Evelyne Droege Andy Lawson Joe Glennie Fiona Duncan Alan Duncan Graeme Morrison Dan Moysey Bob Macdonald Brent Craig Dave Maclean Dave ‘one night’ Galloway Ray Harron Dave Whitelock Graeme Henderson Imke Henderson Jake Lee At least some of the above made the soggy trip to Corpach last March, but after a recent purge of all unnecessary paperwork, which seems to have included my passport and a near priceless collection of 1980’s Woolworth receipts,  I seem to have little record of events. I fear dear reader, you may have noticed a pattern emerging in recent weekend reports – or sad lack of them, but I find events are often the better…

Strawberry Cottage Date: 4th/5th August 2012 Venue: Strawberry Cottage, Glen Affric Location: At Western end of Loch Affric, on the North-side opposite Athnamulloch. OS Map 25, Grid Ref: 132207. Glen Affric is a very special and beautiful place. A natural nature reserve and a site of special scientific interest. The glen has a real wilderness feel although, fences and buildings show that it has been inhabited for a long time. the hills will always be there, but Strawberry Cottage allows you to linger for a while and get the most out of your experience. Long days are the best, the hills deserve to be savoured and many of the fantastic…

The usual author is suffering from writer’s block, so it has fallen to me to expand on the unintelligible scribbles that pass for write-ups of the weekend’s adventures. There was a spectacular turnout of about twenty at the lovely village of Cairndow on the shores of Loch Fyne, including a significant contingent of climbers; a most discerning breed when it comes to weather forecasts. On the Friday, Andy Lawson, Rachel Higgins and Claire Proctor set off nice and early from Elgin to ascend Rachel’s 100th Munro – Ben Vorlich. Jim Bryce also started his weekend early with an ascent of Beinn an Lochain. Celebrating Rachel’s 100th Munro with a G&T…

Date: 7th/8th July 2012 Location: Gerry’s Hostel, Craig (Achnashellach) Gerry’s Hostel is located in Craig (a few miles from Achnashellach). It is the oldest independent hostel in Scotland and one of the most renowned. The hostel is easily accessed by road or rail. Facilities: Fully equipped kitchen Small food store Excellent drying room Hot showers Laundry facility (cotton sheets for hire) Blankets and duvets supplied for use with clean sleeping bags or sheets Free wi-fi Cost: £16 pppn in a dorm or £18pppn in a twin or double. There are also family rooms. Nearby hills: More than you could shake a stick at ! Munros: Moruisg, Maoile Lunndaidh, Lurg Mhor, Sgurr a’Chaorachain, Sgurr Choinnich,…

AULTGUISH FEBRUARY 2012 Dave Galloway Jake Lee Graeme Morrison Donnie Mclennan Dan Moysey Illona Morrice Lydia Davis Alan Duncan Fiona Duncan Dave Maclean Ray Harron Andy Lawson Judith Kendall Ollie Galloway Dave Whitelock Kate Whitelock Fiona Cunninghame The Aultguish Inn and Bunkhouse hasn’t been used by the MMC since the days when Graeme Morrison could read a map at less than arm’s length, so it was good to get acquainted with a new venue, especially for those Inverness folk who only had half an hours drive to the place. Those impish weather faeries had been up to no good though, as the preceding five frosty-sharp days of gloriously cloudless cerulean…

Date: 2nd/3rd June 2012 Location: Cairndow Village Hall, Cairndow, Argyll Facilities: Showers, toilets, fully equipped kitchen. Bring mats and sleeping bags. Pub 100 m down the road Cost: TBC, but very reasonable. Nearby Hills: Nearest Munros: Beinn Bhuidhe, Beinn Ime, Beinn Narnain. Nearest Corbetts: Stob Coire Creagach, Beinn an Lochain, Beinn Luibhean, The Brack, Ben Donich, The Cobbler. Nearest Grahams: Stob an Eas, Cruach nam Mult, Stob na Boine Druim-fhinn, Beinn Lochain. Climbing:  The Cobbler is the great attraction for rock climbers, with 40 trad routes ranging from Sev-E8, ten of which merit a 3-star rating. Routes include the classics Punster’s Crack, Recess Route and Ardgarten Arete. Please contact Jake Lee to book a place on this meet.

Date: 5/6/7th May 2012 (3 night stay) Location: Camping at Jura Hotel, Craighouse, Isle of Jura Website: Jura Hotel Getting there: Via Calmac [Car Ferry]: Kennacraig (Mainland) to Port Askaig (Islay) then Port Askaig (Islay) to Feolin (Jura) (Tickets for both ferries: £20 rtn per person [5-day saver], additional £109.20 to take a car across) or Via Jura Direct Boat [Passenger Ferry (bikes can be taken)]: Tayvallich (Mainland) to Craighouse (Jura) (Tickets: £40 rtn, Friday outbound times: 10:00 and 18:00, Monday return times: 07:00 and 17:00 – Booking Advisable – the Scheduled boat seats a maximum of 12) Bikes: It is recommended to take a bike across with you – should…

7/8th April 2012 Accommodation: Lagangarbh Hut, Glen Coe, Grid Ref NN 221 560. The hut is situated at the head of Glen Coe about 300m off to the right (travelling south) of the A82.  There is a car park just off the A82, but you can carefully drive down a track to a second car park next to the river.  From here it is just a short walk to the hut. The hut is very comfortable and has electric cooking, lighting and heating.  There is a log fire at Lagangarbh, so please feel free to take along some logs.  There are no showers. The hut is beautifully situated at the…

Date: 3/4th March Location: Smiddy Bunkhouse Website:  http://www.highland-mountain-guides.co.uk/accommodation/accommodation-smiddy-bunkhouse.php Cost: £17 per person per night Please contact Jake Lee for a place on this meet

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,…