A return by the club after a number of years saw 9 hardy souls arrive at the Smiddy hut. I have to say that the hut is much more inviting than I remember. Once the fire is lit the ambience of the hut completely changes. Dan commented that he arrived to a roaring fire, so much coal that the burning lumps kept falling out of the grate onto the brick floor. Next was a crampon fixing session. A good hour was spent trying various combinations of boots and crampons. Much advice was shouted simultaneously from the four corners of the hut. This ended with a discussion on the merits of crampon rubber accessories, such as “the rock protection system” or was it a 12 pack of mountaineering condoms? Extra tough and sized for the colder climate. Alcohol was involved and perhaps you needed to be there!
Earlier in the afternoon Alistair and Anta climbed the Graham Beinn Ghobhlach. There is no report in the big red book, but I recall all sorts of weather being mentioned and little else about the hill.
Saturday saw everyone up early, not surprisingly in a one room hut. “New boys” Justin Cullen and Eric Malcolm were first off to climb the Corbett Sail Mhor. It’s a pity in their haste to depart they forgot to enquire about the hut key. Unfortunately for them they didn’t think to look under the obvious stone. It was warm and sunny so not too much of a hardship to wait for 3 hours for the next group to return. They ascended from Ardessie and had an excellent crossing of the sometimes tricky burn. This was Eric’s first outing for some time and he reported his fitness returning slowly.
Next off were Alistair, Anta, Dan and another new boy to weekend meets Martin Rose. Their objective was Bidein a Ghlas Thuill and Sgurr Fiona along with adjacent munro tops Glas Mheall Liath and Sgurr Creag an Eich. Martin reported that this was an excellent introduction to his first 2 Munros. Apparently he only thought he was going to die 3 times. For some unexplained reason he also had a heavy sport climbing rack in his bag.
A trio of “Duncans” Alan, Fiona and Maggie climbed A’Challeach the most westerly Fannaich Munro in the most perfect of winter conditions. They had to contend with an azure blue sky, blazing sun, plenty of fresh glistening snow and not a breath of wind. They headed over Leitir Fhearna and its scrambling crags and followed the Druim Reidh ridge to the munro top Toman Coinnich. A sharp descent to the col and ascent on virgin snow took them to the summit.
On returning to the hut the first problem was a herd of wild goats coming down the road towards us. They followed us and surrounded the hut eating the yellow gorse flowers for a couple of hours. A more pressing issue was no water in the hut. Four of us walked down the road to a neighbour with pans and pots in our hands. It must have looked odd to passing cars. An elderly couple kindly came to our aid, not only supplying water but went up the hill to check the water supply and cleared a blockage. To cap matters the outside toilet got blocked.
Sunday morning was dry, calm and cloudy. Alistair was determined to bag the Corbett Beinn Liath Mhor a Ghiubhais before the rain and wind arrived. He was itching to go and set off with a reluctant and weary Anta, tired after her exertions on Saturday. Dan set off on his bike to cycle on the north side of Little Loch Broom. He cycled to the high point and steeply down to the shore opposite Ullapool. He climbed up the hill again and descended to Badrallach, a scattering of houses which he described as having a “good life” feel about the place. He headed up hill once more but unfortunately for him couldn’t beat the rain coming in and got a soaking for his efforts.
In summary, another excellent and eventful weekend meet.
Report by Alan Duncan
