Meet Report

13th to 15th February 2015 - Corran Bunkhouse, Onich

Ah valentines day, romantic meals for two, flowers, long lie ins and lazy days and a wee trip to the cinema for fifty shades of dulux. Er no, for the EMC true love is being out in the Scottish mountains and there was plenty of love and devotion being shown on Saturday. Up at 5am to get on the climbs were Alison and Fiona (off to the Ben), Tim and Keith (also off to the Ben) and Mike and Fiona (off to Stob Coire nan Lochan).  The rest of us had a slightly more leisurely start, though by 8am everyone was out and off to the hills.  The weather was good, some low mist drifting about but on the whole it was a pleasant day.

The best of the weather was had by Allan, Kate and Alison F who took the ferry across to Ardgour and had a day on two cracking corbetts above Glen Galmadale, Fuar Bheinn and Creach Bheinn. Being slightly further west the tops were clear all day and the day was topped off by a meal at the Ardgour Inn before getting the ferry back to Corran. Meanwhile on the Ben Alison and Fiona were adding another Grade V route to their repertoire with an ascent of Compression Crack, Keith and Tim had a double whammy with ascents of Garadh Gully and Moonlight Gully while also helping with a rescue of an injured climber. We all hope he recovers quickly.  Not too far away in the mamores Kenny set off for the South gully of Stob Ban fully expecting that the young guns of Claire x 2, Sylvian and Annti were ahead as planned to break a nice trail up the long gully. A bit of mystery ensued, well for Kenny at any rate as when we met him in the cafe at Ballachuilush he was adamant he hadn't seen sight of them and had to break a lonely trail up the gully. Later back at the bunkhouse photographic evidence was presented to show that Kenny had actually been ahead of them despite setting off later than them, Kenny's years of route finding clearly had put him ahead of these young pretenders! Just across the hill Ali G and Carla were making an ascent of Mullach nan Coirean but their paths didn't cross with the others who also headed that way after Stob Ban. 

Back in Glencoe on Stob Coire nan Lochan myself and Anne climbed Boomerang Gully, Mike and Fiona later caught us up after they had an early start on SC Gully. Somehow they managed to miss the ice pitch on SC by missing the traverse and ended up on an exciting grade iv variant over an icicle. On the next gully over Chris and Katrina reported fantastic climbing on Twisting Gully.  We all congregated together afterwards in the corrie to walk out together ensuring we had time for tea and cake at the crafts and things cafe in glencoe where we met up with Kenny. 

What better way to spend valentines. 

The next day there was less devotion to the hills being shown, except for Tim and Keith who set off early to climb summit gully on Stob Coire nam Beith. Almost everybody else headed for the Corbett above the Kingshouse in windy conditions. I had a wee run on the west highland way before heading back with Anne to the cafe in glencoe again, well be rude to drive past it. 

Another great weekend had by all, roll on Loch Ossian. 

Alan