It’s November so it must be Inchnadamph. The tradition of the annual meet to Inchnadamph was upheld in fine form by twenty members this year.
For some the weekend again started early on Friday. Evelyn walked up Glen Kirkaig to the falls and further up for the views of Suilven, Stac Pollaidh and Cul Mor enjoying the lovely autumn colours of the birchwoods.
Simon climbed Ben Stac in an increasingly strong and cold wind.. Frustatingly there was mist on the summit so views were limited but not so limited that he couldn’t see that Arkle was totally clear and bathed in sunshine all day.
The mountain weather forecast for Saturday predicted high winds and rain, especially in the east, but expressed a degree of uncertainty and suggested that conditions might be better in the far north west. In the event there was no uncertainty at all and Saturday ‘dawned’ with low cloud, driving rain and very high winds and so it stayed all day.
So what’s a mountaineer to do? Well, like a true mountaineer, Adrian, plus dogs, set off for Canisp, finding the going grimmer and grimmer. The sixty mile an hour-plus wind blew him over on the summit ridge forcing him to turn back, wet and windswept, about twenty minutes from the top. He then went to the famed Lochinver Pie Shop.
Others thought that it might be drier underground and that caving might be drier option. Joe, Carol, Anta, Alison, Laura, Sheila Al and Ben set off to explore that Allt nam Uamh Bone Caves which were indeed relatively dry, though several in the group were wet before they got there. Having thoroughly explored the bone caves, which are after all no more than 60 yards long, they proceeded further up the valley to explore the Allt nam Uamh stream cave, and were disconcerted to find that not only was the normally dry stream bed a raging torrent but that the water was lapping the cave’s mouth. All eyes were on Joe. He does after all work for SEPA and is their Morayshire guru responsible for flood warnings. His verdict? “Err, dunno, let’s take a look”. But all was well and the cave passages were indeed dry and all agreed that this was indeed a good wet-weather option. Cave duly explored the walk back down the valley was next to an even higher river than on the approach with several more resurgences gushing water. This was followed by a visit to the famed Lochinver pie shop.
Dan, Simon and Colin also fancied caving, Having visited Allt nam Uamh in previous years they decided to explore pastures new and headed up the valley behind the hut to explore the Traligill caves. The Waterslide Cave showed itself to be well named with a raging torrent dissappearing down the great slab into the darkness. It didn’t need a second glance to check that going down it would be a one-way journey. They continued up to the second entrance and enjoyed a second breakfast in the cave mouth. Suitably fortified they kitted up and a short crawl led into the stream chamber. Not surprisingly the river in here was also a rather spectacular raging torrent. Simon tentatively tested the waters while Colin kept an eye on the entrance in case he had to make a hasty exit if Simon were to slip and form an involuntary plug further downstream. The thought of a wet, rapid and rather unpleasant death pursuaded Simon not to further test the waters and so after penetrating 20 yards into the cave they too headed back to the entrance. Walking back down the valley they stopped to look at the other sinks, resurgences and cave entrances in the valley. Colin and Simon then went to the famed Lochinver pie shop.
Simon in the Traligill Caves. Just a bit too much water
Evelyn and Debbie also walked up to see the cave entrances, admiring the interesting geology. Debbie then headed straight for the famed Lochinver pie shop as she had heard so much about the pies. She then enjoyed a dry walk with some blue skies up Glen Kirkaig to see the falls which were spectacular raging torrents. Despite the strong winds she then carried on further up the glen for the views of Suilven, Stac Pollaidh and Cul Mor. No mention of the autumn colours in the birchwoods – perhaps the leaves had all blown away.
Lochinver Pie Shop – Ben, Al and Carol
Alan, Fiona, Susan and Sheena also went to Lochinver and walked the circuit up to Glen Canisp lodge, over the hill and back along the river that drains Loch Assynt. Nice woodlands, pools and rapids and the path conveniently ended at the famed Lochinver pie shop.
Saturday evening was the traditional fancy dress Hallow’een party featuring the usual mix of weird and wonderful Animals. Particularly notable were Debbie as a frog, complete with lily pad, Susan as an ugly duckling, Owl Dennis and a broken chain representing a missing link (Jan).
Susan and Debbie
Sunday dawned rather less wet but still windy and very cloudy so there was a general lack of enthusiasm. Adrian did a bike circuit from Lochinver in good weather. Colin hoped to cycle the circuit along the hill track below Suilven and back along the road but found it very wet, with lots of stopping and starting and not worth doing while Susan and Simon walked up to the bone caves.
Meanwhile Alan & Fiona reported “ we managed to climb Cul Beag despite particularly strong winds on the final summit ridge. We had been sheltered in the corrie on the west side of the hill until we reached the col. Alas no views on the summit and since it was windy and a bit chilly to say the least it was a quick descent to the car..”
Total score for the weekend? Hills successfully climbed – two. Pies consumed – probably into the hundreds.