A lot of people and a lot going on at this one….I am hoping not to sound too much like the Scottish Saturday afternoon football results.
( IE Partick Thistle…0….Queen of The South…4 …..Stirling Albion 9…Alloa …5…etc…etc…etc) here goes anyway!
Numbers wise , we went from 16…..to 23 …to 19.then …20 and finally 23 again (thanks Clare A!!)
On Friday while the rest of us were driving up Fiona and Mike did Sgurr a Maoiraich ,Gleouraich and Spidean Mialach , whilst Perry, Martha and Davis T enjoyed fantastic views on Stoc Coire a’ Chearcaill.
After a convivial night in the lodge (which unlike Kinlochleven had (A) a cafetiere, ( B) a working toaster…..result! ) various teams headed out on Saturday.
Tim D, Chris W, Keith ,Helen, Mike and Fiona had a cracking day out on the East ridge of Beinn Chaorainn enjoying better snow conditions than expected and stunning views.
Alison F and Kate climbed Beinn Tee another fine viewpoint, Alex , Balandino and Iain R headed for the CMD arete on the Ben but unfortunately lost the view at the top…no surprise there then.
Meantime Martha , Clare A, Perry and Ash refreshed their mountaineering skills on the Innses – some snowfields were too big to be avoided, but too small to put crampons on, but rock-hard – so they kicked and cut steps, and got the occasional bum slide in.
Martha M C and Mark climbed Chno Dearg and Sob coire Sgriodain.
Once we were all gathered back at the hostel the main event commenced with the EMC official “after the fact” Burns night supper.
Haggis provided courtesy of Mike W and Fiona R for the meat eaters with a special shout out to Perry for the brilliant home made veggie option. Neeps provided by Alison F…Tatties by Kate W. Alan H (suitably dressed) provided a rousing address to the Haggis ..complete with knife waving/kung fu etc …a few people ducked just in case.
Martha M C provided an address to the lassies quoting a lovely Portuguese poem by Manual Maria Barbosa du Bocage.
After a whisky fuelled night everyone headed out again on Sunday to another beautiful crisp day. ….
Keith and Kate headed to Drumochter ,Fiona and Mike headed for Gairich above Loch Quoich , David T, Ash, Perry and Martha had a glorious day on Carn Dearg & Carn Dearg (but not Carn Dearg) in Glen Roy with blue skies and great views of the temperature inversion in the glens to the North whilst Mark and Martha headed for the Easains and a largere group consisting of Alex, Balandino Iain , Chris , Helen and Sara headedfor Chno Dearg and Stob Coire Sgrioadain taking advantage of the frozen bog! and finally Alison F headed for Beinn a’Chuallaich on the way home .
Apologies to anyone I’ve left out! (and the dodgy grammar)
A great meet and a fine way to end my 3 year stint on the EMC committee.
Thanks folks!
Keith
