Meet Report

27th to 30th May 2011 - Clachtoll Beach Campsite, Clachtoll near Lochinver (May Bank Holiday)

The official EMC meet at Clach Toll was cancelled due to inclement weather!

However, we bring you this alternative report of member's activities as a consolation:

On 27 May Kate, Ian, Allan S and Eric B (friend) walked from near Cluanie Inn to Alltbeith Youth Hostel through the An Caorann Mor, a soggy glen, in wind driven drizzle.  We were greeted by a the excellent warden Colin in a warm comfortable hostel. On 28th Sgrurr nan Ceathreamhnan and it northerly neighbour Mullach na Dheiragain were done by all four with two returning via An Socach in conditions from drizzle to wind driven snow on the main top. The next day attention  was limited to the Corbet Sgurr Gaoraic as conditions were the same as the previous day with the paths even boggier than before. Despite the conditions there were some good local views and a cheerful time was had by all.  The walk out was better.

The hostel was a warm dry friendly base to retreat to at the end of the day. Based on the Lonely Planet as a hill-walking guide three young foreign students came in on the afternoon of 29th in varying degrees of hyperthermia. The warden Colin  provide dry clothing and tea: none had water proofs, proper clothing or equipment. Kate lent the lass warm clothing, and cooked the three a meal from hostel and our left-overs.  The Lonely Planet is a not recommended as a mountain guide book for Scotland!

Additionally, prior to the meet Tim had been doing a solo backpack with 2 nights camped out to bag all the Fannichs: Achnasheen over Fionn Bheinn, round the head of Loch Fannich (camp) then east to west along the main group (camp before climbing to Sgurr Breac) and out to Braemore Junction, intending to get the bus up to the meet.  The first part went well enough, but with the weekend looking like a complete washout and noone else making the long trip up to Sutherland, he made do with the Ullapool campsite (as windy as always) and headed for home on the soggy Saturday.