Numbers for this meet were looking very strong until forecasts for Storm Ciara started to hit the headlines, whereupon there was a definite drop in enthusiasm. None the less, twelve hardy souls made the long drive with several doing something on the Friday to catch the best of weather.

Inbhirfhaolain is a pleasant hut about half way down Loch Etive and this was the first time we had been there for a couple of years.

First off was Dave Treagus who parked at the Glen Coe ski centre and went up Meall a’Bhuraidh watching a few desperate skiers attempting to do something on the ice. The ridge over to Creise was extremely windy with horrendous spindrift. Flying ice nearly chipped his upper central incisor so he beat a hasty retreat. Dave plus tooth survived intact.

Carol and Adele travelled over on Thursday and has an early start heading for Ben Starav finding the boulder slopes heavy going in the wind. At the summit after discussions about proceeding or retreating they fitted crampons and headed down the arete and continued on to Beinn na Aighenan enjoying the stunning views, but not the long walk back in the dark.

Joe, Ben and Sheila also squeezed in a hill on the way over with a quick jaunt up Geal Carn at Drumochter.

Saturday’s forecast was for an OK morning and steady deterioration thereafter so an early start was the plan for all. And indeed this plan came to pass though not necessarily quite as early as intended for some.

Dan and Sheena planned to leave about 06:00 with Glas Bheinn Mhor as their objective. They had a steady plod up the rough and boggy track to the bealach where they encountered a stiff breeze. They didn’t loiter at the summit but enjoyed the good views and the walk back down the boggy glen.

Carol, Adele and David also left early and headed for Sgurr na Ulaidh from the Glen Etive side. The weather was a bit of everything but not the rain and snow forecast, However the wind steadily strengthened as they went up the exposed ridge and they decided to turn back when about 200m from the summit. This gave them a chance to practise their ice axe techniques with glissades on the ice.

Ben, Simon, Anta, Alison and Joe had ambitions to ascend Creise via a scramble up the slabs on the east side. They set off from the ski centre and managed to cross the burn more or less dry foot. The slabs were covered with wet slushy snow and the wind was getting up so that choice became rather less inviting. Some discussions followed about which way to ascend instead, up the corrie perhaps or to the head of the glen and ascend from the bealach. And then what to do once they got there as the summit ridge, had they been able to see it, would have looked rather uninviting. So they ran away and scrambled up to the ridge of Meall a Bhuraidh, coming out on the edge of the ski area. From there the summit was just too close and tempting(??!) despite being out of sight in the clouds. So there they headed though Simon peeled off early (must be getting old) and headed back down, the others summitted in horrendous winds and made a hasty descent to the King’s House, almost beating the heavy rain. This is now a magalopolis hotel, though some of us can still remember the days when it was little more than a thatched cottage. Several beers and meals were consumed while watching the Calcutta Cup, which led to smug smiles of satisfaction from the English members of the group as Scotland lost.

Susan and Sheila paid more attention to the weather forecast and headed for the Glencoe visitor centre which is well worth a visit. The small museum there had what looked like Simon’s old duvet jacket which was a bit worrying. They then went for walk along the West Highland Way and headed for the Kingshouse. The hot chocolate there is to die for, better even than at Coco Mountain in Durness.

Saturday evening was spent in the traditional convivial MMC style, followed by loud snoring.

The forecast for Sunday included the words appalling, tortuous and whiteout and so it proved to be as storm Ciara crossed the country and nothing worth writing about was achieved. The river Etive in flood though was a spectacular sight.