Roybridge for Hogmanay – a venue that promises much, given good conditions. World class ice climbing in both directions in the shape of Ben Nevis and Creag Meagaidh, skiing on Aonach Mor and ski touring over countless hills and slopes, mountain biking, and of course plenty hill walking in every direction. After December’s washout in Newtonmore hopes were high.
The meet got off to an excellent start with Graeme and Shona’s contribution to the communal cooking in the shape of a tasty roast dinner. Hogmanay was celebrated in the usual manner, with plenty fizz and uisge beatha. The bells were toasted and much fun was had, but the night won’t go down in MMC folklore as the party to end all parties. The assembled throng made their way to bed relatively early and not one partier was still up for the dawn chorus. The weather forecast suggested that the 1st might be the best day. Not necessarily good, but the best.
Andy L and Heavy left the bunkhouse first and headed towards Beinn Chaorain. Heavy stated that the hill is “one of the most boring Munros if you go by the normal route”. Unfortunately he had put pen to paper in the famous “Book of Climbs” before he realised who he had offended… but more of that later. They had ambitions on the East Ridge but poor snow conditions and strong winds put pay to this. They continued round to Coire na-h-Uamha and reached the summit in a freezing gale. Heavy then “convinced Andy to run away” and they descended by the same route. “Higher than most, but not high enough.”
Dan, Graeme, Joe and Penny TWD managed to drag their creaking bodies out of bed and up a couple of hills to see in the first day of 2016. The wee round of Stob Coire Sgriodain and Chno Dearg from Fersit was enough for one day as they emulated characters from “Last of the Summer Wine” stumbling through the snow. 
Penny saw off a moody farm dog on the way up to the hills and managed to find some shelter on the summits, however small, by digging nests in the snow. An interesting character was met on the road on the way back. Keith from London wasn’t exactly hitch hiking but he looked like he might want a lift and gladly clambered aboard when offered. After a few days tramping the hills he was delivered by car to Spean Bridge to continue his adventures, wherever they might take him..
Graeme and Maggie set off on a bothy hunting adventure by bike up Glen Glas Dhoire, a subsidiary glen of Glen Roy. Sheila and Shona, tempted by the delights of “Graeme’s bothy” followed on foot and finally reached the building, which turned out to be a locked estate shed. A grand day out for both parties, wheeled and booted.
Andy B headed up to the beautiful and remote Loch Arkaig, past Achnacarry to Inver Mallie on the far side of the loch from the road, before returning via Bunarkaig. A fine day to explore such a place, and better weather away from the summits.
Paula, on her first outing with the club, followed good advice on where to find impressive scenery at a low level and walked up Glen Nevis towards the Steall Hut and famous wire bridge where grand views were had of the surrounding hills and waterfall.
Evelyne followed a very scenic route she had discovered online that took her a little way up Glen Roy and east through woodland to meet the River Spean at an impressive gorge. The river, still high from a month of rain, was followed back to Roybridge and the bunkhouse.
Ray was amongst those who “went high” on the 1st. He drove up Glen Roy to the end of the road before walking up Glen Turret and Glean Eachach to the col. From there he turned south and followed the ridge over the top of Carn Dearg and down to Brae Roy Lodge.
Drummond and Ella were amongst the highest summiteers of the day. They climbed Beinn Chaorain by the southern flank, AKA the “boring” route! It did mean, however, that the strong southerly winds eased the ascent, blowing them up to the top of the hill!
A fine evening was had with more excellent contributions to food and drink, too many to mention, but not limited to an array of desserts, a splendid cheese board with port and some home grown turkey curry. The wind had increased during the day and this proved to be something that the wood burning stove could not cope with. After a couple of hours of the room being filled with smoke and scattered with ash, a bit like a snow dome, the decision was made to let the stove go out (by forcedly removing Graeme G) and rely on electric heating for the remainder of the stay.
The second day of the year was forecast to be milder but with low cloud. The former prediction was correct but the latter proved overly pessimistic. The day was fine and ascents were made of hills despite some opting for low level walks.
Ray made a return visit to Glen Roy, but this time with Heavy. They had a relatively short day climbing Beinn Iaruinn and regretted not taking ice axes. It may have been a milder day and a lowly hill but there was still hard icey snow around!
Andy B, Graeme G, Maggie, Graeme M, Shona, Sheila and Joe followed Evelyne’s route from the previous day and thoroughly enjoyed the lush forest scenery, despite the odd navigational error.
Andy had a longer day than he anticipated on Cnap Cruinn. It’s not a huge hill and not far from the bunkhouse but the walk along the road and shaky bridge crossing the Spean preceded a lot of peat hags and a hard going walk.
Dan, Ella and Drummond enjoyed the better than forecast weather on Meall a’Phubuill. They saw a golden eagle and an interesting volcanic feature… so interesting that none of them could remember what it was. Ella was apparently reported to have been chatting up the owner of the posh house at the end of the glen.
The 3rd morning of January dawned a little greyer, wetter and windier than the previous two. There was no rush to the summits this day, but plenty of planning for the year ahead and what 2016 might bring.