Edinburgh Mountaineering Club: Meet Report
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Alison leading the 1st pitch - Alan R Pre-dinner drinks at the Lazy Duck - Fiona C
Alison leading the 1st pitch - Alan R

Meet Report

4th to 6th August 2006 - Lazy Duck

This was the first time the club had been at Lazy Duck but quite a few of us had visited on previous occasions although it was a very strange experience being here in the height of summer rather than deep winter. This meant we could sit outside on Friday evening and enjoy the late evening sun drinking wine and beer and eating the usual snacks until the midges started to make a nuisance of themselves. In the usual club tradition we managed to arrive in a total of 7 cars, for 8 people! The Clubs carbon footprint must be a size 11.

The 8 split into various parties on the sat morning with Alison, Bill, Anne and Fiona using two cars to link up a traverse of Cairngorm and Beinn Mheadhoin. Owen crossed the plateau to Macdui while myself, Kenny and Alison headed into the northern corries, initially to attempt Fingers Ridge but due to likely congestion we opted for the much quieter Pygmy Ridge. We then dropped down to Loch Avon and wandered aimlessly around for an hour trying to locate a crag for our second climb of the day, reading guidebook descriptions is clearly not our forte. We eventually decided we had reached the right spot after much deliberation although the "prominent boulder" that according to Mr Guidebook marked the start of the climb was nothing more than a tennis ball sized rock, Kenny was not convinced. We set off up what we hoped was Pippet Slab and by the 2nd pitch we had decided that we were indeed on the right route. It was a good route, lots of friction required, and had some quite exciting moments for a novice like me. The rest all reported good days once we reconvened back at the hostel, the odd shower aside the weather had been very settled.

A very pleasant Saturday evening was had with the usual wine and beer, an early departure to bed for Pa Broon, a wee dram or two and of course the obligatory Wells cheeseboard.

People set off to do lots of different things on the Sunday, the main group heading to the Corbett near Dorback Lodge, with the very unusual name of Geal Charn. Kenny & Alison headed of to the most easterly Corbett above the Lecht and I headed off on the bike over the Burma Road, west of Aviemore taking in another Corbett, Geal Charn Mor. About half way round the route the bolt attaching the saddle to the seatpost sheared off, resulting in a very uncomfortable pedal back to the car, always trying to remember that I had no saddle to sit on, to forget this was very painful!

Lazy Duck proved to be a very good summer choice of hostel and would think the club will be repeating the visit.

Alan R