December’s weekend meet was to a new venue for the club. The Alex MacIntyre Memorial Hut between Ballachulish and Onich is very well situated for the hills, with some of this country’s finest close by, in all directions. Some arrived early, others after dark when the hut, though right beside the road, can be difficult to locate, and one adventurer arrived properly late. Jane showed devotion to the club by coming on the meet despite working a full day on Friday and Monday in Ireland. She raced to the evening Belfast to Cairnryan ferry after work on Friday and made it to the hut just before 2am. Thankfully a couple of fellows were kind enough to stay up to welcome her in and drink her beer.
Heavy set off early on Saturday morning with what could be described as perfect hillwalking company – nobody – to climb Fraochaidh. It’s a big day on a wee hill, sitting in a remote setting behind the Ballachulish Horseshoe. He had an enjoyable ascent up “Schoolhouse Ridge” leading eventually to the summit where wide expansive views of Argyll, Ardgour, Glen Coe and Lochaber were taken in. He then told of his interesting descent from the top “The descent was lovely the fading sun lighting up the hills and the views to sea impressive. The worst bit is about 20 minutes of felled trees ‘pathless purgatory’ and then you are on the forestry road and easy walking to Duror. I tried to hitch and had no idea of bus times from Oban so I called a friend Sue who dropped everything and picked up a cold old guy from Duror! Poor Sue was working on a big dinner for the Cioch club dinner in the Inchree Restaurant that night and my little sad request knocked her back in time. We had a hairy drive to my car while she rushed back to finish the dinner menu!”
Another Corbett-bagging group had slightly more members in it. Fiona, Evelyne, Alan, Jake, Al, Sheila and Kat “Set off in two cars to Creache Bheinn. After some (mainly) safe driving we arrived at the bottom of a path that was ‘definitely not there’ the last time some party members were there. It looked as if there was some hydroelectric work starting. After some debate over where to turn off the path we set off up the very steep side of the hill… went slightly the wrong way at the top but after a quick change of direction made it to the cairn. Some fab views were taken in before we walked along the ridge to the bealach and down the path. Kat and Sheila set the world to rights before being joined by Jake for an OMK [err…I think that’s “OMN”] 8 rating final half hour.”
Joe ascending Curved Ridge
Jane and Joe fancied trying something steeper so headed for the Buachaille Etive Mor for a clamber up Curved Ridge. The rock was dry, if cold, and only became icy at the very top of the ridge. The pair decided to spice it up slightly by traversing over to the upper part of Crowberry Ridge where the rock became sportingly slippery. Here the rope came out and Jane lead up towards the summit of Crowberry Tower. A wee abseil and uphill walk lead to lunch on the clear windless summit and breathtaking views, which were extended by a wander over the ridge to Stob na Brioge.
Jane gazing across Rannoch Moor
A ditty was later penned by an unknown drunkard back at the hut:
There once were two climbers enthused
With both string and metal abused
They climbed up the Buachaille
‘Twas more than a pootle
And they both got thoroughly boozed
Bob and Fiona “met Colin at the Glencoe Ski Centre and ascended via the downhill mountain bike trail [seriously? That sounds decidedly dodgy! – Ed] to the ski area then the north ridge to Meall a Bhuiridh. Quite tricky underfoot with a dusting of snow on the frozen scree. A few more tense moments heading over to Creise but the views all around were amazing. Slow progress back to the car arriving about 6.” Given their arrival after dark they were pleased to have taken Heavy’s well publicised advice for every hill-goer to take two head torches into the hills.
Ella and Drummond, the latter in a delicate condition, elected to do a low level walk up Lairig Eilde but were magically drawn up the slopes of the Buachaille Etive Beag. Such problems have been known to happen when mountaineers try and keep off the hills… the hills have the power to pull them close.
After a brief discussion in the carpark about whether “to crampon or not to crampon” Dan, Sheena and Jan headed up the path to Coire nan Lochan. They paused to eat on the summit of Stob Coire nan Lochan, unsure as to whether this was first lunch or second breakfast. Second lunch, or possibly first but main lunch, was enjoyed on the summit of Bidean nam Bian after a traverse of the delightful ridge between the two hills. They then headed down to the top of the Lost Valley, in which a further late lunch stop was taken.
Dan and Sheena approaching Stob Coire nan Lochan
Jan and Sheena heading towards Bidean nam Bian
Everyone gathered back at the hut at a reasonable hour to enjoy the evening, although some of the Creache Bheinn party arrived slightly traumatised at the bar bill after sampling some weird and wonderful gins in a local hostelry en route from the hill.
Alan and Fiona had a short day on Sunday climbing Beinn na Gucaig above Onich and Inchree. They had superb views of Ben Nevis whilst the Glencoe mountains were shrouded in mist.
Al, Jan, Jane Joe, Sheila and Kat had a pleasant walk around the woods between Glencoe village and the lower slopes of Aonach Eagach on Sunday morning. Some vague plans had been made to climb the Pap of Glen Coe but Lassitude won and little altitude was gained.
Dan and Sheena climbed Buachaille Etive Beag and reported that the views were not quite as good as the previous day – should have climbed the Ben instead!
So concluded the last weekend meet of 2016. Next year will begin for the club in Glen Shee at the Hogmanay meet and a fair few destinations are lined up for what promises to be another excellent year for The Moray Mountaineering Club.