and at one point I actually don’t think I can carry on. But a wee nudge from Eric and the dogs sees me finally reach the summit cairn. The last push made my legs burn, but it is a good feeling. I havent been physically and mentally challenged like that for a long time. It feels good to be pushed to the limit.

We hang around for 15 mins and take some pictures before starting our descent. We have to take our time dropping off the summit of Ben More as it is very steep and the snow is soft. Can’t afford to slip now! As we get further down, the cloud parts just enough to show us the side of Stob Binnien. WOW. Super steep and seems to rise up into the clouds for an eternity. I don’t fancy doing that again to head back the way we came.

We check the map and decide that it is a good idea to head west off the bealach and curve round the side of the mountain. We suddenly hear the sound of helicopter blades cut through the clouds and eventually see the bright yellow RAF rescue chopper hovering near the summit of Stob Garbh across the valley. Something must have happened and we watch as it circles the area for a while before heading out of the valley.

We continue heading down through the soft wet ground, working our way round and down towards the small pass of Creagan Liatha in the valley. From here it is a slow descent through boggy ground, separated with small rivers, which eventually lead to bigger rivers. We have fun rock hopping and getting our feet a little wetter than they already are. Progress is good and the temperature has risen so the ice and snow on my hat starts to melt.

I keep hoping that my water bladder has defrosted but no such luck! I need to do what Eric does and bring a back up bottle of juice, which won’t freeze as fast! We soon hear the helicopter heading back into the valley and it flies right over the top of us and then circles in to land on a flat area near two hikers a little further down. We trudge on and soon pass the helicopter. The dogs’ arent phased and Eric decides to take a picture of me and the dogs with the chopper in the background.

As we drop a little lower, we see two 4x4s which must be the mountain rescue teams. They shout over to ask if we are okay, to which we give the thumbs up. They drive down the track and we hear the chopper leave the valley and we are left all alone as the sun drops behind the mountains.

We continue down the dirt track and it feels good to have solid (dry) ground under of feet, even though Bracken looks slightly sore as she wanders lowly down with us. We reach a gate and the sign points us into a muddy field, so we navigate across it, and get our boots dirty again before joining the road that will lead us back to the car.

We enjoy the evening sun as it sinks into the valley behind us and take our time walking back to the car. It’s warmer down here and the air is still. Back at the car, we take our soggy, mud splashed gaiters off and settle in for some well earned food and drink before heading back down the single track road to Balquidder.