Drummond, Ella, Cate Bulmer, David Treagus, Adrian Marsay, Evelyne, Alistair Jeffs, Andy Lawson, Jan Nowell, Dave Maclean, Robert Ross, Heavy, Heavy’s Plus One, Alan Duncan, Fiona Duncan, Jake Lee, Malcolm Campbell.
Most of the above arrived at the Great Glen Hostel, Laggan, in the month of February for more MMC frolics in the hills. A new venue, which had its plus and minus points, gave us a fine base. This area is too easily ignored as folk head off like a flock of turtles to the obvious delights of Lochaber and beyond and even though the forecast was poor there was much scope for shenanigans. Unfortunately, the scribblings within The Book of Climbs are either absent or illegible and as your author’s grip on reality – never mind distant events – is at best vague, the following report describes little.
As usual, there were various state-sponsored elderly folk and barely employed public servants able to take advantage of better weather on the Friday. David Treagus, Alistair Jeffs, Adrian Marsay and Smudge met at Creag Meagaidh car park and thence up in to the Coire. Mixed visibility and an increasing wind made the day interesting, but sadly no snow to test David’s winter boots.
Alan ‘Nanny’ Duncan was given the Friday off babysitting duties and had a great day bagging the ‘Graham’ Glas Bheinn up Loch Arkaig and enjoyed fine weather.
The motley crew arrived Friday night and listened enviously to the tales of what the early arrivals had got up to, as the forecast was doom-laden. Andy ‘Wednesday’ Lawson spent a subdued night supping on his passion fruit cidre and then made a hasty exit on Saturday morning with a haunted look and a keen eye on the next possible toilet stop. Sorry to see such a stalwart struck down by the furious colliewobbles, but it happens to the best of us and you can’t keep a good man down for long. (Though possibly longer than Andy’s tea).
‘Nanny’ said it all with his opening comment – “what a difference a day makes!” Sunny yesterday, but rain, sleet followed by snow above 300m clag down to a pretty low level. Headed back to Loch Arkaig and parked at the Allt Mhuic butterfly reserve, one of the best places to see the rare Chequered Skipper. Unless its winter and they are hibernating! Climbed Sgurr Choinnich in pretty awful conditions, so nothing more to be said.
Adrian and Smudge made a valiant effort to climb Bein a Clachair. The heavy rain turned to snow at the bealach and on the ridge a fierce wind whipped the snow into a driving blizzard. A wise retreat at about 800m saw an early return to base camp. There are alternative phrases to ‘valiant effort’.
Malcolm and Jan’s target for the day was Ben Tee. Set off from the car park at 09:30 and headed into the mist. Should have read the Corbetts book – “ don’t take the path by the burn as it only leads to the waterfall” well, the falls were spectacular, but we then had a steep climb out through a birch wood. Then the glories of a bog-trot into a stiff wind and driving rain/snow. Near the summit, met the redoubtable Ella and Evelyne who, being fleet-footed mountain athletes, were already heading down. A good choice of hill for a day of less than ideal weather and so to the Glen Garry Hotel. ‘Stands the clock at ten to three, and is there honey still for tea……’
As well as being finely tuned athletes, Ella and Evelyne can also read, so did not end up at the base of an unexpected waterfall. It may also be why they ascended so rapidly and as Malcolm rightly said, it was a good hill for a shite day. More wisdom from Ella as she observed that it was good to see even a small amount of snow to remind us all that it was afterall meant to be winter. Winter. Where in the name of Betsy did that go?
Wisdom then deserted the party as the Heavy mob set off down the torturous and long long Loch Arkaig road. There was Heavy, Fiona ‘the Minx’ Fifi, Heavy’s mate and Heavy’s mate’s mate. And it doesn’t matter if the car has heated seats and surround sound speakers, you still feel like throwing up after 5 minutes on the bendiest road in all of Scotland. This disreputable crew sauntered as far as the upper Glendessary and were then prevented from going any further due to stalking issues. It seems that Heavy’s restraining order knows no geographical bounds. A subdued crew made their way back to the hostel for coffee and cake.
Dave and Jake, the trailer trash itinerants of the meet, didn’t fancy a soaking on a windy hill and so got soaked cycling in the wind along the Great Glen Way to Fort Augustus. Fabulous track which is well worth a pootle if your cycling is more Mary Poppins than Tigger. It is also a route with more industrial heritage and history than you can shake a stick at. Stopped for coffee to warm up, which was swiftly followed by ale to strengthen resolve for the return leg. An early return saw the peloton consume a vat of fierce curry that ‘Wednesday’ could only dream of tackling.
With many folk returning to the hostel dripping wet and cold and with the promise of similar joys tomorrow, the evening took on the atmosphere of a ‘last supper’ as many of the party had little ambitions for the high places on the Sunday. As ever, it was a most convivial atmosphere with Fifi fiddling from her repertoire of about a million tunes and Heavy regaling us with double that amount of Mountain Rescue tales. Bloomin’ marvellous!
Now although ambitions were limited, there was surely more activity than has been recorded. However, it hasn’t been recorded, which may be just as well. All that is known by this poor scribe, is that Fiona, Alan and Jake went up the uninspiring Leana Mhor East. They were meant to be following the remarkable ‘Parallel Roads’ of that glen, but the particular ‘road’ they were following didn’t seem to exist. A horrible ascent/descent/ascent through soft snow and vertical bog saw them onto the flat top where 45 minutes was spent looking for a 6 inch cairn hiding in 5 inches of snow. Feckin baggers!
Weather was undoubtably against us, but if Disneyworld could come up with a way of creating more fun than we had, then they’d be gazzillionaires. Oh…….. They are. Right Simon. Florida next February.