Meet Report

28th February to 2nd March 2014 - Glencoe Independent Hostel (Bunkhouse), Glencoe

This weekend meet symbolised emerging on the friendlier side of winter blinking in the sunlight and it was great to have some longer days to enjoy the snow.

Despite the meet being based in Glencoe everyone other than Sara and Pete actually left it on Saturday to inspect the snow and rock in the Mammores and Aonachs. Keith, Chris and Tim climbed the east ridge of North Buttress on Stob Ban whilst Alison, Kenny, Fiona and Mike climbed a 500m long route on Daim Buttress on the west face of Aonach Mor - a massive day with 4.5 pitches, a bit of soloing at the start and unroped along the final summit ridge.

Ian, Kate, Allan S, Alison F, Fiona C and new member Adam did a two-car linear walk up Beinn na Caillich and Mam na Gualainn – two Corbetts on the northern shore of Loch Leven, for which there was much enthusiasm.

Verity and I bumped into Alan, Anne and Paul at the 1062 picnic spot and overruled the decision of a large unnamed Glasgow group, summiting Binnein Mor via a narrow soft snow ridge and descending Na Gruagaichean via a convenient gap in the deer fence. There was a mass assault on the coffee and Vicky sponge in the Ice Factor.

There was standing room only in the bunkhouse in the evening as the spillover group joined in from the YHA next door, and a game of extreme pairs was kicked off.

Despite a radiator coming off the wall at 6am in the climbers’ dorm, and a fire alarm warning noise between 7am and 8.30 there is a rumour going round that Alison C had a lie in on Sunday. She and Kenny climbed Corbett Meall an t’Seallaidh from Balquidder with Mike and Fiona (who carried the snowshoes) and they tucked into scones and jam on the way home.

Verity and Adam queued (a lot) and skied at Nevis range, and I thought it would be a good idea to tick off Aonach Mor by walking up from the bottom. Foiled within 50m of the summit by white-out conditions I half skied but mostly gondola’d down. As Allan has pointed out, the Munro will still be there for a while yet.

Chris and Tim climbed Raeburn’s Route in Stob Coire nan Lochan (Glencoe did get a look in then) although the weather took a turn for the worst later on.

Alison F, Allan, Kate, Ian, Alan, Paul and Keith did another linear walk, this time Garbh Beinn which involved soft snow, spindrift, great views and a deer fence.

A fun weekend, thanks all.

Claire