Sunday, 19th December 2010

This year’s Xmas Bus Meet was a huge success because, unlike last year, we actually did some walking and returned to the Ledgowan Hotel for a meal!  It was a close call however when the bus got stuck in the icy car park at Rogie Falls, and then collided with a large stag on the way to the meal.  Perhaps if this early snow persists in the future we would be safer having a meal in Elgin – after walking a few laps of the Oakwood!!  We were last here for a meal in 2006 and then we had 53 members on the bus.  This time there were 43 members and it is still slightly strange that less than half the membership turn out for this enjoyable and sociable meet.

The usual walking options were used again, as the first group got off the bus at the Achnasheen junction heading for Fionn Bheinn.  Even allowing for navigating in the clag and playing about in the snow, they were back at the Hotel in good time to get the party started.  Achnashellach Station and the Coulags, and some stops in between and beyond were also the starting points for other groups – some of whom brought their touring skis or snow shoes!  Well known bothies were targeted for seasonal cocktails and because the weather was generally favourable, Illona was able to do some winter skills training for those eager to learn more about walking safely in winter conditions.  This winter training will be repeated in the Cairngorms on the January meet, and interested personnel should mention that they wish to take part – when booking for the bus.  The best advice on footwear is not to be caught out on sheet ice in some poncy slippers with go-faster stripes.  You need stiff soled boots, hard as concrete, slathered in dubbin and with a tread like a Sherman tank!!

After the dinner, the President, Illona Morrice, made a brief speech about the importance of members coming forward to take their turn on the committee.  It is always good to have new faces putting forward new ideas to influence the direction your Club will take in the future.  More information on committee duties will appear in the newsletters between now and the AGM in march.  Illona then went on to congratulate 3 members who compleated their Munros in consecutive weeks in September 2010.  Bob MacDonald  started it off on Blaven on Skye, followed a week later by Fiona Duncan on Schiehallion. Finally, Natacha Mihajlovic finished her round on Ben Nevis via the epic grade 5 scramble on Tower Ridge.  A few months earlier, John Henderson had completed the Corbetts list on Beinn Bhuide – just above Inverie bay on Knoydart.

There were special thanks again to Graeme Morrison for sponsoring the trophies presented to the 4 members above and to Graham Milton for making all the arrangements at the Hotel.  Don’t forget the annual photography competition on 20 January 2011 when your photo could be selected for the 2012 Club calendar.  And….. make a New Year resolution to get out on those hills in 2011 – the 80^th anniversary of the Moray Mountaineering Club!

John Henderson

For more photos from this meet click here

The Climbers Guide to the Pronunciation of the Gaelic Tongue

Oh, a terrible tongue is the tongue of the Gael

And the names of the mountains turn Southerners pale

It’s ill to pronounce them, to spell them is worse

And they’re not very easy to hitch into verse.

 

A mountain’s a mountain in England, but when

The Climber’s in Scotland, it may be a Bheinn

A Creag or a Meall, a Spidean, a Sgor

A Carn or a Monadh, a Stac, or a Torr

 

For he goes up Beinn Dothaidh

In the ice and the snothaidh

And nothing will staim

From climbing Sgor Mhaim

If he’s long in the leagaidh

May tackle Creag Meagaidh

Or, job that is hardcore

The ‘posts’ of Corr’ Ard Dhoire

He strolls up Beinn Eighe

By the easiest weighe

If he’s wise – but Sgurr Dubh

Will make him look blubh

Very grand is the vuidhe

Will get from Meall Buidhe

But more will he sithe

From Bruach na Frithe

Then for Sport that is raoghal

He hies to Beinn Laoghal

And surely will staidheimh

To ascend Beinn a’ Chlaidheimh

And gaze from afar

On Beinn Airidh a’ Charr

To get up Stop Gabhar

Takes more than an abhar

But considerably leas

The ascent of Cam Eas

Now one cannot conciol

That the slopes of Beinn Sgriol

Are hardly as sheur

As the crags of Cam Bheur

Nor can one mainteadhoin

That the view from Beinn Meadhoin

Surpasses the vaoigh

Observed from Beinn Laoigh