Sunday, 15th March 2009

Kintail undoubtedly remains one of our favourite venues and did achieve a better attendance than last month: 25 members turned up despite a bad weather forecast, which was unfortunately accurate enough. Surprisingly, visibility was fairly good between heavy showers, but the wind kept getting stronger throughout the day.

Alan Duncan, Ella Grant and Val Kemp enjoyed a fairly good day until they got to the top of A’Chralaig. As they dropped down, Ella slipped on the wet grass and believed then that her wrist was broken. They bravely soldiered on, taking their time on the way down and got safely back to the Cluanie Inn.

Moira Baptie and Alastair Wren, who initially set off with the above group, carried on to the next two tops, which “may have been Munros with unpronounceable names, but who is ticking?”

Further up the road, Lydia Davies, Corinne Ferguson, Andrew Mainwaring, Mark Richford and David Strathdee headed for Corbett Am Bathach and followed the ridge to Ciste Dhubh. From there, Corinne and David went back down to the Cluanie Inn via a very wet glen, while the others went up Sgurr an Fhuarail, kicking steps in the wet snow. At the top, they decided to head back down the fine ridge to the inn.

Graeme Bartlett also went over Am Bathach but decided to abort his ascent of Ciste Dubh due to horizontal hail and strong winds. He found shelter in the recently converted Camban Bothy and enjoyed temporary respite before heading down to Glen Lichd and Morvich, where the bus was parked for the day.

Further west, Dan Moysey, Graeme Jones and John McGeown climbed the Saddle from Glenshiel via the Forcan Ridge and returned to Shiel Bridge following  the shoulder of Sgurr na Creige. Admittedly, the weather was poor – low cloud and some rain – and no wildlife was spotted apart from a lonely ptarmigan. However, Graeme found some climbing gear at the top of the downclimb. The trio finished the day under the bridge at Shiel Bridge where they tried to get a fire going. This did not materialize as no flammable material could be found. Fortunately, the bus turned up earlier than expected.

Drummond Beattie, Phillip Coutts, Graham Gillespie and Illona Morrice also went up the Forcan Ridge to the Saddle and proceeded to summit Sgurr na Sgine to finish off at their starting point. Drummond found an ice axe. That was obviously the ridge to be walking on that day!

Also starting from Shiel Bridge, George Sim walked up to the bealach by Loch Coire nan Crogachan and then down to Suardalan Bothy to return the same way. Graeme Morrison accompanied him to the col and climbed Corbett Sgurr Mhic Bharraich which he left via the west ridge. He met with George again at the bothy.

From Morvich, Rob Murray walked to Loch nan Eun, as it was the start of brown trout fishing season. It turned really wet, but Rob still came back empty handed. Carnan Cruithhneachd was the Corbett Allan McConachie and Annette Turnidge had in mind for the day. They encountered heavy rain most of the way and it was very windy on the ridge.

Alison Bache and Chris Harding went up A’ Ghlas Bheinn and had to navigate in tricky conditions once away from the main path. Nevertheless, they made it to the summit where they bumped into two other mad walkers. The bus was a very welcome sight at the end of the day.

Last off the bus from Morvich, Natacha Mihajlovic walked the track up Gleann Choinneachain to Bealach an Sgairne. Due to persistent rainfall, the river crossing proved more difficult than expected but the most challenging task was to rescue her OS map which somehow fell in the tumultuous waters, bobbing up and down the stream. Fortunately, it got stuck between two rocks downstream and could be safely retrieved after a minute or so of jogging along the river bank! She eventually got to the top of Beinn Fhada and voted against the ascent of A’ Glas Bheinn as conditions were worsening.

Wisely enough, all club members left the big routes out: the Five Sisters and the South Cluanie ridge must be kept for better days when more time is also available. Despite mediocre weather, all walkers and scramblers achieved their goals in fine company.

Finally, let us all wish Ella a prompt recovery after what has turned out to be a fairly nasty break involving bone resetting and an operation. Let’s spare the most squeamish among us and say no more.

Natacha Mihajlovic

Note: If anyone took any photos on this meet, please email them here