Naismith SMC Hut
Elphin
19-22 May 2000

Present: Nina T, Josie C, Jo L, Pete & Helen I, Fiona & Calum M

A wonderful new SMC hut, certainly a contrast to the Spelaeological Hut that the club's stayed in previously. Very typically SMC with pine everywhere!

Saturday

Party on the Patio. Where do people get the names for some of these climbs! Nina and Jo headed off to Stac Polliadh and did just that, although it didn't seem like much of a party at the time. But the sense of achievement was definitely euphoric. A four pitch climb which had moments of both complete terror and huge grins! The mixed bag of emotions seemed to coincide with the passing rain showers. Nina lead, they succeeded, they partied on the summit. Where was the patio, or were Jo's my eyes closed at that fundamental moment!?!

The rest of the FMC headed off in two parties: Calum, Fiona and Josie; Pete & Helen. In separate groups they yomped up the two hills accessed from Inchnadamph (Conival and Ben More Assynt). Pete and Helen headed up Conival and onto Ben More Assynt over its south top before heading directly down from there and back through a little gap just south of Conival. Although on the same hills, neither team spotted the other - the wonders of the wilderness!

Sunday

Word was now out that Josie and Laubie were due to get married in June. Nina and Jo had thought that a Colin Prior panoramic photograph of the Inverpolly region would be a fantastic present for them from the FMC. Laubie had been to the region previously, but this was Josie's first visit, so it was for Jo and Nina to get her up Suilven, the most distinctively shaped mountain in said print ….. And we managed it, without giving the game away! A fantastic hill. The 'team' (Jo, Josie, Nina and Pete) was dropped off by Helen near Glencanisp Lodge by Lochinver. We headed along the path until level with the low point (the saddle or Bealach Mor) of Suilven. From the bealach we headed north to the higher top (Caisteal Liath) before heading south to the lower top (Meall Meadhonach) after which we followed the ridge off the end (a bit hair-raising in places with Jo bum shuffling at one stage!?!) and onto the path again. Nina had left her car at the end of the walk, a welcome sight after the best part of 20km of walking and being able to see Elphin from across the loch for what seemed like hours!! The car had a flat tyre, but we only had 2km to drive and were too tired to be concerned! Helen, after dropping the 'team' off, went to go to Handa to try and do some bird watching. Unfortunately she found the ferry over to the island was closed so ended up pottering around up there. Fiona & Calum had to head back slowly to Edinburgh as they didn't have the Monday off work.

Monday

Pete & Helen headed back down the road soon after we'd cleared up the hut. Jo, Josie and Nina headed over to Reiff for a morning of climbing. Well, Jo and Nina did a little climbing, as Josie was understandably sore after two big days on the hill. She sat out in the sun (with wholly hat and gloves on!) and read. Nina and Jo managed a couple of routes, but the tide was high making access to some of the easier climbs (for Jo!) a tad too difficult - so lunch was had before a retreat to Edinburgh.

JL