Edinburgh Mountaineering Club

Meet Reports for October to December 2005

Meet Reports

Marsco

Red Cuillin

The main problem in the evening was working out how we were going to have time to get through the 5 course meal including curry extravaganza and then stay awake in time for the Bells. The problem was partly solved by an early immediate post hill serving of soup. Only Bill B fell by the wayside before 12, not surprising as he has apparently not seen midnight on Hogmanay for over 20 years.

After the bells we were ushered outside by Owen to see what was described as the most amazing electrical storm ever seen in the British Isles. Owen declared he had only ever seen the like before in Darwin, NW Australia (name dropper!). The fact that the "electrical storm" was accompanied by firework like bangs and stopped abruptly after 15 mins did not deter Owen from his theory (and of course it was nothing to do with the large box of gin, brandy and whisky that he had brought to see in the New Year).

The weather looked very promising on New years day and we all enjoyed further big days on the Red Cuillin and the Broadford Grahams although the day clagged in later - almost the opposite of the day before. A slightly earlier return and slightly less food (but thanks to Anne in absentia for a magnificent chicken and broccoli bake) gave an opportunity to complete Liz's Christmas mazzle a sort of fiendish jigsaw puzzle where the picture is an OS Harvey's map, in this case the Glencoe/Ben Nevis area. By 1am, only the diehards were left together with 50 pieces which consisted of random counter lines with nothing more to distinguish them from each other. An early rise enabled Fiona C to show off her jigsaw prowess so that Liz could complete the mazzle.

On the last day the weather on Skye was not promising so most folk headed off to the mainland for various short expeditions.

Meet report and photos by Alison C

It was another week of good weather and a lousy forecast for the weekend. As usual, everyone arrived in dribs and drabs on Friday night with a mere nine cars between 11 people. The lady in the house opposite was extremely unhappy with the car parking arrangements so we swiftly moved cars to the hotel car park next door before World War III broke out. Meanwhile in the hostel, Bill B excelled himself by falling asleep in the kitchen at 8.30pm whilst Richard tried to salvage his beer by straining it through an old sock after the neck of the bottle broke.

We were sharing the hostel with the Cairngorm club whose conversation on Friday night was spookily similar to one of our standard conversation topics - how do we attract new members and how do we get younger members... We did feel slightly superior though as the average age of our members on the meet was considerably younger than theirs.

Saturday morning was cloudy but dry. Alison W, Richard & Fraser headed for the Glen Lyon four, Kenny, Alison, Alan & Anne for cycling/walking up near Loch Rannoch and Bill B was bagging Grahams somewhere. New member MA, Gillian & myself set off to do a short Corbett (Beinn Dearg) in Glen Lyon but we extended it by going onto Carn Gorm and ended up being the last back to the bunkhouse.

Glen Lyon

Richard and Fraser looking lost

Richard and Fraser on Meall Garbh

Sunday looked like more of the same weather wise. Several people were going home to do domestic chores with the remainder opting for local hills.

It was time for our annual luxury break with a new venue - the Onich hotel. Hopes were high for some great winter walking after a week at work watching the sun splitting the sky. Staff at the Onich confirmed it had been really glorious on the Thurs/Fri. Perfect winter hillwalking weather. The main excitement of Friday evening was provided by Alison W's leather trousers. It was all too much for pensioner Broon who retired for bed before nine. Or maybe it had something to do with another wee Corbett trip he had fitted in at Loch Arkaig where a night spent in his car had enabled a good early start.

Lawers range from Glen Ogle

Saturday looked a touch cloudy and as we enjoyed the lochside views whilst having our breakfast the lovely view was disappearing fast. Kenny and I did a Graham and double corbett trip on Ardgour, meeting Richard on top of the Graham on his way to another Graham that was connected with the first one, only by virtue of also being on Ardgour. Somebody should explain to Richard the concept of ridge walking.

Dennis and Jenny went to Anoch mor, ended up at Loch Arkaig and seemed to have done a lot of driving without very much to show for it.

