West Island Way (unplanned change of venue) Saturday March 10th 2012

Distance approx 4miles
Acsent 350m
Time : 2hrs

The Slackers were forced into an uplanned venue change on Saturday...

The Follower (John McKellar) failed a late fitness test and called off Injured , leaving 90Rocks and BLT to plough a lone furrow, with approx 6 weeks to the start of the West Highland Way , the team have some grave concerns about The Followers ability to achieve his goal of back to back West Highland Way walks..

It was decided to go to Balmaha and climb Conic Hill as part of the training, Conic Hill is an excellent starter Hill and good for building stamina,however it was exteremly busy with a party of school kids and a ramblers club climbing the Hill at the same time. however we managed to push on, on what was a pretty muddy path to the summit.

Busy Path on Way up

BLT and 90Rocks on summit

Very Busy and very windy Summit

Great views of Loch Lomond on ascent

The Oak tree Inn in Balmaha provided the required post walk Guinness

BLT

Corlic Hill Via Dowries Farm track.

Cornalees Bridge to Corlic Hill via Dowries Farm track

Distance 9miles (approx) Time: 3hrs 30mins

For today, s impromptu walk the team where a man down The Follower was unable to attend, due to other commitments (possibly hung over), as result the photographic quality IMO has suffered slightly but kudos to 90Rocks for the sterling effort, for his fans, The Follower should return to action next week on official walk training.

BLT and 90 |Rocks and Hugo made their way along the Forest track in the direction of Dowries farm , the initial weather conditions where dry and overcast however this had cleared by the time we reached  the top end of the Gryffe reservoir. At this point we picked up the trail towards Corlic Hill, as we made our way across we spotted a perfect site for our next wild camping adventure

As we crossed the reservoir route we started our ascent to Corlic Hill a climb of just under 1000 feet (303meters) across some fairly boggy ground however we were rewarded with some great views from the Summit., albeit a very windy summit.

Hugos first Cairn summit of Corlic Hill well done wee man :-)

90 Rocks Corlic Hill Summit

Gryffe Resevior and overflow from Summit

BLT what a Plank  :-)