Journal 2012

Burns Supper Meet, Lagangarbh, 27-29 January 2012

Eleven folk headed up to Lagangarbh on a cold, frosty evening in January, Rosemary arriving first, having had a sunny afternoon ski-ing at Glencoe. Saturday was not so sunny but remained dry and so all the party managed to do something before gathering in the evening for the traditional haggis, neeps and tatties. Sunday was wet and windy so most headed home, Rosemary’s forgetfulness providing a bonanza for one wee mouse, but Brian and Anne are rumoured to have climbed another Marilyn and Audrey, Andy and Tony managed a walk further east.

Raeburn Hut Meet, 24-25 Feb 2012

Despite the weather forecast of gale force winds and low cloud, a good weekend was had by the 9 folk who attended the meet. On Saturday Ruth, Brian and Graeme got up at 6 am and climbed Hell’s Lum, managing to return to the car park in daylight, if not the hut. Andy and Audrey braved the wind and climbed Carn na Caim where remarkably they had views from the summit. They also saw 2 white ptarmigan, blown by the wind, which were very visible as there was no snow to be seen. On the return to the hut they stopped off at “The Potting Shed” in Kingussie, which served wonderful cakes and coffee. Pete and Helen walked through the Abernethy Forest to Ryvoan bothy, which was full of cyclists and walkers. Tony walked through the Ardverikie forest and up Binnean Shias. He brought home a souvenir, which resembles a large piece of cheese, from one of the fallen trees. Anne went to Glen Feshie with a friend and climbed Carn Ban Mor, but turned back a short way from the top because of the wind, rain and low cloud. A sociable evening was had, eating, drinking and doing crosswords, and several of us went out to look at and photograph the stars with the help of Tony’s ipad app. Sunday dawned with even lower cloud so most went home but Graeme had a pleasant walk over Beinn a’Chuallaich near Kinlochrannoch and Tony and Audrey had a successful and really quite pleasant ascent of Drumcroy Hill, returning to scones, tea and home-made jam in front of a roaring fire.

Culligran Cottages, Glen Strathfarrer, 23-26 March 2012

The club was blessed with amazing Summer weather for the entire long weekend that they were based at Culligran cottages in Glen Strathfarrer from 23 to 26 March. If we had gone expecting the same winter mountaineering extravaganza that we had at the same time of year three years ago, we would have been disappointed. Instead, it was sunhats, suncream and even shorts for some. Ice-axes and crampons remained on the rucksacks, or even back at the hut – there was very little snow. Wendy must have been glad of this, since Amanda (like everyone else) didn’t need her Winter boots. Instead, Wendy gratefully borrowed them, because she’d seen fit to bring only one left Summer boot and one left Winter boot all the way from her flat in Ireland! Over the course of the weekend, Tony B and Andrea, Tony K, James, Amanda, Wendy, Brian and Anne all did part or all of the four North Glen Strathfarrar Munros. Six of us (Audrey, Andy, Tony K, James, Amanda and Wendy) did Maoile Lunnndaidh on different days and several (Pete, Helen, Morag, Brian and Anne) visited one or more of the mountains to the South (Carn nan Gobhar, Sgurr na Lapaich and An Riabhachan). Those of us who didn’t fancy the high tops on all days, cycled up and down the glen in glorious, warm Spring sunshine, watched birds and wildlife in the very beautiful Glen Strathfarrar National Nature Reserve, and visited the lower (but by no means lesser!) summits such as Meall Innes an Loichel and Beinn Dubh an Iaruinn. On several occasions during the weekend, we ate, drank and socialised outside in the sun rather than the more usual March fireside huddling. We reflected that even in Summer we usually dash inside after our walks – due to cold, rain, wind and/or midges (!) and that made our Strathfarrar weekend feel even more special.

Ling, Torridon, April 2012

Ling turned out to be a very select meet, with only four attending- Andy, Audrey, Tony and Graeme. It was everyone else’s loss, as it turned out to be a brilliant long weekend. Ling hut is on the south side of Glen Torridon and is reached by a ten minute walk from the road, necessitating travelling light or multiple trips. Unsurprisingly, given the club’s record, we ended up doing multiple trips! Although the hut is in a superb location, it was sad to note that the fabric of the building is deteriorating- it can only be hoped that the SMC are willing to keep it in good repair. On Saturday all elected to walk directly from the hut. Slightly bemused to meet a young French family a mile or so up the corrie (where had they come from?), the team headed up Sgorr Ruadh and enjoyed fine views, although it was surprisingly cold. Doubling back, we headed up Beinn Liath Mhor. Hearing a helicopter, we stopped and were surprised to see the Stornoway Coastguard rescue helicopter heading straight for us! However we realised that there was a party just below us- which we’d completely missed when we went past- and that they were the object of the helicopter’s attentions. After watching some very skilful flying, someone was whisked away in the direction of Glasgow- we subsequently learned that it was someone who had suffered a suspected heart attack, but we never learned the outcome. Hopefully all turned out well. Undeterred we carried on, and after some traditional gamesmanship we ended up traversing Sgorr nan Lochan Uaine as well on the way down. Sunday was also dry and clear, although hazier than the previous day. Tony and Graeme headed for Beinn Bhan (Applecross) and enjoyed an excellent traverse with spectacular views of the corries- including some extremely unlikely-looking ’easy scrambling' routes which were avoided- perhaps wisely, judging by some of the information gleaned later from various guidebooks. Meantime Andy and Audrey climbed An Staonach, a smaller hill south of Shieldaig, which gave enjoyable scrambling on various outcrops. Monday was the best day of all, clear, quite warm and with excellent views. Tony and Graeme headed up An Ruadh-Mheallan west of Beinn Alligin- a lovely summit with amazing views of the coast and inland to the Torridon giants. Andy and Audrey headed east, and climbed Fionn Bheinn above Achnashellach. Although a raven was spotted, it fortunately did not appear to clad in bonnet and plaid so they lived to climb another day! (If this reference is too obscure for some, the predictions of the Brahan Seer are worth researching.) An excellent weekend was rounded off with fish and chips in Aviemore on the way home.