There were a few finishes in the dark but most folk were back to make the most of the hotel's facilities, including the spa bath. We were very impressed with the sophisticated canapes we received during our pre-dinner drinks. We were even more impressed with the meal and attentive service. I listened carefully and possibly for the first time in living memory at an EMC meet I couldn't hear anybody complaining (sorry forgot that Eileen got a bit upset in the morning when she was brought 2 eggs after asking for 1).

Sunday was even more cloudy and dank. Fiona talked herself out of continuing up Colditz Corbett with me about half an hour from the summit. Although after being particularly careless with the bearing on the way down I was beginning to wish I had turned back as well. The way to the summit is very annoyingly exactly on the join between OS 41 and 50. That's my excuse anyway. The poor weather could not detract from the pleasure of opening the now unlocked gate which was previously impenetrable due to a combination of padlock, barbed wire and scary metal spikes - a triumph for land reform legislation.

The Onich hotel did us proud and is a great choice for a club dinner meet.

Meet report by Alison C, photo by Fiona C

Ten club members and two new members attended the weekend at Mill cottage. This MCofS club hut is very well appointed, and its situation in a secluded woodland setting near Kincraig has made the venue a popular choice over the years. With half the Party having mountain bikes with them, clearly the aspirations were there to reach remote summits, but the mountain forecast was not brilliant, OK for Saturday, and very wet on Sunday. The other notable weather feature was the high ambient temperatures, and with the prevailing fresh southerly wind, freezing levels were well above the high tops. Despite the unseasonable warmth we still had the coal and wood burning stove going well, for comfort value as much as necessity.

Saturday morning looked promising, with sunny spells and broken cloud over the hills that looked like it might disperse during the day. Unfortunately this was not to be, with the Munros and Corbetts experiencing lowering cloud bases accompanied firstly by drizzle then more substantial rain. Cyclists Alan, Anne and Kenny decided to bike into Glen Einich from Coylumbridge before ascending Braeriach. Bikeless author also bound for Braeriach jogged in the 9k to the start of the ascent line and beat the bikes. The top was reached easily enough but an anxious time was spent correcting navigational errors before descent by another route to Glen Einich. The cyclists spent 15 minutes at the wind becalmed summit cairn and then chose the northerly descent via Sron Riach almost to the site of the dismantled Sinclair hut before cutting across heather moorland to their bikes. I arrived at the road end precisely 20 seconds prior to Kenny. How is that for timing? Kenny enthused about the 30 minute brakeless freewheel out.

Alison W drew new boys Charlie and Richard F under her matriarchal wing, and provided exemplary navigational instruction and practical advice on a traverse of the Glen Feshie ridge (all in cloud) from Sgurr Gaoith to Mullach Clach a' Bhlair. This is not easy with poor visibility, but plateau compass bearings were good (unlike mine) and new tops were ticked by all. Alison, despite several previous visits to Glen Feshie still awaits a view from the summits. Just hang in there Alison, one day you will be up on the Feshie ridge, looking over the vast wilderness plateau of the Moine Mor and the backcloth of the Braeriach to Cairn Toul high tops, with only the plaintive call of the golden plover breaking the silence! The destructive presence of bulldozed vehicle tracks through parts of The Great Moss for seasonal stalking present alternate sadness of our insensitivity to unnecessary exploitation of our wonderful and fragile natural heritage, but occasionally sighs of relief on poor visibility days when such intrusions underpin navigational confirmation of precise location.

The other bike Party Bill C, Eileen, and Alison C were further west enjoying the pleasant ride south along the west bank of the River Feshie before striking up to the summit of the Corbett Leathad an Taobhain. No navigational problems were encountered here as a track and path leads all the way to the summit. Still no views from the top however. Owen headed up to near Aviemore for the Corbett Geal Charn Mor, whereas Bill B travelled further west along loch Laggan to tackle the twin Grahams Binnein Shios and Binnein Shuas. The eye is drawn to these prominent hills on the drive towards Spean Bridge and is the scenic view from fictional Glen Bogle in the ham TV Scottish Highland soap 'Monarch of the Glen.'

