Sunday, 22nd November 2009
The trip to Laggan turned out to be a popular meet with a total of 34 members and guests.
After a bit of debating Corinne Ferguson and Flora Hunt decided to join Jo and Paul Chappell for a walk up Beinn a’ Chaorainn. They set off from the Laggan Dam where Paul decided to take the opportunity to photograph the water falling from the Dam. They tried persuade the accompanying tourist to join them on the hills but without success!! The compass and GPS were put to use as the weather closed in half way to the summit. Strong wind combined itself with heavy sleet and snow and a covering of snow greeted them on the summit ridge. They descended from the summit to the Allt a’ Choarainn path, which turned out to be a bog trot back to the woods. The light of the bus were a welcome sight at the end of the day.
Drummond Beattie, Ella Grant, Ros Wright, David Whitelock, Malcolm Campbell, Ali Erginsoy, Daniel Moysey, George Sim, George Herraghty, Illona Morrice and guests Douglas Black, Ed Moore and Kathleen McGrath all headed off to Creag Meagaidh. They departed the bus at the Creag Meagaidh Car Park and headed off towards the ridge of Puist Corie Ardair via Sron a’ Ghoire. The weather varied throughout the day with a mild start as they headed through the corrie to real winter conditions on the plateau. They all enjoyed a great day out and even had some snow on the tops. Kathleen McGarth enjoyed her first trip out with the club and found it invigorating facing all the elements and hopes this was the first of many walks. George Sim also completed his first Munro of the winter.
Seeking shelter on Creag Meagaidh
Bob Weeks, Graham Morrison, Bob MacDonald, John Henderson, Ray Harron and Dave Galloway left the bus first at Kinloch Laggan for a walk up the two Grahams of Binnein Shios and Binnein Shuas. The weather was much better than the forecast, but they still found it hard going in the sodden ground and tufted grass. The day was uneventful until Graham decided to launch a boulder the size of ‘half a fridge’ down the gully on the approach to ‘Binnein Shuas so everyone decided to duck!! It was a shame about the constant drizzle at the end of the day as they returned to the Luiblea Car Park.
Allan McConnachie and Annette Turnidge also set off from Kinloch Laggan for a walk up Binnein Shios. From the summit they decided to head down to the track by the loch and walked out to Luiblea Car Park. Both enjoyed a good day out.
Paul Geraghty, Greg Muir, Rob Reed and Alastair Wren set off from Aberarder with a long ascent to their first Munro of the day Cairn Liath. The weather was very cold on the summit as they proceed to the second Munro Stob Poite Coire Ardair via Meall an t-snaim and Min Choire in gale force winds and horizontal snow. The third Munro of the day was snow covered Creag Meagaidgh. The group decided to descend back to the A86 via Creag na Cailliche where they had a 3km walk down the road to Laggan Dam. They all enjoyed the first taste of winter.
Rachel Higgins, Sandy Murray, Don Asher, Elliott Harbottle and David Douglas Brown crossed the Laggan Dam and headed off through the forest to Fersit. They then climbed to the summit of Stob Coire Sgriodain where they were met with wind and snow. The good navigation of Sandy and Don got them to the summit of the second Munro, Chno Dearg in poor visibility and snow showers. They arrived back to Fersit at 3.15pm, but the last 45 minutes back to the bus went wrong when they missed the turning in the forest. The poor conditions and being late back for the bus did not distract them from a good day out.
Jo Chappell