A bumper crop of summits climbed, a drama involving a car with the key locked inside, the solving of a long-standing mystery for a club member, and a storm warning which led to a mass exodus made for an eventful full meet at Kintail.
On Friday Sarah and Martha met Rob at Invershiel to climb the corbett Sgurr Mhic Bharraich, enjoying great views over to The Saddle. A refreshing swim in the Allt Undalain followed before a visit to Chocolates of Glenshiel to replenish all the calories burned during the day.
Fi had also started the weekend early, arriving at Kintail after a three-day backpacking adventure in Inverinate and Glen Affric, and Mike and Fiona travelled from Skye following a great day on Pinnacle Ridge.
However, the weekend got off to a bad start for Shireen, who discovered a previously unknown feature on her partner’s Skoda that can lock all the doors with the key still inside. Thankfully she had already removed her walking gear and wine, and on Saturday the spare key made the 190-mile journey up from Edinburgh with a friend who just happened to be driving to nearby Letterfearn. Surely an early contender for this year’s Poulet D’Or award at the dinner meet?
On Saturday Mike & Fiona R, Rob, Bethany, Sarah and Fi tackled the South Glenshiel Ridge, meeting Kai halfway along as he solo ran the route in the opposite direction.
Shireen and Perry headed to Loch Long for the corbetts of Sguman Coinntich and Faochaig.
Fiona M, Dan and Martha had a “fabulous scrambly day” on The Saddle via the Forcan Ridge, bagging all its tops plus Sgurr na Sgine.
Alan H also summited Sgurr na Sgine, pressing on despite a stumble in the bog resulting in a painful looking leg gash which he bravely brushed off as a mere flesh wound.
Rhi, Doug, Hamish, Julia and Mel did the Five Sisters, returning via a route which one of the party said “felt like about 10 thousand feet of descent!”.
Saturday night saw Shireen at the centre of another drama with a happy ending – the Mystery of the Random WhatsApp messages. During the Covid lockdown, Fiona M began receiving a series of unexpected messages from Shireen – who she barely knew – providing updates on subjects ranging from blackbirds building a nest in her garden to the progress of a course of antibiotics. Although rather puzzling, Fiona M had just put it down to the impact of the restrictions on people’s wellbeing.
It transpired that the messages had actually been intended for another of the club’s many Fionas – Fiona C who lives near to Shireen. The gales of laughter from the pair when they realised the names had been transposed in Shireen’s phone could be heard as far away as Dornie.
On Sunday Rob, Julia, Hamish and Fi headed up A’Ghlas-bheinn and Dan, Kia and Bethany did A Chralaig and Mullach Fraoch-choire, where the day started settled but got a bit more blustery and damp later on. Alan H headed up to the Falls of Glomach, reporting they were in impressive flow.
Mike and Fiona walked into Bealach an Lapain with Fiona from Glean Lichd. Fiona did Saileag whilst Mike and Fiona went the other way and did the Sisters, opting for an “esoteric shortcut” back to the glen.
Shireen and Sarah climbed the corbett of Sgùrr an Airgid from Morvich before heading home.
Reckless Rhi, Mindful Martha and Daring Doug (as they were nicknamed during the walk) headed to Arnisdale for the corbetts of Beinn na h-Eaglaise and Beinn nan Caorach. They were joined by Mel and Perry (for whom no suitable alliterations were suggested)
With travel warnings ahead of the arrival of Storm Floris on Monday, many meet attendees beat a hasty retreat home on Sunday evening. Although the weather for the journey back for those remaining on Monday morning was not as bad as feared, AlanH, Hamish, Martha, Sarah and Julia made sure they were well fuelled in case of being stranded by stopping off for a hearty breakfast in the Apiary Café at Dalwhinnie.
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Attendees: Shireen, Mike, Fiona R, Martha, Bethany, Kai, Perry, Alan H, Fiona M, Rhi, Doug, Mel, Kate, Sarah, Dan, Hamish, Rob E, Fi, Julia.
Perry
