Journal 2001

Burns Supper Meet, Mill Cottage, Kincraig, 26-28 January 2001

Partakers of the haggi: Andy (meet sec), Simon & Ruth, Brian, Anne, Nina, Willie, Calum, Fiona, Steve R, Debbie, Morag, Froach, Cathy, Tony Bl, Tony K, Richard, Mark, Jo, Mac, Marcellus.

Wow! What a lot of people! Fortunately only one over the hut limit of 18, and some people only arriving on the Saturday; therefore the legendary ballot narrowly avoided.

The Dalwhinnie Truckstop was a bit posher than usual this winter. Renovation of the usual section meant that the truck part was temporarily moved to the posh part. HUGE fish’n’chips with 2 gallons of tea for the usual 5 quid. Sound. Enough to hold up a hungry trio on a Friday evening! which is exactly what happened to the keyholders.

Climbers for Saturday were Steve, Debbie and Marcellus. Avalanche conditions were forecast very high after substantial snowfall and consistently low temperatures in the previous two weeks. We actually had some Rocky-Mountain style layers with some crispy slab on top. Any usual windslab added to the otherwise abnormal conditions. Wisely, the trio climbed Fiacaill Ridge. Wimpily, though, they avoided the only hard part and tramped around the boring snowslope. Lost marks, there!

The main massed ascent was a big skitour of the ridge South of Feshie. First group was Nina, Simon, Ruth, Mark, Andy and Willie. Andy considerately packed Marks skis for him, but when we unpacked the cars Mark had two IDENTICAL pairs of skis! A quick drive back to return Tony’s skis was required. Eventually we got started, but pretty soon Willie collapsed in a pile of coughing and retired to the, hut. Snowlevel reasonable, but quite a lot of low cloud and certainly no views of the loch to the North.. just misty views down the gullies. The 2nd wave was Tony, Tony, and Richard who started via the hire-shop in Aviemore. Some good micro-navigating along the ridge and then a SUPERB run down into the NW facing corrie. Lots of whooping from Mark, Nina and Andy! Just enough daylight remained for a VERY quick and hairy re-ascent and traverse around to the next corrie and run the ridge. Lucky we were careful with our route selection, because after another magnificent run, we emerged in the biggest avalanche runout debris that we’ve ever seen - anywhere! The runout must have travelled 2km from the breakpoint and had scoured the burn clean, leaving moraine-style debris 20ft up the sides. The debris was a few hundred yards clear of the snowline, and maybe 20-30ft deep, 100-200ft wide. HUGE!

The main event was of course the meal. Ann and Jo had organised large amounts of chopping, and the meal commenced. There was a main table and a “lower” table, just like school. The lower table got just as much nosh though, and drank more wine. Menu:- Soup (left over from Burns 2000! and missing a few ingredients), Haggis neaps & tatties, Rasp & Plum cranachan, mega-cheesegasbord, and coffee+mints. Ruth was very upset because she fell asleep after too much veggy haggis and missed her after-dinner mint! Everyone was stuffed.

A few folks elected to tent it, in the hope of sleeping through Willie’s coughing.

The biggest event that weekend was the Husky racing in the Aviemore forest. Brian and Ann spent a while mixing with the action, but Brian struggled to stay with the pace on his crutches. Nina, however, had no problem in the Jetta, and we were pulled by the highway patrol for speeding on the way to the Northern Corries! They let us out of our shackles early enough for Nina, Ruth and I to climb the Vent, (II/III) in reasonable safety after digging a substantial avalanche pit below the route. A couple of tough chockstone sections, but surprisingly pleasant cornice exit. Marcellus surfed at the resort, while the Tonys slogged a Drumochter summit. Back at the cottage, there was a lot of local grockling etc. during the day. Lots of people left LOTS of gear behind, although Fiona was neat and tidy, taking all of her stuff home and also the hut keys as a souvenir!

