Meet Report

3rd to 5th August 2012 - Milehouse, Glenfeshie

Just 10 of us at this meet – perhaps watching the performance of team GB on super Saturday and Sunday provided an alternative attraction.  As always the hut was spotless and provided spacious accommodation.  This is definitely one of our favourite venues.

The forecast for Saturday was promising but a little unclear.  Fiona delegated decision making to Gillian with the inevitable result of a long day involving a graham.  Tanya, Claire and Clare did Braeriach from Rothiemurchus, coming back round the plateau and down Glen Einich.  Another long day.  Luckily Claire and Clare’s respective lunch boxes were able to cope when Tanya discovered that her lunch was still at the hut.

Chris, Kenny and I met up with Fiona M who was confident that we would be able to climb at Strathconen and avoid any showers – at least until later in the afternoon.  A possible midge forecast of 4 was also dismissed by Fiona on the basis that the midges never seemed too bad down Strathconen.

 It was looking pretty manky all the way up and some doubts may have been expressed by at least one EMC pessimist.   However, Fiona’s instinct for good climbing weather was vindicated yet again as we broke out of the murk into brilliant sunshine a few minutes before the parking spot.   The four of us did Salamandar a superb slab and crack climb.  Just to test Fiona’s theories out, the wind dropped on pitches 5 and 6, the sky became overcast and more than a few spots of rain appeared.   We were subjected to a ferocious and sustained midge attack.   Pitches 5 and 6 were then climbed rather quickly and boldly.  By the time we got back down to collect our rucksacks the rock was soaking – the more prolonged showers having arrived exactly on time.   A finely judged day!

In Corbett bagging mode, Mike + Fiona decided do all three corbetts at Strathconen – and two short days ended up as one longish day.  Apparently it was not possible to stop at any point during the day because of the midges.

There was much Olympic chat on Sat evening and tales of unfulfilled EMC athletic prowess in the 100m, long jump and high jump from Mike and Chris.

The forecast for Sunday seemed quite bad and everybody felt a bit tired from Saturday.  Claire, Gillian and Fiona did a cycle from Aviemore.  The rest of us did  a traverse of Creag Dubh at Newtonmore.   Luckily I decided to have a bite to eat before we started and was therefore able to rectify the mistake of bringing a tesco bag with a loaf of bread rather than the Tesco bag with the real lunch in it

A short day meant that everybody was probably able to get back in time to see Andy Murray winning his Olympic gold medal at Wimbledon