Edinburgh Mountaineering Club

Meet Reports 2001

Meet Reports

Report from the New Year Meet at Tulloch Bunkhouse ...

(See the photos here).

Heavy snow and blizzard conditions on the drive up to Tulloch on the Saturday meant that very few hills were climbed on the first day of our Hogmanay break. Alastair however lived true to his moto of 'an extra hour in bed is worth 2 on the hill in the dark' as he and Alan completed their grade 1 gully in the Cairngorms at 8pm finally arriving at the hostel at 10pm! However eventually all 24 managed to make it through safe and sound, apart from David who lay at home in his bed with a cold (arhh!).

Sunday offered a fair day's winter weather; some snow, some icy wind but not bad views for most of the day. One party (those not inclined to dig out their cars!) set off to do the Munros Stob Coire Sgriodain and Chno Dearg out the back of the hostel and another group did a Corbett out at Glenfinnan. A clutch of other hills were made by other members, with Jonathan and Jo sensibly choosing cross-country skiing rather than wading thigh-deep in snow like the rest of us. Bill B also chose a new winter sport - having driven his car into a ditch, he spent the next 2 hours getting it out on his own using 'Krypton Factor' ingenuity of building up a ramp of small stones. Car and mountaineer were both unharmed, with the latter still gaining a summit before tea and buns back at base.

On New Year's Eve finer weather was forecast so most of the group decided it would be a good day to bag the Ben. Unfortunately it wasn't quite as good as promised and icy conditions slowed progress, meaning the CMD arete was only possible for some. However everyone made it and returned back with a sense of achievement and a tremendous appetite. Which was just as well...

In usual EMC style New Year's dinner was a feast! Mulled wine and assorted snacks made a civilised start to the proceedings. Then a choice of homemade soups, followed by beef casserole or vegetable rissoles with plum sauce. An amazing array of desserts, shortbread and tablet and after dinner mints rounded it off nicely (or finished us off - phew!). Well done to all of the cooks who prepared the food in advance and on the day. Thanks also to Lesley, who prepared this year's quiz, delivered in her famous Ann Robinson-style.

After two days of early morning chaos in the kitchen with people preparing for big winter days, January 1st was a much more peaceful affair. For many it was a day for a more relaxed pace of life. A lie in, a delicious breakfast of leftover soup, trifle and after-eight mints (!!) followed by a stroll to some of the less demanding local bumps. There was also an outing to Creag Pitridh by Ann, Richard and Hywel, and of course, David (now recovered from cold), Fiona and Alastair did some scary climb or other.

(Nicola)

January 2nd was another fantastic day. Although quite a few had gone home, a determined gang set off to do a "short day" Corbett (heard that one before) down Glen Roy. After a few miles, however, the road proved impassable and with spinning wheels and memories of Bill Brown's epic in the ditch, we turned round. As time was marching on it was a case of "what do we do now"? A small gang went on and climbed the Pap of Glencoe in very icy conditions with the rest heading for home. It was a good New Year with some of the best winter weather ever.

(Lesley)

Report from the Dinner Meet at Blair Atholl (Dec 2001)

This year, the Atholl Arms at Blair Atholl hosted our annual Dinner Meet - the Club's one "posh do" of the year. 26 arrived on the Friday night and congregated in the bar (as usual). In fact, I think we were eventually politely asked to leave, to allow the staff to close up.

On Saturday morning, after a great breakfast, made doubly appealing by the fact you didn't have to cook it yourself, and even allowing for the fact the weather was somewhat grey and damp, with many of the high tops covered in clag, people disappeared off in all directions, to enjoy days on (Munros) Beinn a'Ghlo, Beinn Dearg, and even Meall Corranaich and Meall a'Choire Leith. Corbetts too were climbed with quite a gang climbing Beinn Mheadhonach where Albert's GPS saved the day in establishing for certain where the actual summit was on a very flat, gloomy plateau. Fiona and David cycled 12km up a tarmac road before finally climbing to the summit of Stob an Aonaich Mhoir.

