Some of us were lucky enough to be off on Friday and make the most of the wintry hills before storm Bert’s arrival. It was supposed to be great weather day with cloud-free tops and sunshine, but unfortunately most summits were shrouded in clag for most of the day – lovely snow on the ground however made for lovely winter walking.
Mike and Fiona had stayed in the Killin Hotel already on Thursday evening, allowing for an early start of a loop over Stob Binnein plus its tops and Ben More – a fitting route for the dinner meet, given this was Martin’s favourite route.
Sarah, Nikki, Rhi and I did the same but in the opposite direction, bumping into Mike & Fiona just before we reached the summit of Ben More. Shortly after we turned a solo walker round – he had followed Mike & Fiona’s footprints and nearly headed down the wrong ridge. On Stob Binnein the sun made a brief appearance, but the cloud was about 10m too high for a proper cloud inversion.
Tim D did Beinn Ghlas and the two Munros to the west, whilst Alison and Kenny went up Ben Vorlich.
Neil and Claire set off together from Glen Lochay and went their separate ways at the top of the road – for Claire to go over the frozen tundra to Beinn Heasgarnaich and on to Creag Mhor and its top (which she hadn’t been up yet). Long return via Batavaime. Neil walked along Loch Lyon and did a long approach to the north- facing crags on Beinn Heasgarnaich where he soloed two grade III routes, returning via Claire’s tracks.
Perry increased his Corbett tally by walking up Creag Uchdag from Ardeonaig, whilst James ran a loop of Meall nan Tarmachan followed by lunch in the car, and then an out-and-back over Beinn Ghlas and Ben Lawers.
Saturday evening was very sociable in the hotel restaurant and bar, catching up with everyone whilst enjoying tasty food and drinks.
Storm Bert arrived on Saturday morning with plenty snow and an orange weather warning, leading to a cancellation of plans for Claire’s last Corbett.
Doug, Helen, Duncan S and Alison walked up Meall Clachach. James ran to Lochearnhead along the cycle path, followed by a loop on the forestry trails south of Killin. Neil, Hamish, Nicola, Nikki, Rhi, Claire and myself followed James’ footprints along the forestry trails for a fabulous snowy run womble with trail breaking chaingang style, snowball fights and handstands. Sara & Peter S enjoyed a similar run, and a big group of Alison F, Perry, Sarah B, Rebecca, Pauline & Dave, Keith, Duncan D, Shireen, Fiona C, Kate, Gillian, Steven R and Tim D made use of the trail broken by the runners for a snowy walk. Fiona, Mike and Kenny did a shorter loop through the forest before cakes and scones in Shutters.
Whilst gritter “Snows it all” cleared Killin’s roads, other cafes and venues in Killin were frequented in the afternoon with several people desperately trying to find a location which showed the ruby – until realising that this was actually on in the hotel.
Nicola, Rhi, Duncan S, Helen and I went for a freezing dip in the river next to the hotel – apparently folk in the hotel could hear the cackling outside our window and see our headtorches (and called us “nutters”!).
For dinner we were also joined by Nathan and David. The meal was delicious, with starters the size of main courses!
In his speech, Mike thanked the committee members for their work in the last year, awarded Shireen the “best dressed” title (and those silver trousers were stunning indeed!), before claiming that the last year had no compleators (forgetting about both Kai and Duncan I who had both compleated their Munros but blaming this on the Clerk of the List who herself claimed innocence due to missing registrations). Rhi’s and Doug’s kayak to Knoydart was a close runner up for the Martin Day award, but in the end this went to Katrina for her solo 12 hour day bagging 5 Munros around Glen Ey instead. Despite all of Keith’s efforts last year (lost wallet on Ben Lawers carpark and ignoring Alan’s phone call who had found it thinking in was a pocket call, forgotten rucksack at Lagganlia, driving car into the ditch at Drumochter, booking a double room for Duncan and himself for this year’s dinner meet… did I miss anything?), he missed out on the Poulet d’Or, which went to Steven R instead for compleating on The Saddle last year – but missing out on the summit and therefore having had to go back to do it again. Congratulations to both awardees.
More drinks were enjoyed, more chats were had and tales were told – and we even got some glimpses (including all the romance story) of Becks’ engagement ring.
On Sunday, Claire’s last Corbett plans were cancelled again – not particularly inspiring weather combined with the hill being in the wrong direction for most people meant there weren’t that many takers for it. Instead, Claire, Neil, Helen, Duncan, Nicola and Hamish went up a very soggy Beinn Ghlas and Ben Lawers along the trade route and returned by the slushy bypass path. Perry did the wee Graham from Glen Ogle, Meall Buidhe. This was a popular choice as he bumped into Gillian and Alison C on the way down and separately Tim. Steven didn’t particular enjoy conditions on Beinn Each – but Kenny, Mike and Fiona had blue skies Hump-bagging on Beinn Ghuilbin.
Thanks so much to all the 35 people who booked on the meet and made this such a success!
Martha