Raeburn Hut, Laggan, 23-25 February 2001

Meet Sec: Mark

Not a lot remembered about this meet,

Believed to be present: Peter; Helen, Morag; Cathy; Simon; Ruth, Nina, James; Mike; Mark; Laubie; Willie; Ken; Andy

On Saturday Peter; Helen, Morag, and Cathy’s attempt on the hills was turned back by soft powder snow and poor weather. Ruth, Nina and Ken climbed Western Buttress on the West face of Aonach Mor on Saturday. Andy stayed at the hut where the main water pipe conveniently froze, requiring a fair amount of remedial attention in the evening. On Sunday Ruth and Nina climbed Goat Track Gully in Coire-an-t-Sneachda.

Tigh Iseabail, Kintail, 20-23 April 2001

Present: Tony K (meet sec), Tony Bl, Peter F, Brian, Anne, Pete and Helen.

This was the club’s first visit to Willie Nicholson’s bunkhouse at Camusluinie at the head of Loch Long, north of Dornie. A small, friendly place, we had it to ourselves.

The Foot and Mouth epidemic was now coming under control, and the estates around Kintail were happy enough to welcome walkers provided they soused their boots and car tyres in the requisite disinfectant. However the hills were amazingly quiet, with hardly anyone to be seen the whole weekend.

There was snow high up as various parties set off on the Saturday. Pete and Helen set off from the east end of the Five Sisters, as did Tony and Peter, the two parties reaching Sgurr na Ciste Duibhe and Sgurr nan Spainteach respectively before deciding to head back to the glen.

Brian was just out of plaster after his accident at New Year, so was understandably taking it easy. Brian and Anne, with Tony B, decided to visit Inverewe Gardens and had a very pleasant day.

On Sunday the weather was quite good. Pete and Helen bagged A’Ghlas Bheinn, whilst Tony, Peter and Tony headed off for Beinn Fhada, which gave splendid views on the high plateau. Meanwhile Brian and Anne headed off to Armadale Castle Garden, the seat of the Macdonalds in Sleat. The house was abandoned in the 1920’s and is derelict, but the gardens are beautifully kept.

The Monday was again fine. Tony, Tony and Peter drove round to Loch Hourn and ascended Beinn na h-Eaglaise above Arnisdale- very quiet and peaceful. Pete and Helen headed home, whilst Brian decided it was time his foot got going again and visited the Eas Ban waterfall above Camusluinie with Anne.

All in all, an excellent weekend.

Glen Etive camping, 18-21 May 2001

Present: Jo L (meet sec), Val L, Nina T, Valerie C, Mark L

The official trip to Skye was cancelled due to lack of support meaning the ferry trip to the hut wasn’t financially viable to the interested few. Although it was now considered ‘safe’ to head into the countryside as the FMD outbreak was ‘under control’, the islands were also still nervous of visitors from the mainland.

Saturday: The morning was wet and dreich, so everyone had a good and thorough expedition around the gear shops in Fort William. After much browsing, some buying, and plenty of eating, the sun started to poke through the clouds …. okay, wishful thinking, but the rain had at least stopped. We drove up Glen Nevis, had a quick foot dunk in a bucket of disinfectant, before heading along the path by the Water of Nevis. A scramble through the boulders at the water’s edge, a pootle across the floodplain, a hop skip and a jump across the wire bridge to Steall Hut, a clamber up to the waterfall. On discovering a gear shop had been missed from our morning’s mission, this was duly visited before heading to the Kingshouse for nosh. Disappointing though the weather may have been, it is such a wonderful release to walk freely without an encumbering rucksack.

Sunday: Appalling conditions overnight, rain, rain, and more rain! The tent Jo and Val were in leaked, soaking the feet of the sleeping bags, but lucky no other gear (so Steve, sorry, but Jo won’t be buying the tent!!!). The morning was dull and overcast, not a hillwalking type of day so a long breakfast was had and enjoyed by all. Eventually broke camp and, having heard a forecast, decided to head east in the search of some climbing at Creag Dhubh. Mark, Valerie, and Nina did a couple of scary looking ascents, whilst Val and Jo wandered up onto Spirean Beag (596m) above the crags for some surprisingly good views!