Six more folk arrived on Saturday night, bringing the total number to 32. From 7pm onwards, members started drifting downstairs in kilts, spangly tops and high heels (thankfully not all worn together by one person!!) - not a trace of fleece or a pair of Ronhills to be seen. Dinner was extremely good with the proceedings being rounded off by an excellent speech from the Club's President, Cathy Cook. After that it was back to the bar.

In complete contrast, Sunday morning, although misty in the valleys, turned out to be an absolutely fabulous day with stunning views in all directions. One group went off to climb Ben Vrackie; Cathy and Hywel cycled up Glen Tilt to climb Carn a' Chlamain (that's Hywel down to 6 Munros left to climb); others climbed a combination of various Munros at Drumochter where views as far north as Ben Wyvis and the Strathfarrar Four could quite clearly be seen. Keith and Nicola went down to Loch Tay and climbed Meall Garbh and Meall Greig and due to Nicola having a bit of a hangover, ended up taking longer than they meant to and got back to their car in the pitch dark at 5.30pm!

(Lesley and Jessie)

Meet report from Inverardran Cottage, Crianlarich (Nov 2001)

After a relatively quiet Friday night in Inverardran Cottage, Saturday morning didn’t look too promising. Most us wandered about in clag doing a variety of munros and corbetts. It was a day to be as high as possible. The best weather seemed to be on Stob Binnein where Kenny claimed he was sunbathing whilst watching a brockenspecter and blankets of white cloud below on the way over from Balquhidder. Most impressive feat was Alistair’s solo traverse of 5 Munros starting on Beinn Chabhair. Vague murmurs of concern were beginning to be expressed when it had been dark for over 2 hours and Alistair still hadn’t returned but as if on cue he appeared at the door at 7.

After the drink ran out we retired to the Rod and Reel where there was live entertainment in the form of Crianlarich’s answer to the Corries. The quality of the show seemed to increase in direct proportion to the amount of alcohol consumed. Whereas at the beginning there was muted applause and shouts of "rubbish", at the end the Corries were getting standing ovations and mass encore requests. The Corries benefited from percussion accompaniment by various club members and in particular the club President who had earlier confided her bitterness at being discriminated against in musical examinations for being tone deaf. The Corries operated no such discriminatory practices. As Cathy gave it her all on a pair of large yellow bongo drums, the barman was heard to mutter to another punter, "I take it she’s not musical then". At this point, there was a brief interruption when the table that the maraca player was dancing on collapsed and he dived headfirst towards the pool table missing it by inches. Sadly the Corries and Cathy could do no more encores and it was time to go home.

Sunday was damp and drizzly. There is only one confirmed report of a hill being climbed. Kenny had to walk back over Cruach Ardrain to collect his car.

(Alison)

Meet report from Milehouse (Glenfeshie) (Nov 2001)

With a decent weather forecast for the weekend long days were planned. One group did an 18 mile round trip of Leathad an Toabhain and Carn Dearg Mor down Glen Feshie. Another group had a long day on the Feshie ridge, starting from Achlean. Unfortunately, the weather turned out not to be as good as forecast and those who had headed for the higher tops ended up walking in the cloud for most of the day. The evening in the 'five star' Milehouse hut was very comfortable - it must be one of the best huts in Scotland!

Sunday brought low cloud and threat of rain (seems to be a pattern here - ed). Members dispersed for hills near Laggan and Glenfeshie before a wet drive home.

(Fiona M)

Meet report from Corrour (c/o Laggan!) (Oct 2001)

The club's trip to Corrour, on the West Highland Line, was diverted due to problems with the bunkhouse. Instead, we went to the Pottery bunkhouse at Laggan. On Saturday many of us climbed Creag Meagaidh, purely as an excuse to have a soak in the bunkhouse's excellent hot tub (as if we hadn't already got wet enough...). We hope to have a photo soon - watch this space for details.

On the Sunday, the weather didn't look too promising, so most headed for hills on the way home. Popular choices were a Corbett north of Kinloch Rannoch, and also Meall Cuaich near Dalwhinnie.

(See the photos here).

(William)