4-5 April 2009 First, a bit of history: In June 2000 the MMC weekend meet destination was Glen Clova. However by the Wednesday prior to the weekend there were no takers, so the new weekend meet secretary changed the venue to Skye. Now in April 2009, Dave’s last weekend meet as organiser was again Glen Clova, but this time a total of nine turned out and in spite of being below the average monthly turnout, it was a vast improvement on his first trip! Graeme Bartlett had Friday off, so he walked in from Glenshee to Glen Clova via the summits of Glas Maol and Monega Hill, across Glen Isla,…
May 2009 Weekend Meet: Rum
Sat 2nd – Sun 3rd – Mon 4th May 2009 O.S.Map(s): 39 Accommodation: Kinloch Castle Hostel (website) – 12 spaces, overspill camping Cost: Hostel: £12 pppn, Camping: £1.50 pppn Facilities: Fully equipped kitchen, showers etc., bedlinen, but bring your own towel. Food also available at Bistro, but need to book in advance The May Bank Holiday weekend offers an opportunity to go somewhere further afield, often the Islands, and this year’s destination is the magical isle of Rum. The Rum Cuillin offer some excellent scrambling, and there are superb walks in all directions. Dibidal and Guirdal bothies are most definitely worth a visit too. Rum is a designated nature reserve…
March 2009 Bus Meet Report: Kintail
Sunday, 15th March 2009 Kintail undoubtedly remains one of our favourite venues and did achieve a better attendance than last month: 25 members turned up despite a bad weather forecast, which was unfortunately accurate enough. Surprisingly, visibility was fairly good between heavy showers, but the wind kept getting stronger throughout the day. Alan Duncan, Ella Grant and Val Kemp enjoyed a fairly good day until they got to the top of A’Chralaig. As they dropped down, Ella slipped on the wet grass and believed then that her wrist was broken. They bravely soldiered on, taking their time on the way down and got safely back to the Cluanie Inn. Moira…
March 2009 Weekend Meet Report: Kinclochleven
Sat 7th – Sun 8th March 2009 The Blackwater Hostel hosted fourteen club members for the weekend meet. With everyone accommodated in either two or four bunk rooms, each with the luxury of a television and all sharing a large cooking dining area, this month we went up market. Saturday morning dawned with the cloud above the Mamores despite a strengthening north wind. Drummond Beattie, Spence Julian, Chrissy McKay with Patrick the dog, and Phil Cutts made an early start for Na Gruagaichean, Binnean Mor, and Binnean Beag. The conditions on the tops were extreme; they encountered a heavy cornice and high avalanche risk along the ridge between Na Gruagaichean…
April 2009 Bus Meet: Torridon
Sunday, 19th April 2009 O.S.Map(s): 19/24/25 Est. time of arrival: 9.45 am Time of departure: 18.00 pm Leave Elgin: 7.00 am The bus will park for the day in the Alligin car park by Coire Mhic Nobuil and will depart at 6pm still allowing time for a quick pub stop. A perennial favourite and a popular venue for both walkers and climbers. With a great range of magnificent hills the choice is endless. If we get a clear day, the views will be marvellous so don’t forget your camera! The bus should arrive at Kinlochewe by about 9.30am giving time to climb Slioch, a “real fortress of a mountain”, a…
J Alister Sword Mountain Photography Awards 2009
The winners of the J Alister Sword Mountain Photography Awards 2009 have been announced: Scottish Winner: Barns of Bynack by Peter Goodwin Joint runners-up: Clachtoll Mice by Andrew Taylor and Laggan by John Henderson International Winner: Indian Himalaya by Alan Duncan Joint runners-up: Monte Cervinio by Ray Harron and Climbers approaching Breche Lory by Ali Erginsoy Other entries in the competition can be viewed here
April 2009 Weekend Meet: Glen Clova
Sat 4th – Sun 5th April 2009 O.S.Map(s): 44 Accommodation: Glen Clova Hotel Bunkhouse (website) Cost: £11 pppn Facilities: Fully equipped kitchen, showers, bed linen, Hotel serves meals if required Glen Clova is arguably the most beautiful of the Angus Glens, offering stunning scenery, with views for miles around in all directions. The Bunkhouse is ideally situated for the Munros of Dreish and Mayar and the Red Craig crags for climbing. Book now with Dave Galloway by email
March 2009 Weekend Meet: Kinlochleven
Sat 7th – Sun 8th March 2009 O.S.Map(s): 41 Accommodation: Blackwater Hostel, Lab Rd (website) Cost: £14 pppn Facilities: Fully equipped kitchen, showers etc., linen, luxury For March, we return to the Glen Coe area (well why not?), this time to beautiful Kinlochleven. From here, the Mamores, the Glen Coe hills and the Nevis range are all easily accessible. The hostel is situated just behind the Ice Factor, so if you fancy having a go at the ice wall, this is your chance. If conditions are right, this is another great venue for winter climbers as well! Book now with Dave Galloway by email
February 2009 Weekend Meet Report: Ballachulish
Sat 7 – Sun 8 February 2009 The desire to convert the Christmas and New Year’s excesses into finely toned and lithesome muscle was the inspiration for twenty five members to gather in the Ballachulish village hall for the February weekend meet. With Morayshire being blessed with numerous snow showers, the west coast had the best weather of the weekend. With Saturday morning starting off windy and cloudy, Illona Morrice and Sarah De Rees and guests John McGowan and Monty Montgomery parked up and headed for the Lost Valley. Needing ice axe and crampons early on, they made the summit of Stob Coire nan Lochan via a nice gully climb.…
March 2009 Bus Meet: Kintail
Sunday, 15 March 2009 O.S.Map(s): 33 Est. time of arrival: 9.45 am Time of departure: 17.30 pm Leave Elgin: 7.00 am Some of the finest hill walking in Scotland can be found in the Kintail area, with the South Cluanie Ridge and the Five Sisters offering spectacular traverses. These can be as long and hard as you like, as there are several opportunities for early escapes if time is running short. Alternatively you might want to try the impressive Forcan Ridge with its excellent scramble leading up to the Saddle. Staying on the bus to Morvich will allow you the choice of A’Ghlas-bheinn and Beinn Fhada or a low level…