Rucksacks Bunkhouse has been standard winter fare for a few years now, and so it was that 12 fully paid up members, 2 skulking satellites and the usual Clampit arrived in Braemar for a weekend of short chilly days and long evenings spent huddled around the warming stove/shite storage heater. The winter solstice is often a time of reflective meditation – or as is more often the case with some – of doing very little. And so it was on that Saturday that a venerable gang of four struck out for an early lunch and an easy day up Glen Callater. However, the pleasant stroll predicted, never materialised as Fiona,…
December 2011 Christmas Bus Meet Report
The last time we had a Xmas meet in this area was 2008, when the Bus continued to Newtonmore. This time it was felt there were more walking options in the Cairngorms, if the weather was not kind, so the Bus terminated at the ski car park. The turn out of 36 people was one of the lowest in living memory and may be a reflection of the current economic climate? With a membership of 116, it is still slightly strange that two thirds are not interested or unable to attend the Xmas meet! Perhaps it should be a New Year resolution of the Club to design a function which…
December 2011 Christmas Bus Meet: Cairngorms
Sunday 18th December O.S. Map 36 Est. time of arrival: 9.30am Time of departure: 3.30pm Leave Elgin: 7.00am This years Christmas meal (well-deserved after an arduous day in the wintery Cairngorms!) will be at the Cairngorm Hotel in Aviemore. The price is £19.00 per person for the meal (bus fair is additional to this) and includes a tip. We are to be seated at 5.00, but will aim to get there earlier so people can get drinks etc. There are plenty of high level and low level options for a fun day out. Do check the MWIS and SAIS websites for weather and avalanche risk and plan accordingly.…
November 2011 Bus Meet Report: Fannichs
The pre Christmas sales started early, with forty-six would-be mountaineers queuing behind the coach doors, waiting for the Fannichs PLC to open. First out of the lift and heading for the boot department was Graham Milton, making Beinn Liath Mhor Ghiubhais his destination: it has taken longer to write this than for him to climb it. He had a nice easy day with good views (wasn’t he the lucky one). Graham did a sterling job with his entry for the diary, placing it in the November 2010 to Drumochter section – this took a wee while to find. (Nice one Graham). On the second floor and heading for the rucksack…
November 2011 Weekend Meet Report: Inchnadamph
Assynt, beginning of November? Barely recall it now, and if no-one else does, this fictitious rambling based on half remembered truths may just get away with it. Inchnadamph Lodge in November is a wonderful place, but hardly a secret amongst the Moray Mountaineers as 25 of the blighters descended mob-like to shatter the idyllic calm. With so many people out and about and your gentle author being so lazy, there can be little more illumination as to the deeds of that weekend than the production of the barest list. However, Natacha, unlike most of us has taken the time and trouble to produce a splendid report and it is…
November 2011 Bus Meet: Fannichs
Sunday 20th November OS Map 19/20 Departs Elgin: 07.00am The Fannichs lie between Loch Fannich and the A 835 Garve to Ullapool road. With 9 munros in the area A’Chailleach and Sgurr Breac to name a couple and the corbetts of Beinn a! Chaisteal, Beinn Laith Mhor a! Ghiubhais Li, Beinn Enaiglair and Creag Rainich there is plenty to explore. The bus will be parked at Loch a’ Bhracin for the day and drops can be made along the way as usual. Just remember shorter daylight hours now that the clocks have gone back when planning routes! To book a seat on the bus contact Dave…
New Year 2012 Meet: Plockton
Our destination for New Year festivities will be the Station Bunkhouse in Plockton Accommodation is booked for 3 nights: 31st Dec, 1st and 2nd Jan Price: £45 per person for the 3 nights, payable in advance. The bunkhouse can accommodate up to 20 people – there may be a small refund if we fill it. A stay of only 2 nights may be possible, subject to availability of places. To book, please make a cheque payable to the Moray Mountaineering Club and contact Jake Lee.
October 2011 Bus Meet Report: Achnashellach/ Strathconon Traverse
This wretched Club it is a pest, It lures me from my Sunday rest, To flounder over bogs and heather, And climb high hills in any weather. To rise at all unearthly hours, And show my best resistance powers, By scrambling over rock and boulder To some elusive spur or shoulder With promise of a view at last Is met with mist and icy blast And ‘stead of far flung distant land I see an inch from where I stand! A poem that John Henderson thought would be appropriate after our rather soggy outing, it was written my an unknown club member about 75 years ago! Strathconon Glen…
October weekend meet report: Crianlarich
With Jake away at the Albanian ferret pickling championships we all feared that the weekend meet would deteriorate into unorganised chaos. Fortunately, his ruthless organisation and forward planning prevailed and it was once again a success. Well, apart from the weather – but then why else do we all spend so much money on waterproof clothing? Katie Griffiths, Karl Markham, Fiona Cunningham and Ash were first out of the door. They headed for the “path” (which Ash considers to be “a mechanism or structure designed to easy/facilitate access and perambulation”) leading to the Munros An Caisteal and Beinn a Chroin. Apparently the definition is somewhat at odds with the boggy mess…
Club Calendars
The new 2012 club calendar is now available at the bargain price of just £6! Glen Moray Distillery have kindly sponsored it again. All photos in the calendar have been taken by club members and they have been enlarged to cover the whole page this year. They will be available to purchase on the bus and weekend meets or from any committee member.