1-2 November 2008

Halloween night saw seventeen club members assemble in the “By The Way” hostel in Tyndrum. Unfortunately we did not get off to a good start; our turning up in dribs and drabs throughout the evening spoiled the peace and tranquility of our host in reception, as it meant he had to leave his post and escort his guests to their allotted rooms and show them around. Suggesting to Evelyne on her arrival that she waited until her club organiser turned up before getting a room, brought out the “Formidable Deutsche Fraulein” in her, so he quickly provided a list of available beds and backed off. Bob MacDonald and Graeme Gunn arrived last, getting final directions to the hostel from John Henderson over his mobile phone.

Saturday morning saw two pairs set off early for the big four south of the river Cononish. First out were Ali Erginsoy and Daniel Moysey who drove ’round and started from Glen Lochy in the west. Crossing the river by some dubious stepping stones, they headed up through the forest and despite prior warning that the path was a bog, made good progress. They summited Beinn a’Chleibh at 09:30 in perfect conditions, the ice formations on the way up and the snow-covered tops with clear skies providing great views.

Next was Ben Lui; after a long climb where they passed Simon and Ed on their way out to Chleibh, they reached the top. From there they faced a big drop down to the bealach before making the ascent of Ben Oss. Their final Munro, Beinn Dubhchraig seemed to take ages; they passed Dave and Evelyne travelling in the other direction at the spot height 941m before finally gaining the top.

A long return via a dilapidated bridge over the river Cononish took its toll on Ali’s knees, but they completed a ten hour day in daylight.

Simon and Ed Willatts were the other two early starters. They set off from the hostel and climbed Ben Lui via Coire Goathach where Ed got re-acquainted with snow and the need to wear gloves when scrambling with an ice axe. From the summit they went over to Beinn Chleibh, before traversing round to the bealach Laoigh below Ben Oss for lunch. Ed discovered sheet ice when he nearly put his foot through it into a pool. Ignoring the warning, he enjoyed a five minute break sliding about on it before carrying on. They completed Ben Oss and Beinn Dubhchraig without further incident, making it back to the hostel after a nine and a half hour day, again in daylight.

Natacha Mihajlovic, Paul Tryner and Ray Harron enjoyed the classic five corbetts route north of Tyndrum. With good conditions they made the steep ascent of Beinn Odhar fairly quickly. After a snack the headed east towards Beinn Choarach. The drop between the two summits was substantial, however this made the climb to the third seem easier. From Carn Cheag it was a long downhill to Beinn nam Fuaran. With tired legs they made the descent to their final bealach then up to the summit of Beinn Chaisteil in an hour. Returning along the Creagan Liatha before going down to the track along the Allt Coralan, they made the car in nine hours, having done nearly 2000mts of ascent and descent.

Dave Galloway and Evelyne Droege departed from the Dalrigh car park along the land rover track only to find a locked gate at the forest edge. Retreating five hundred meters thy found the bridge over the stream and took the faint path up to rejoin the woods, coming out at Coire Dubhcraig. They followed a steep icy path to the bealach between the two lochans and enjoyed a snow plod to the summit of Beinn Dubhchraig. Taking in the scenery, they traversed along to the col below Ben Oss before the assault on their last Munro. The still air was suddenly shattered by laughter and banter when Simon and Ed where heard, chatting continually all the way down from the summit. They later also bumped into Dan and Ali as they made their ascent of Ben Oss. On the return they retraced their steps to the two lochans and went back to the car the same way to make it an eight hour day.

Finding the start point is always the hardest part of any route. Starting up the wrong forest track delayed Colin Cowie, Fiona Duncan and Chrissy McKay along with Patrick the pooch until 9am, before gaining the bealach between Beinn Chleibh and Ben Lui. Climbing them in that order, it was on the summit of Lui that Chrissy decided to cut short her route and join the other two in calling it a day. It was a good decision, well made, as by the time they made the car, they had completed an eight hour day.

The weekend had its fair share of soloists; John Henderson who had set off on Friday morning braved some cold and windy weather to climb Auchnafree Hill from Loch Turret before arriving at Tyndrum. On the Saturday he completed Beinn Mhic-Mhonaidh from Glen Lochy.

Graeme Gunn did Cruach Ardrain and Beinn Tulachean by cadging a lift off Alan Duncan. This provided the opportunity for a couple of pints as he waited in the pub for his return lift. Alan Duncan made an excellent traverse of the two Corbetts Ben Ledi and Ben Vane. He had a very long and undulating trek between them, with the down side that he had to retrace his steps before the descent to the car.

Andy Williams encountered lots of ice between 500-700m, with good soft snow above. As he climbed Ben Challum he met seven other people on the route, including one who had got an electric shock climbing over a fence. He returned via the south top back down to the Kirkton farm.

Bob Macdonald knocked off another two Munros, Beinn Achaldair and Beinn Chreachain, keeping him on track to becoming a 2009 Munroist.

Saturday night saw Colin return home, but Moira Baptie arrive. Sunday dawned and most people set off to enjoy Beinn Dotaidh and Beinn Dorain from the bridge of Orchy railway station. Moira maintaining the solo spirit, did them the opposite way to everyone else. On gaining the bealach for Dotaidh she turned north and did all three summits of the hill before traversing across and bumping into the other nine club members who had done Dorain first. The other nine made the bealach in different groups and took in both Munro summits within ten minutes of each other. The weather was even better than the previous day and the reflection of the hills in the still waters of the lochs was perfect and every mountain top was crystal clear.

Bob, Graeme, Fiona and Chrissy set off for Beinn Mhanach up Gleann Ach-innis Chailein. A local farmer was shouting angrily and Chrissy thought it was Patrick whom he was venting his anger at; it turned out to be his own escaped pup he was trying to catch. Graeme returned via the same route while the rest took in Beinn a’ Chuirn, but they all made the car at the same time.

Simon and Ed left a layby on the A82 and headed out over a wet boggy field. Hopping, skipping and jumping, Ed made an attempt to give his washing machine a good workout as they made the ascent to Son Garbh and up to the summit of An Caisteal. Descending to the SW col before climbing Beinn Chabhair, and returning back to the bealach again before summiting Beinn a’Chroin. They returned via the river Falloch to their car, making it another eight hour day.

Finally Alan Duncan enjoyed Beinn Mhic-Mhonaidh from Glen Orchy to collect another Corbett.

In Conclusion, with the good weather and attendance, club members managed to rack up 34 good hills between them. Not bad for November.

Dave Galloway

For more photos from this meet click here