CIC Hut, Ben Nevis, 8-10 June 2001

Present: Brian (meet sec); Anne; Graeme M; Jo; Martin; Marcellus, Mike; Nina; Ken

Saturday: Cold and raw with snow about 3500’! Brian still recovering from Achilles tendon injury limited himself to the ascent of Carn Mor Dearg with Anne and Martin. Martin continued along the Carn Mor Dearg arête and up the Ben complete the circuit. Graeme, Jo and Peter headed up the Douglas Boulder followed by Mike and Marcellus. From the top of the “Boulder” Graeme and Jo continued up Tower Ridge to the summit encountering snowy rocks, whilst the others descended to the warmth of the hut. Ken and Nina spent the day climbing on the Douglas Boulder.

Sunday: Martin, Mike and Marcellus headed for Glen Nevis to crag leaving Brian, Jo and Anne to ascend Carn Dearg by ledge route and this onto the summit of the Ben, returning by the abseil posts to Coire Leis. Graeme, Ken and Nina ascended North East Buttress after Raeburn’s 18 Minute Route.

BBQ, Far North, 22-24 June 2001

Present: Mark (meet sec); Brian; Anne; Tony K; Tony Bl; Richard; Martin; Bob; Cathy; Simon; Ruth L; Graeme T; Ruth F; Kate; Nina; Mark; Valerie.

On Saturday Brian and Anne traversed Suilven starting from Carn Mor, meeting Tony K who was on Suilven having started from Fionn Loch. Suilven was a popular mountain as Richard, Martin, Bob & Cathy also completed a traverse of its peaks. The other popular mountain was Stac Polly with Simon, Graeme T, Ruth F, and Kate ascending to the summit; while Ruth L and Nina climbed “Party on the Patio”, and Mark and Valerie climbed “November Groove”.

On Sunday there was a massed visit to Reiff but the rain sent most people home, however Brian, Anne and Tony Bl stayed on and were rewarded by sunshine.

Roshven, 13-15 July 2001

Present: Clare (Meet Sec); Neil; Gavin; Brian; Anne; Mark; Nina; Tony K; Steve E.

On Saturday Brian; Mark; Nina; and Steve headed for the Ardnamurchan peninsula to climb on Beinn na Seilg above Kilchoan, where they climbed what was believed to be at least one completely unknown route – Brian and Mark first, then Steve and Nina as a separate party following the same line. Magic way to celebrate someone’s 50th birthday – especially since the extreme west coast got some of the best weather in the country, bathed in sunshine while the rest of the country got wet!

In the evening Brian’s 50th birthday was celebrated with a fine cake complete with a little ice climber and lots and lots of candles, and there were even distant fireworks laid on to mark the event.

On Sunday Neil acted as the ferryman, taking the party across the bay by motor boat to the Ardnish peninsula for a spot of climbing on an unknown and unnamed triple tier buttress.

Italian Alps (private trip), Summer 2001

Present: Ruth, Nina and Simon

Piz Bernina

The plan was to climb it from the Italian side via the Marinelli and Marco e Rosa Huts, with Simon accompanying the Girls as far as the upper hut. Evening 1 saw a successful approach to the Marinelli Hut. Day 2 had an early start and approach across the Scersen Glacier to the rocky promontory beneath the Marco e Rosa. There followed an attempt on the Couloir until it was decided that it was not in suitable condition – then moved round to the buttress, but no route could be found to the cables. By now it was too late and a retreat was made to the Marinelli.

Day 3 Ruth and Nina had another go, however, the weather had become distinctly Scottish and started snowing – all other parties on the hill retreated and the girls persisted trying to force a route onto the buttress to reach the elusive cables. Simon who was waiting in the hut for the snow to stop before returning to the valley for some cycling, was beginning to wonder what was happening on the mountain. The Dutch team had returned, the upper hut had not been reached (phone connection) and the girls had not been seen for 8 hours. Mid afternoon the hut guardian set off to have a look – and picked up Simon en-route. As we had no equipment it was assumed that we were only going as far as the glacier – but ‘Tonto’ had a novel technique – he just walked out onto the fresh snow and every now and then put his ear to the surface – sighting for the crevasses (which we had negotiated in the usual way the previous day). It proved a good distraction from worrying about the girls – who appeared as we reached the mid-point of the glacier – returning disappointed having given it a good workman-like attempt despite the adverse conditions.

