A very wet Ben nevis summit

Twenty-two members and guests braved the mountain weather information service’s 10% chance of cloud free Munroes and headed for Fort William.  

First off the bus were Paul and Joanne Chappell, en route for the CIC hut, Ben Nevis Visitor Centre, Nevis Bank, then a walk back up Glen Nevis to the Youth Hostel to wait for the bus.

Also getting off at the Golf Club were Bob McDonald, Malcolm Campbell and David and Kate Whitelock.  Hitting a great drive off the tee, they headed up Allt  a Mhuilinn before hitting a faded shot onto Carn Mor Dearg, and finding a sweet spot fore lunch. Slicing the next shot to traverse Carn Mor Dearg Arête, they then pitched up to the trig point on top of Ben Nevis.  They received the Claret jug, to the delight of the crowds that had waited in the pouring rain.  Hoping to make the 19th hole, they headed back down the Tourist track to Glen Nevis Youth Hostel, all four of them making the cut.

Bill Lindsay, Illona Morrice, Tina McIntyre and Andrew McGhee left Polldubh car park and headed up Allt a Coire Mhusgain. Reaching the col they headed east onto Stob Ban, following over spot height 917 and up onto Mullach nan Coirean. This definitely was the best side of Glen Nevis for the weather, a bit cloudy but fairly dry.

John Henderson & Bob Weeks headed up through Steall Meadows, crossing over the wooden bridge. After about 2km they forged their way up in a north easterly direction onto Sgurr Coinnich Beag, down to the col and up onto Sgurr Choinnich Mor. Great views to the Aonachs and Mamores were sadly missed due to a wet and driech day.

Heading for the Ring of Steall and better weather on the south side of Glen Nevis were Rob Murray, Andrew Taylor, Graeme Morrison, Donnie Maclennan, Dan Moysey, Bob Litster and Jenny Graham. Oh and The Three Musketeers, Fiona Duncan (‘Athasinthebus’), Drummond Beattie (‘Postbus’) and Jake Lee (‘Aramissedthebus’).  Approaching via the spectacular Water of Nevis path and crossing the wire bridge they headed under Steall Falls and up onto An Gearanach, crossing the ridge to An Garbhanach before the sharp pull up onto Stob Coire a Chairn. Two kilometres separate Stob Coire a Chairn from Sgurr an Lubhair, then follows the impressive Devil’s Ridge and Sgurr a Mhaim. Bob’s entry in the diary was, “Knackered… enough said!” and Jenny thought it should be called Balls of Steall. 

A good day was had by all, in spite of the weather.  No pub stop on the way home… enough said.

Dave Whitelock