Inver Croft, Achnasheen

26-28 March 1999

Present: Kate B, Valerie C, Gordon C, Willie J, Jo L, Mark L, Nina T, Martha & Rob W

Saturday

The ice climbers (Valerie and Mark; Nina, Brian and Willie) set off at the most ridiculous hour in the morning, so ridiculous in fact it could still have been the night before. They headed up into the Torridon area and, after a long walk in, ice-climbed on Liathach. Mark and Valerie, faced with a long road walk back to the car, managed to cadge a hitch with a rather startled passing American tourist!! Inevitably (being with Brian), the others summitted well after dark, returning 'home' after 1am (taking care that they made enough noise to wake everybody else in the hut!?!).

Gordon fought his way across peat bog towards a pair of Corbetts to the east of the hut, but only got as far as an outlying top before a knee problem forced a retreat. Kate put her newly found navigation skills from the last trip into practice successfully summitting Fionn Bheinn to the north. The key, however, had not been left where arranged causing Kate much angst until Gordon the magician produced it from under a gas cylinder …..

Jo (also on a solo navigation exercise) Martha and Rob all claimed Moruisg and Sgurr nan Ceannaichean. Wonderful day, crisp snow on the summits, and amazing weather patterns in the valley not affecting the ridges. Evening meals were an extravaganza, no-one can fault the FMC for it's incredible ability to turn the simplest of ingredients with the simplest of facilities into gastronomic wonders - what is the recipe for your chicken Gordon? The wine flowed and by 10pm most of them were wearing party hats, which had come from the crackers left over after the Inver Christmas party. Increasing concern about the missing climbers was countered by increasing wine consumption. Since driving anywhere was by now out of the question, no alternative action could be taken and the collection of empty bottles grew ever more impressive.

Sunday

After a cold night for some (how many hats do you have on Martha?!) and with the late arrival of the intrepid ice-climbers activities for Sunday were tame. Jo, Rob and Martha went to investigate capercaillie at the Highland Wildlife Park (and saw wolves too!). The others slowly packed away and visited Rogie Falls to look for salmon, before an early drive home.

Gordon C