Inbhirfhaolin, Glen Etive, 25-28 May 2012

This was a well-attended meet with 11 people signing up. it also turned out to be another fantastic weekend weather-wise! So much so that Tony, Andy and Audrey headed off on the Friday evening after dinner to bivvy out on Ben Starav. The next day they cimbed Beinn nan Aighenan with Tony and Audrey going on to climb Glas Bheinn Mhor while Andy looked after the rucksacks. Graeme and Rosemary climbed Beinn nan Aighenan on the Saturday, meeting the three bivviers on the way back from that fine, isolated peak. Also on the Saturday, Douglas and Keith did Beinn Fhionnlaigh and Simon and Ruth climbed Beinn Mhic Chasgaig. Pete and Helen traversed Beinn Trilleachan and had a hard slog back along the bottom of the hill. Several people couldn’t resist having dips in rock pools on their way back from the hot hills, returning to the hut commando-style! A very successful barbeque was held outside the hut in the warm evening air until the midges forced us all inside. On Sunday Douglas did Beinn Maol Chaluim. Keith traversed the North top of the Wee Buachaille followed by the 1000m top and Stob na Broige on the Big Buachaille, having been dropped at Lagangarbh by Graeme and Andy on their way to climb Rowan Tree Wall and Quiver Rib on the East face of Aonach Dubh. Audrey and Tony climbed Beinn Trilleachan and Simon and Ruth did Stob Dubh. went for a swim in the river. By 8pm everyone had headed for home after a great weekend, except Rosemary who had a quiet night in the hut reading a book about the 1933 Everest expedition which she found in the hut bookcase. We all decided that Inbhirfhaolin is a great wee hut and definitely worth a visit next year.

2nd FMC Camping and Caravanning Meet 22-24 June 2012

Five people attended this meet, which was four more than last year! I arrived at Morvich Caravan Club site on the Thursday and just managed to get pitched before the rain started! Fortunately, the sun had come out by the time Hillary and Rhona arrived on Friday afternoon, allowing them to pitch their tent in dry conditions and the three of us to sit outside the caravan for dinner. Neil and Clare arrived later, having eaten en-route, and we had a merry evening sitting in the caravan, although I discovered that the flyscreens are not midge-proof and so I had company in the caravan even when the others went off to bed in their tents! Neil and Clare were up sharp on the Saturday and headed off to do the Brothers and Sisters. I was about an hour behind them because I was only doing Ciste Dubh. Hillary and Rhona drove over the Mam Ratagan and spent the afternoon around Glenelg. I reached my summit just before the cloud came in, along with a compleatist’s party and so got a tot of malt! Neil and Clare had to do much of their walk in rain and low cloud, phoning back to camp at about 7pm asking for a lift to retrieve their car. Rhona obliged while Hillary and I got the barbeque going inside the caravan (using the gas cooker). Nice hot showers revived Neil and Clare, the site drying room was put to good use and another cosy evening was spent in the caravan. Sunday was rather dreich so the campers headed home while I stayed another night - the advantages of having a tin roof!

The Cabin, Laggan, 14-16 September 2012

Eight of us went to Laggan this year on another windy weekend - it always seems to be windy when we go to The Cabin. The hut was nice and toasty when we arrived, thanks to the plumber, although he hadn’t quite managed to fix the second toilet and shower. The lack of a proper oven caused much negotiation over timings of meals/garlic bread/lemon meringue pie however it all got cooked eventually and we settled down for a night in front of the wood-burning stove. Saturday was dry but windy so I decided to visit an old friend of the family in Newtonmore and do some more wildcat spotting while in the village. (If you haven’t done this, visit the wildcat centre in the middle of Newtonmore Main Street for details on where to look!) Andy, Audrey and Tony did a two-car traverse of Sgor Gaoith, Pete and Helen climbed Meall a’Bhuachaille via the west ridge and Brian and Colwyn ‘activated’ Beinn a’Chlachair and Geal Charn, descending the latter to the east to avoid going back into the teeth of the wind. (‘Activation’ being some radio-ham term involving standing around on the summit in the freezing cold trying to make contact with other radio-hams.) Another convivial night was spent in front of the stove, apart from the activators, who didn’t get back until well after dark. Most folk just went home on Sunday, however I think B&C went off to ‘activate’ Meall Chuaich.

Annual Dinner Meet, Glen Clova, 3-4 November 2012

Once again Andy did a great job of organising the Annual Dinner, which, due to hotel double booking, was just for one night this year. Dreish and Mayar were climbed by Tony and Andrea, Keith did Ben Tirran twice, getting a view the second time, Douglas did it just the once. Audrey gave a presentation on the windfarm threat after an excellent dinner and then some of the party participated in the live music event being held in the bar.

Christmas Dinner Meet, Muir of Inverey, 7-9 December 2012

This year we had a reasonable amount of recent snow, providing options for both X country and downhill skiing. The weather warmed up during Saturday causing low level snow to melt, and Saturday night’s heavy rain and high winds limited activities on the Sunday. On the Saturday: Douglas and James had an early start to get up to the Lecht for a successful days skiing. Keith and Tiana had a local x country ski and glen walk. Neil, Clare and Gavin climbed Carn na Drochaide Pete and Helen went for local glen walk Tony, Audrey, Andy and Hillary climbed Creag nan Gabhar A superb feast of Xmas dinner was enjoyed by all with compliments to all the chefs led by Keith.