BEN VORLICH

Log book entry from Glip's personal log

30th June or 1st July 1984        Ben Vorlich

Leaders Glip, Robbie Mochrie, Stuart Patrick and and John Tait.

Scouts    Derek Speirs, Stuart Dalrymple (Merry) and James Gatherer (Peasant)

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Weather

Cloudy, dry and warm during the ascent. Mist at the summit with a chilly breeze.

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Report

Due to summer holidays, few people were available from this climb. We left Greenock at a ridiculous time like about 10 AM because Merry failed to get out his pit in time (fairly typical). Glip drove. Since we were late, the parking spots at the hydro gateway were full and we were forced to park farther on at the tourist car park near the power station. Since we were here, we decided to go up the mountain following the water pipes. This involves some scrambling through woods and undergrowth to get round the power station in the first place since it was fenced off. During this operation, we were surprised by the railway line, which just appeared over a rise most unexpectedly.

The pipes were not fenced off and there was a stone stairway alongside them, as well as a rusty, narrow-gauge railway. We slogged up the steps – not an easy task as one might think. Merry, of course, quickly found that you could send Morse code up the pipes.

At the top, the Scouts  found a ladder up the side of the top building and naturally took advantage of it to visit the roof. Further up again, we came across the inspection tunnel, which was fortunately locked by a padlocked gate or else Merry would have been exploring. He actually suggested burrowing underneath the gate.

We ignored him and set off in earnest following the route up Coire nan Each, which John Kerr, Firthy, Kenny Kerr and Glip had followed in January. There were no signs of sledge fragments. We reached the ridge after Peasant had dropped his bombshell – he was off to America for good, later in the year. A slight depression appeared on the scene at that.

We were in the mist at the summit trig point at 3088 feet and it was quite chilly and breezy now, in contrast to the warm sheltered ascent. Robbie declined to visit the real top despite warnings that he wouldn’t be able to boast to Shrew that he had done Ben Vorlich at last.

We descended with some protest over Little Hills and found a nice little rock which provided a bit of rock climbing for a bit. The rest of the descent was marked by grassy clod fights.

At the car park, we scoffed ice lollies and ice creams then left for home.

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