Tim had once again set off early for a pre-meet backpack to bag a couple of Grahams (Beinn Bhalgairean & Meall nan Gabhar) west of Ben Lui, camping on the former on Thursday night.
On Friday Martha, Steve and Perry left Edinburgh and headed down Glen Etive to tackle the Corbett Beinn Trilleachan. They were rewarded with great views back to the two Buachailles and down Loch Etive. With plenty of snow cover and chilly conditions it was also a welcome first opportunity of winter for some of the party to get their spikes out.
On Saturday, Tim, Mike, Fiona R and Julia got their ice axes and crampons out on the Ballachulish Munros via Schoolhouse Ridge. Rhi and Helen went up Druim na Sgriodain and had a refreshing swimble in the river on the way back down.
Claire H, Martha, Steve, Kate, Lola, Rob, Emma, Allan and Perry got the Corran Ferry across Loch Linnhe to Ardgour. Claire’s shout “Stop! There’s an otter!” led Steve to pull over the car, passengers jumping out to get a view of said otter – everyone completely ignorant that in doing so they blocked the line of cars queueing to get onto the ferry over to Corran, causing honking of several drivers and unimpressed shouts from the ferry staff. Once they finally realised that they had put a big spanner into the ferry operation works they quickly jumped back into the car and drove to Resipole for a mass ascent of Ben Resipol, with Allan walking part of the way. With very good visibility, the views out across Ardnamurchan and Loch Sunart to the islands of Mull, Coll, Rum and Eigg were spectacular. Lola had hoped for some ice axe practice, but unfortunately the snow was too wet to get much of a run in. On the drive back some stopped, at Kate’s suggestion, to enjoy the view of the seals and birds from the new lochside hide on that road, whilst others (unsuccessfully) tried to get a pint in the Ardgour Inn before the ferry.
As the various parties returned from a great day on the hills, preparations began in earnest for the communal Burns supper. With many hungry mouths to feed but only limited space, the kitchen and dining area became a hive of chopping and peeling activity – along with much head-scratching about how to work the ovens. Mike and Alison C did a sterling job on preparing meat and vegetarian versions of the centrepiece dish before the room fell silent for the hotly-anticipated highlight of an EMC Burns meet – Alan H’s stirring address to the haggis. It was another tour de force performance in honour of the Great Chieftain o’ the Puddin’-race, although Colin’s ear did come perilously close to being sliced off at one point during a particularly vigorous brandishing of the carving knife. Fiona R and Doug/Rhi rounded off proceedings nicely with a mountain of crumble (apples courtesy of Allan S’s garden) and cake, and gallons of custard were provided by Perry.
With the post-Burns supper whisky (generously donated by Steve) flowing freely in the dining room, some members retired to the lounge for an enjoyable recital of traditional poems ably co-ordinated by Julia. Alan H began the proceedings with a rousing rendition of the opening verses of Burns’ epic poem Tam O-Shanter before passing the baton on to the next member to read out the next few lines. It’s fair to say some were more able than others at performing Scots dialect in public – the great Bard himself would surely have been turning in his grave at times!
On Sunday, Mike and Fiona had a great day climbing the East Ridge of Beinn a’Chaorainn. Pauline, Dave, Kate and Allan joined Rhi and Helen to walk from the Inchree Forest car park past the waterfall towards Beinn na Gucaig; Rhi admired the swimbling pools. Pauline, Dave and Kate went to the summit, whilst Rhi, Helen and Allan S went part way up to have a snack tucked in the heather overlooking Loch Linnhe with superb views. Rhi and Helen then joined Doug, Fiona M and Julia who had gone up Beinn na Creag faster to go down. Claire bagged a duo of Grahams at Loch Arkaig. Making most of the conditions, Tim added on another backpack around the Grahams west of Loch Etive (Mam Hael, Beinn Molurgainn & Beinn Mheadhonach) with a camp on Sunday night.
Special thanks to Perry for all his contributions to this meet report – I guess everyone can easily spot the sections written by a professional writer!