That evening we discovered that the route had changed due to glacial recession – still it was time to move on.

Gran Paradiso

Via an interesting ridge variation (PD) to the normal route from the Val Savaranche valley with a night at the Chabot Hut. The girls were alone on the ridge and treated to a stunning alpine sunrise, before joining the glacier and then onto some interesting positions on the rocky summit pinnacles – topped off with a surreal meeting with the summit Madonna. Simon, having accompanied the girls to the hut and left them to their successful ascent while having a lie-in and taking high-level walk round to the next hut.

Cragging (for a day) with Nico, Furio and Willie.

Nina was then deposited at Nice airport and during the rest of the trip Simon and Ruth had some hutting in the Mercantour (Alp Maritime) - Mont Tenibre (3031m), and then an attempted route in the Ecrins – to be defeated by fresh snow.

Strawberry Cottage, Glen Affric, 21-23 September 2001

Present: Richard (Meet Sec); Brian; Anne; Steve; Debbie; Bob; Cathy; Tony K; Jo; Peter; and Helen.

Some of the original Saturday hill walking plans on the Cluanie Hills had to be changed after a visit from the head stalker, who explained how he made use of the walkers coming up from the Cluanie side to keep the deer penned into the corries. So instead, a number of variations on the theme of An Socach and/or Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan were undertaken.

On Sunday Anne went up Corbett on the south side of the glen called Carn a’ Choire Ghairbh. Brian, Tony K and Richard went up Mam Sodhail and enjoyed spectacular views overlooking a temperature inversion, before returning to the roadhead along the north side of Loch Affric. Meanwhile back at the car park Steve’s car needed AA assistance before they were able to head for home.

Inbhirfhaolain, Glen Etive, 12-14 October 2001

Present: Brian S (Meet Sec), Anne M, Pete & Helen I, Tony Bl Richard G, Gordon O

The Inbhirfhaolain Hut, belonging to the Grampian Club of Dundee has long been a favourite venue for the club. It is particularly noteworthy also as having a composting toilet on a wooden platform at the westerly end of the hut, and sits in a splendid position looking down Loch Etive towards Ben Starav. All the group arrived on the Friday, apart from Richard who travelled in on Saturday in his open topped kit car. Due to deer stalking in the areas, there was some limitation in what was achieved, but the following were summitted: Bidean nam Bian (GO), Stob Dubh (BS, AM, TB), Beinn Maol Chaluim (BA, RG), Ben Starav (PI, HI). A sociable Saturday evening in the hut was accompanied by the sound of roaring stags in the hills around the hut celebrating the height of the rut.

Annual Dinner Meet, Spean Bridge Hotel, 26-28 October 2001

Present: Brian, Anne, Tony & Fiona K, Steve R, Debbie, James, Amanda, Tony Bl, Keith, Richard, Martin, Tony & Sheila, Hillary & Rona, Simon & Ruth, Mark, Willie, Nina.

After grand extravaganzas for the previous two years, an administrative failure led to there being no arrangements for the Annual Dinner as late as September. An emergency effort led to the booking of the Spean Bridge Hotel, which had been the venue of successful dinners in the past. Whether it was due to the distance or the fact that several regulars were otherwise engaged, a relatively select band turned up for the annual festivities. Most folk congregated at the hotel on the Friday night, the exceptions being Tony and Sheila who were expected from a week’s holiday even further north, and Simon, Ruth, Nina and Mark- whose absence was explained as follows….

Bivi - special report from Simon!

To avoid the stigma (and cost) of spending two nights in a hotel, Simon persuaded Ruth, Graeme T., Mark and Nina to ascend the grey corries by head-torch and bivi on Stob Coire na Ceannain. Despite the wind and rain we did not resort to the back-up plan of the bothy but continued to just below the summit and a wet and noisy night. Hooped bivi bags meant certain team members were accused of camping. Interesting phenomena observed – thought to be a rainbow by moonlight.