With all the Party safely gathered in at t'Mill the evening was spent in characteristic EMC boozy style, although perhaps a few feathers were ruffled by a mild rebuke of another's way of cooking potatoes. Talking of feathers and fur, 'Roadkill' Bill B once again revealed his propensity for tarmac cookery, saying that he had a winter's worth of pheasant and rabbit in his freezer and anything else scraped from the asphalt. . Later for tea he had something strange looking, accompanied by fava beans and a nice Chianti fffffffff. Apparently there really is a road kill cookbook!

With the onset of winter time and a gentle rain already falling the general consensus seemed to be in favour of an early return home on Sunday morning, except for Owen who was staying up north for the following week. Cyclists were looking at various undemanding low level routes to stretch the legs and the circuit of Loch an Eilean was mentioned. No such prevarication from Alison W however. With a talk across the Pond to prepare she had little time left to don her power shoulders, split her infinitives and incentivise her adjectives in order to wow the Americans. Having dropped the hut key off to the Custodian in Kingussie I was glad that my only leg stretch was as far as the car foot pedals. The rain on the A9 was monsoon like at times.

OK I admit it. I had to check on the SMC website to make sure that I spelt it right. Charlie (a potential new member) helped me to find the hut half way down Glen Etive and it turned out to be more luxurious than expected - an image perhaps created by a helpful water elf (Martin) and our favourite pyromaniac elf (Albert) not to mention the whisky elf (yours truly).

Anyway, we were sitting around the roaring fire on Friday night at about 10 pm thinking what happened to Margaret and where was Tim? In the middle of the night two people snuck into the hut and I opened one eye just to check who it was. Tim I recognised and the other chap turned out to be Oliver a potential new member.

The following morning it was revealed that due to a road accident Tim and Oliver sat in a traffic jam for about 5 hours and got to the hut at three in the morning. Margaret decided to attack the problem from a different direction but gave up and spent the night in Killin hostel as I discovered when I turned my mobile on at the top of Beinn Fhionnlaidh the following day and got her message. This was the most popular mountain that day with a party of 5, Martin, Charlie, Richard, Sophie and me deciding in record time (about 30 seconds) that it would be our target due to the somewhat grim weather forecast. Tim and Oliver opted for Sgor na h-Ulaidh and Albert for a walk in the same direction so we all left together from the hut as our paths coincided for the first hour or so.

Ben Starav from Glen Etive (AW)

The weather started off in true autumnal fashion with swirling mist and we could hear the stags baying nearby. On the way up through the woods we were joined by a party of 3 stalkers who piled out of a 4x4 immaculately turned out in tweeds. Suspecting that wearing red could be dangerous I approached them to see where they were going. However, they turned out to be quite chatty and we managed to agree mutually acceptable routes. As we went up the ridge we could see deer in the distance, but they were too far off to attract the stalkers. Tim and Oliver disappeared up the glen, Albert opted for a lower level walk and the rest of us climbed up into an increasingly windy and showery world. About half way up Charlie realised that he had left his jacket in the hut (doh!) and decided to go back. As a result of this he was treated to the view of the aforementioned stalkers dragging their kill down the hill back to their 4*4. Venison steak all round - (sorry Bambi). We did get some views but not for long and eventually it started to sleet on the summit and we did not linger to appreciate the freezing cold wind. By the time we had got back to the woods it was absolutely horsing it down and the rain set in for the rest of the day.

Martin and Sophie at the col on Beinn Fhionnlaidh(AW)

However, the fire was burning enthusiastically in the hut when we returned and shortly afterwards Margaret pitched up having climbed a rather steep Corbett en route - but I can't remember which one. Oliver and I zoomed off to the metropolis of Kinlochleven to sample its retail opportunities and accidentally went to the pub on the way back - no surprises there. We spent the evening surrounded by damp clothes drying above the fire indulging in the standard EMC banter before most of the party had an early night. Something to do with the lack of sleep the night before methinks.

On Sunday, it was still raining. Oh well. Most of us decided that honour would be satisfied by a jaunt up Beinn a' Chrulaiste followed by a change of clothes and a highly civilised cup of coffee in the lounge at the Kings House. Tim and Oliver, evidently made of sterner stuff set off for Ben Dorain and Ben an Dothaidh. So all in all, rather a soggy experience. But some comfort could be derived from the fact that it was just as wet in the Pyrenees and Mallorca.