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. Stopping for lunch they contemplated the Snow Bridge and steep climb up Bidean nam Bain and with the weather improving they went for it. Upon gaining the summit of Bidean they made their descent to Stob Coire nam Beith and down into the corrie via another snow gully. From there they made their way past the waterfalls to the Mountain Rescue Post at Achnambeithach and back to the car. A celebration drink in the Clachaig completed their day.
Dave McLean, Fiona Duncan, Chrissy Mckay, Janice Taylor, Jake Lee and dogs Ruby and Patrick completed the Graham Sgorr a Choise , setting off from the hall. Although no footpath to the summit, the pace and clarity of views made up for it. Traversing through and then around the edge of the woods, having to cross a deer fence three times, they returned to the village pub to complete another great day.
Dave Galloway, Drummond Beattie and Ray Harron walked in along the Larig Eilde and climbed the 778m top at the east end of the Bidean ridge. The final 200m was front pointed to gain the summit. From there they carried on along the ridge to Stob Coire Sgreamach, with the soft powdery snow giving no cushion to their crampons on the rocks underfoot, the going was treacherous in places. They descended towards Beinn Fhada and turned down before the bad step and descended a steep snow slope to the Larig Eilde. Dave provided the excitement of the day, jumping over an ice patch, instead of stepping across like Ray and Drummond. His crampon edge caught a rock and tipped him over the crag into the snow 20 feet below. Rewarded with a swollen ankle he was able to make the car five minutes after the others. A great winter’s day out.
Beinn a Bheithir, known as the Ballachulish horseshoe, was the destination for Daniel Moysey and Simon Willatts. Setting off from the village hall, they climbed the eastern ridge in good winter conditions, needing crampons from early on. Completing Sgorr Dhearg first they met up with three folk from Stirling to finish on Sgorr Dhonuill. Descending a gully to the west side of the corrie, they just missed meeting up with Evelyne. Forcing their way through the trees, they crossed a small bog, giving authenticity to their seven and a half hour Scottish hill day.
Evelyne Droege set off for the westerly summit of the horseshoe, “Sgorr Dhonuill”. Coming up via the forestry track and turning off at the cairn, she scrambled up through the woods beside a burn with low hanging branches snagging her rucksack. Soon she needed an ice axe and crampons as she walked through the snow drifts, at one point sinking in chest deep on the way to the Bealach. Carrying on along the ridge, she stopped just before the steep climb to the summit. As she was on her own, she enjoyed lunch and the views before returning to the car.
Alan Duncan and Greame Morrison took in the Corbetts Meall an t-Seallaidh and Creag MacRanaich. Parking at Ledcharrie farm on the A85 (between Crainlarich and Killan). They walked along a railway line and up Gleann Dubh on a good track not marked on the map and climbed a gully to Meall a t-Seallaidh on hard packed snow. They then retraced their steps to the bealach and went up Creag MacRaich and returned to make an eight hour forty five day.
Spencer Julian and Philip Coutts went for Buachaille Etive Mor. Climbing up onto the right hand butteress of spotheight 903m west of Coire na Tulaich, they traversed along to the summit of Stob Dearg. From there they returned along the ridge to Stob na Doire, Stob Coire Altruim and Stob na Broigh, before descending into the Lairig Gartain to return to their car to complete a six hour day.
Margaret Paterson and Graeme Gunn went for Mam na Gualainn, leaving one car at the Ice Factor. They set off from Callert House, about nine kilometres west along the north shore of Loch Leven. A long slog up through snow and heather and over frozen grass to the summit, followed by a great trek over Beinn na Caillich and a steep descent in the dark to pick up the West Highland Way to Kinlochleven and a pub stop.
Joe Glennie, Andy Brookes and Bob Macdonald went skiing at the White Corries, taking advantage of some excellent snow.
Sunday saw an even better day weatherwise, so Moira Baptie, Drummond Beattie, Alan and Fiona Duncan, Graeme Gunn and Margaret Paterson walked through Ballachulish village and climbed up the south west ridge on to the top Sgorr Bhan and then on to Sgorr Dhearg. Due to a lot of soft snow it took a long time scrambling on the middle section of the ridge. Once higher up it was much firmer and good progress was made. However, with time marching on it was decided to descend after the first Munro, followed by the long walk back to the village. Another excellent and satisfying day with no wind and excellent views.
Spencer and Phil also did Beinn a Bheithir, coming in the same way as Evelyne the day before. From the Bealach they climbed Sgorr Dhonuill and back along to Sgorr Dhearg before returning to the car.
Simon left his car, heading towards Buachaille Etive Mor, at about 0930 and was back for 1500. His route was the same as Spencer and Phil’s from the day before: ascending Stob Dearg not via the Coire an Tulaich, but the western ridge, traveling over all tops on the ridge to Stob na Broige, then backtracking over Stob Coire Altruim to the saddle and descending to the north. “Beautiful weather, sunshine, barely any wind, snow mostly frozen. I saw many people heading for the climbing routes, but didn’t see a soul on the ridge all day.”
Bob, Janice, Jake and Dan went skiing on Aonach Mor while Illona, John, Monty, Dave M and Sarah took the chairlift up Aonach Mor and trekked up to the summit.
In conclusion, with so many people sharing a small kitchen, self catering was a challenge, but for all that a very successful weekend and a good location.
Dave Galloway
For more photos from this meet, click here