The Moray Mountaineering Club returned to the Kintail Outdoor Centre at Morvich for the fifth Hogmanay meet of recent times. The roll-call of fourteen comprised Illona Morrice, Heavy Whalley, Katie Griffiths & Rachel Higgins (aka the Himalayan Chicks), Andy Brooks, Jim Bryce, Desmond Cormack, Simon Jacyna, Susan Jacyna, Ray Harron, Graeme Morrison, Shona Morrison, Andy Lawson and Daniel Moysey.
The meet started with the traditional Hogmanay feast and a few drinks.
Hogmanay feast (Photo by Andy Lawson)
In a break from tradition, “A few drinks” was followed by making of packed lunches and retiring to bed long before the morning shipping forecast.
Alarms went off at 7am on New Year’s Day and less than an hour and a half later the last of the faffers was ready. Most folk went up Beinn Fhada, with a few rebels determined to ascend Ben Attow.
Beinn Fhada (Photo by Andy Lawson)
The group soon split into two: the advance party set-up the fixed ropes and ladders etc, whilst the Himalayan Chicks and their Sherpas conserved their energy for bigger and better things.
Himalayan Chicks and their Sherpas (Photo by Heavy Whalley)
Everyone duly arrived at the summit cairn in time for lunch. Visibility was generally poor apart from a very brief parting of the clouds. Two Golden Eagles were spotted on the descent.
Advance party at the cold summit of Beinn Fhada (Photo by Andy Lawson)
Himalayan chick sheltering at the summit of Beinn Fhada (Photo from Rachel’s camera)
Jim Bryce, Susan Jacyna and Andy Brooks were the only ones with enough imagination to deviate from the mass trespass on Ben Attow. They went to Beinn Clachach, the Falls of Glomach and “somewhere else” respectively.
Unlike last summer’s extravaganza, the MMC Olympics is now an annual event and is also more in-tune with today’s austere times. The cardboard box game was hotly contended – a large field was slowly whittled down to the two finalists: Susan and Rachel.
Susan – cardboard box game finalist (Photo by Dan Moysey)
More practice was needed by all for the chair/cork game.
Dan – cork game champion (Photo by Andy Lawson)
A new event this year was planking or, more specifically, synchronised planking.
Synchronised planking (Photo from Rachel’s camera)
Double plank (Photo by Andy Lawson)
Although a team sport, the award for outstanding achievement goes to Rachel for popularising this bizarre past-time. The only casualty of the Olympics was Ray’s tin of oxtail soup, which was crushed during the can walking.
Graeme can walking (Photo by Dan Moysey)
The forecast for the 2 January was for persistent rain and high winds. Base Camp Heavy held the fort whilst the troops were off raping and pillaging the lowlands of Glen Arnisdale, Glenelg and the Falls of Glomach. The returning troops were rewarded with pizza followed by Rachel’s fine buns.
Falls of Glomach (Photo by Shona Morrison)
Further adventures were had on the 3 Jan, but the details are scant. The Himalayan Chicks (+ one Sherpa) made an alpine-style ascent of the grassy slopes of Ciste Dubh. Graeme, Shona and Andy Lawson went up a Graham somewhere near Arnisdale.