Plan A - micro navigation, thick fog and two summits... but not Stob an Lochan!
Climbing Stob an Lochan was an opportunity to practice micro-navigation. The thick fog reduced visibility to under 200 feet, creating the perfect conditions to set aside the GPS in favour of a map, compass, pacing beads, and a stopwatch.
As I ascended Leddard Glen from Kinlochard, I could hear the male red deer roaring ahead. Around October and November, the red deer are in the midst of the rut—their breeding season. The red deer is the largest land mammal in the British Isles and, during the rut, they can also be very dangerous. Male red deer can weigh up to 20 stone, run at 45 mph, and are filled with testosterone, with massive antlers used for fighting with other males.
Today, the presence of the red deer forced me to change my plans and allowed me to witness one of the greatest spectacles any hillwalker can hope to see!
Stob an Lochan
This morning, I set out to summit Beinn Bhreac and Beinn Chochan, located west of Stob an Lochan and the Leddard Glen. As I approached the bealach (saddle) between the two summits, I noticed that the sound of the red deer’s roar had changed. It was now coming from both sides, with the loudest roars coming from upwind of my location.
I had walked into a situation that had turned dangerous, with competing deer on either side of me somewhere in the fog!
Being close to a red deer in rut is not a good idea; being between two competing male deer can be lethal. Heading into the mountains at this time of year comes with a risk, especially above Loch Ard, with a large red deer population. Being aware of the risks, I made every effort to avoid the deer and the locations where they can usually be found, such as in corries and other low areas where the roar can echo and travel.
I immediately turned and headed downhill, towards the main path that leads up towards Ben Venue. Once back on the path, I stopped, took a break, and re-assessed my plan for the day.
Plan B - Stob an Lochan to escape the Red Deer Rut!
Sitting on the mountain path, looking at the map, I decided to summit Stob an Lochan. Stob an Lochan is a small summit east of Leddard Glen, and my current location. I had never been there before, but I had always been intrigued by the small cabin built on the summit by the local farmer!
I finished my coffee and headed off, walking over the heather, following a bearing to a wee catching feature (a prominent location on the map) in the landscape. The fog was still thick and swirling around, the ground was soaked, and my feet were slowly becoming saturated despite using gaiters and Gore-Tex boots.
I love these days when I am forced to rethink plans and experience the full force and freedom only the hills can offer! Despite the challanges and perceived discomfort, I was in my element and loved every second! I wouldn't have had it any other way and am always thankful for days like this!
Steadily climbing higher, the fog remained thick and menacing, but it was getting brighter, and I started to feel the sun through the moisture—a good omen that got me excited. My pace quickened!
Stob an Lochan and the inversion.
Inversions represent the pinnacle of beauty and magnificence that nature can offer to a hill walker. Though they are fleeting and temporary, their impact on the mind and soul of anyone fortunate enough to experience them lasts a lifetime. This particular inversion will stay with me forever!
I sat atop the summit and called Sarah and Eve, my wife and daughter, who were both at home. I struggled to articulate my thoughts and mumbled incoherently down the phone, overwhelmed by the breathtaking scenery around me.
The sky and land seemed to be cut in half, with a blanket of white clouds only parting to reveal the peaks around me, which stood as silhouettes against the blue sky. An ocean of clouds stretched just a few feet above me. If heaven were a place on earth, I had found it! Sitting on the summit of Stob an Lochan, I felt like the luckiest and most privileged man on earth, and I will forever be grateful for this moment!
Walking off Stob an Lochan
The walk down took me back towards Leddard Glen and into Kinlochard. I retraced my steps, testing my contour interpretation as I walked. I can't remember much about the walk down, except it was slow and methodical. The fog was persistently thick. The temperature dropped dramatically as I descended, getting colder and wetter underfoot.
Before I got home, I planned my next day in the hills. Today, I have set an unachievable high bar! Today was one of the best days in the hills I have had. The only thing missing was my favourite climbing partner, my daughter, Eve!
We will have to return!
Inversion from the summit of Stob an Lochan
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