Blackrock Cottage
Glen Coe
11-12 August 2000

Present: Jo L, Brian S, Nina T, Pete & Helen I, James R, Tony B, Richard G, Andy R (Willie J, stayed Lagangarbh)

Saturday

Climbers and walkers were dropped off throughout Glen Coe. Jo, being Jo and as determined as ever, set off to conquer the Aonach Eagach ridge on her own. She soon bumped into a guy from Glasgow (well Bearsden, which apparently isn't Glasgow at all to Weegies!) who didn't stop talking the whole way. The views into Glen Coe were magnificent as the sun shone up the valley although things didn't look too great on Bidean nam Bian; and there was no view towards the Mamores as cloud filled the valley (below the level of the ridge) immediately to the north! Weird. The walk was a mixture of walking and scrambling, and was exciting enough without being able to see the degree of exposure due to the low cloud in the north. At the end of the ridge however the good weather succumbed and the heavens opened resulting in a desperate slither down the front of Sgorr nam Fiannaidh back to the Glen Coe road. After a coffee in the Clachaig (with other 'survivors' of the ridge!) the now very degraggled Bidean nam Bian climbers squelched back to the car! They had set off in the morning fully equipped to climb in ……… Cave, but navigational hiccups and poor weather soon put pay to that. Still, lugging that gear was not put to waste as the ascent onto Stob Coire nam Beith was such that everyone had to rope up as the conditions were so chossy, slippery and dangerous! The Ilieves (also in the rain) did battle in the Mamores, whilst Richard headed off for a coffee shop (or at least a shopping) day in Fort William! Tony B and Willie had also set off armed to the eyeballs with climbing equipment; however they got about halfway up Spartan on the Etive Slabs before literally getting washed off. Half an inch of water on the slabs! They made it back to the hut in one piece only to meet a really spaced out Yank who shared a cup of tea with us!?

Sunday

Following tradition, Pete & Helen headed back early to civilisation, but not after dropping Richard to the start of the walk (in South Ballachulish) after he'd left his car at the end (the school in Ballachulish). With Jo and James, Richard walked the Ballachulish horseshoe (starting). The pathfinding of all left a lot to be desired whilst in the forest at the lower levels, but once on the bare hillside there were no navigational obstacles. At the col (Beinn a'Bheithir), a breather was taken, the view was admired, the health and safety of another rather overweight party puffing past was pondered, food was eaten, and packs were dumped to do the return trip up to Sgorr Dhonuill. From there they headed up to Sgorr Dhearg overtaking a much healthier looking group of puffers. Again, great views from the summit. The walk out (to the east of Beinn Bhàn) was boggy and uneventful, although we did have to alert a farmer that one of his sheep was well and truly wedged in a feeding trough! Nina, having had a manic week down south, also headed off early. Willie didn't climb because of injury to his foot or leg so Tony tagged along with Brian and Andy and got dragged up Shackle on Buchaille Etive Mor - with perfect grace I'm sure!?

Back at Blackrock the Ballachulish trio arrived back to the WORSE midges EVER come across. Black clouds of them. The three stood in the kitchen waving numerous burning midge coils around to try and alleviate part of the problem - the others on returning from their climb thought this was really strange activity, until they realised the millions they'd brought in on their jackets and promptly started the same ritual. A Stirling Moss was therefore made from the hut to the Kingshouse for tea. Back in Edinburgh though a veritable cloud of the little black beasties appeared from Brian's boot ………

JL