The following day saw a completion of the Grey Corries ridge: Stob Choire Claurigh (1177m), Stob Ban (977m), Stob a Choire Leith (1105m), and Stob Choire an Laoigh (1116m). This was followed by a welcome return to the car accompanied for some by skinny-dipping(!) and trellis walking(?).

Everyone else, who had been woken by the blatter of rain on the cosy hotel’s windows, generally considered the stigma was worth it!

Saturday was a dry(ish) but windy day. The lure of 2500’ summits saw Brian and Anne visiting Meall na Leitreach near Drumochter (where?) and Tony and Fiona ascending Ben Tee near Invergarry. Other details, sadly, are lacking.

The evening saw everyone gathered in the bar, where we discovered that we were sharing the hotel with a party of apprentice ghillies on a training course! After dinner, the party gathered in the lounge and was treated to a nostalgic slide show courtesy of the President- a very convivial evening.

Some folk, at least, managed to get out on Sunday. Tony and Sheila, in search of more elusive summits, bagged Chno Dearg and Stob Coire Sgriodain, whilst Tony and Fiona contented themselves with a walk up the Nevis gorge to Steall Waterfall. Brian and Anne visited Creag Meagaidh and visited two hitherto untrodden (at least by them) tops.

A very enjoyable, if rather low key dinner meet; at least it allowed us to gather strength for the next big one!

Aviemore Bunkhouse, 16-18 November 2001

Present: Mark (Meet Sec); Peter & Helen; Simon; Ken; Nina; Valerie

Peter and Helen arrived at the bunkhouse early and soundly asleep before the others arrived and had to shout loudly to be let inside.

On Saturday Peter and Helen climbed Bynack More on glorious calm and sunny conditions. Mark, Valerie, Simon, Ken, and Nina climbed Ben Macdui via the Fiacaill Ridge.

Christmas Dinner Meet, Muir of Inverey, 14-16 December 2001

Present: James (meet sec, cook, and purser); Pete & Helen; Jo; Mark; Valerie; Martin; Neil & Clare; Nina; Richard; Rosemary; Hillary; Steve & Debbie; Tony Bl; Tony K; Fiona M; Brian; Anne; Simon; Tony & Sheila.

There was the usual good turn out for this ever popular meet and the hut was full to bursting. So as I loaded up the car with the vitals for the weekend, I had two passing fears. Firstly that the suspension would hit the end stops, and secondly that (despite this) I might not have enough food. The first was a real worry, which should have told me that the second was so unlikely that it was laughable. This was the biggest turkey I had ever seen. In a crash I would have been crushed between it and the engine. So loaded up I set out (slowly) for Muir and my doom.

Friday night there was the usual press gang for vegetable preparation, and I gave turkey-lurkey a good stuffing.

On Saturday the weather however was not playing the game and it was poor outside. Brian, Simon, Mark, Valerie, Nina and Jo headed up through the eastern corrie of Lochnagar, stopping at the loch of the same name to indulge in some posh chocolate before ascending the north bounding ridge to the summit of Lochnagar. Tony K climbed a hill called Creag Bhalg near to Braemar, while Peter and Helen started at Invercauld and walked up the Slugain track to Glen Quoich to and Mar Lodge. There was also a bit of cycling, the odd hillock, but mainly trips for tea drinking and gear stroking. All this however passed me by as I slaved in the sweat shop of Muir’s kitchen, sacrificing my day in order that we could all eat to within an inch of lives later that night. Despite the sheer madness of letting me near a kitchen, the outcome appeared satisfactory. And with all fed and watered the traditional trip to see the Spittal was undertaken.

On Sunday Brian and Anne ascended Ben Vuirich via a cycle up Glen Brerachan, Simon and Ruth walked over Carn an Tuirc and Cairn of Claise, while most of the others paid a visit to ‘Old Jock’, an ancient Scots Pine that can be found on the slopes above Mar Lodge.

I could not finish this account with my thanks to all those others who (despite my implications) also provided food for the weekend, those who chopped, steamed and washed up in the name of gluttony.