Sunday morning I decided to drive up past Loch Lomond to the "Arrochar Alps" to climb The Cobbler. I'd been anxious to visit this well-known Corbett since I saw it from the summit of Ben Lomond last March.
The weather looked ominous as I headed up the initial path. Fortunately it didn't start pouring until I was crossing nearly the same point on my descent.
Southward view over Loch Long early in the hike.
I've heard different variations of the origin of "The Cobbler," but the most common is that the jagged peaks visible in the distance resemble the profile of a crooked shoemaker.
Just clearing one of many obstacles from my path...
Above the treeline, the hike follows a burn (stream) and extends over a relatively barren plateau.
The final 200-300 feet of the ascent provided some rigorous but fun rock scrambling.
The south peak as viewed from the summit ridge, with Loch Long in the distance.
The most unique part of The Cobbler climb might be the famous "eye," seen here as the tiny white opening on the right side of the highest point in the shot. To access the pinnacle of the center peak, one has to wiggle through the small hole in the rock ("thread the needle"), shimmy across a narrow ledge, and carefully pull themselves up onto the top rock. Many people are turned off by the 150-ft sheer drop beyond the ledge, so they don't actually make it to the very top. I knew that would be the best place to sit and eat my sandwich, though, so I didn't pass up the opportunity.
Southward view from the outside edge of the "eye," just before I crawled through it. For some perspective on elevation and scale, I circled a Cessna airplane flying through the valley separating The Cobbler from a nearby Corbett.
The view from the top of the center peak, with the Firth of Clyde, the Isle of Arran, and the Atlantic Ocean off in the distance.
The weather looked ominous as I headed up the initial path. Fortunately it didn't start pouring until I was crossing nearly the same point on my descent.
Southward view over Loch Long early in the hike.
I've heard different variations of the origin of "The Cobbler," but the most common is that the jagged peaks visible in the distance resemble the profile of a crooked shoemaker.
Just clearing one of many obstacles from my path...
Above the treeline, the hike follows a burn (stream) and extends over a relatively barren plateau.
The final 200-300 feet of the ascent provided some rigorous but fun rock scrambling.
The south peak as viewed from the summit ridge, with Loch Long in the distance.
The most unique part of The Cobbler climb might be the famous "eye," seen here as the tiny white opening on the right side of the highest point in the shot. To access the pinnacle of the center peak, one has to wiggle through the small hole in the rock ("thread the needle"), shimmy across a narrow ledge, and carefully pull themselves up onto the top rock. Many people are turned off by the 150-ft sheer drop beyond the ledge, so they don't actually make it to the very top. I knew that would be the best place to sit and eat my sandwich, though, so I didn't pass up the opportunity.
Southward view from the outside edge of the "eye," just before I crawled through it. For some perspective on elevation and scale, I circled a Cessna airplane flying through the valley separating The Cobbler from a nearby Corbett.
The view from the top of the center peak, with the Firth of Clyde, the Isle of Arran, and the Atlantic Ocean off in the distance.
2 comments:
Gosh, I'm thinking what great bird's eye view you had- then I noticed that there were no birds that high!!!! Wow!
I'm glad to hear you "threaded the needle" and made it back down safe and sound. Is there anyone besides you in Scotland?! Beautiful scenery and no crowds to boot!
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