In the absence of our usual weekend meet raconteur, it falls on me to report back on the eating, drinking and general foolery that is the New Year meet and, of course, tell the tales of high adventure in the mountains.
Muir Cottage, Inverey
Let me kick off with the ‘eating’ bit. Our thanks to Graeme and Shona who arrived with a full roast beef Hogmanay dinner for all, complete with Yorkshire puds and roast tatties – pretty swiftly polished off by the fourteen members in attendance. As everybody else had turned up with vats of tasty food, we all ate well for the rest of the weekend. It must be noted that Colin’s arrival on New Year’s Day was greatly anticipated as he was rumoured to be bringing his signature dish of lasagne. I must say he did, and this did not disappoint. In addition he made a rice pudding, from scratch, the following night. Nae bad for oor loon fae Buckie. The ‘drinking and generally foolery’ category, I feel, can be taken as read. Suffice to say that the poor weather was not the sole explanation for the late starts on Thursday morning/afternoon!
On to the “high adventure” category. The MWIS had not provided us with great hopes for the weekend. More than a smattering of those words, phrases and numbers that really mean “stoke up the fire, crack open the whisky and stay in the hut” – ‘near constant precipitation’, ‘considerable buffeting’, ‘mobility arduous’ even ‘tortuous’, and numbers ranging from 50 – 100 which are not referring to the temperature. Why don’t they just say, “you’re definitely going to get wet and if you are quite little you will be blown over”? Nevertheless….
Award for expedition of the weekend must go to Andy L, Dan and Drummond who, with complete disregard for the weather forecast of snow and 70+ mph winds, set off on Friday to traverse Lochnagar from the usual Loch Muick side to Crathie via the Munro top Meall Coire na Saobhaidhe.
Dan and Drummond on the Allt-na-Giubhsaich track
Drummond and Andy:
Dan’s account talks of “a fair bit of staggering”, “a jet plane roaring overhead” (think that might have been the wind, Dan), “visibility dropped to almost zero and the wind battered us”.
Lochnagar from rim of coire:
Dan at the summit of Lochnagar (Cac Carn Beag):
No respite from the conditions, in fact, until they reached the shelter of Gelder Shiel bothy.
Andy in Gelder Shiel bothy:
In spite of all of this they deemed it a great day out and it certainly sounds a good route. Dan also felt that credit should be given for the fact that they had managed to get back to the car before it was fully dark even though Drummond was in the party, although not without a few WD moments. (Ask Dan.)
Also being “buffeted” and finding the going “tortuous” in places was the party who, on the same day, opted for a trip from Keiloch to the two Corbetts of Culardoch and Carn Liath. This party consisted of Graeme, Shona, Des, Richard, Ray, Ella, Jake, Penny TWD and Sol. It is a fair walk in along the track and all were looking forward to a bit of shelter from the elements for lunch. The map has one of those little square boxes that you always hope is a cosy bothy or shed. Not to be …. although we did find where said shed had once been! Leaving the track the ascent of Culardoch was fairly easy, albeit wind-assisted. Reaching the summit, however, the group was into the full force of the wind which seemed to choose that exact moment to increase in intensity. Standing up was near impossible and the smaller members of the group found themselves hanging on to the nearest available bigger person to stop them taking off. Thanks Jake!! This was deemed by several of the group as being the worst wind that they had been in, with Richard pointing out that this was the first time he had heard wind literally ‘’roaring”. Given that the second Corbett would have been an ascent into this wind, it did not even get to the “will-we won’t we” discussion stage. Another good day.
Other hills were visited in the course of the weekend. Early starters Ray and Evelyne climbed Broon Coo Hill on Wednesday and Andy L was on Morrone. This latter was revisited by Graeme, Penny TWD, Jake and Dan on New Year’s afternoon (or Morven if you prefer, Dan). Colin climbed Gaellaig on his was over on Thursday. Heading further afield on Saturday, Jim visited Mount Blair for a pleasant day out.
Given the weather, it is not surprising that a number of low level routes were also followed. New Year’s Day saw a sizable group wander up to Derry Lodge to have a look at the broken bridge with a passing visit to Bob Scott’s bothy.
Bob Scott’s bothy:
Late starters, Andy B and Dougal, walked to White Bridge where they explored the remains of pre-Clearance townships which Dougal had noticed on the 1:25000map. Andy and Dougal had another late start on Friday (pattern emerging here boys!) walking from the hut, across Victoria Bridge to have a look at the impressive falls at Linn of Quoich. They then completed the circuit by heading along the North bank of the river to Linn of Dee and so back to the hut. On the way they met Sue who was also intent on visiting Linn of Quoich and the Punchbowl. She had, however, already been to White Bridge and back where she had been checking out some geology. Saturday saw Drummond and Ella taking a walk up Gleann an t-Slugain in beautiful snowy conditions with great views back to Lochnagar and ahead into the Southern Cairngorms. Ray and Evelyn walked up Glen Ey as far as Altanour Lodge. Meanwhile Jake, Andy B, Dan and Sue went off on a secret mission returning, unscathed, as darkness fell.
In a secret place – somewhere in Glen Affric? 😉
Finally, back to Colin who may, at this moment, be incarcerated in the Tower of London for wilful trespass. OK, I know we have very liberal access laws here in Scotland but I am not sure that these extend to HRH’s pad in Balmoral. Out for a cycle run on Friday in Balmoral woods he decided to drop by for his New Year dram. Not getting an answer at the back door, and with the blinds being shut, he reckoned they were all having a long lie after the Hogmanay festivities. You might have got out at the time without being challenged, Colin, but I am sure they have CCTV. You are probably a marked man!
Can I use yer lavvy Ma’am?:
A great long weekend – good food, good company, good craich, plenty to drink and adventures aplenty.
A few whiskies being sampled:
Report Author: Ella
Photos: Dan, Andy, Drummond and Colin