Meet Report

10th to 12th January 2020 - SGORANS LODGE Lagganlia outdoor centre , Feshiebridge

The forecast for Saturday was pretty bad but the hardy EMCers didn’t let that stop them and 12 members braved the elements and arrived on Friday with a further 3 arriving on Saturday evening for what looked like a better Sunday. 

Saturday brought a late start for some who occupied themselves chatting, reading and holding a pull-up competition on the beams in the entrance hall of the lodge. Martha led a party (Anne, Tim, Helen) up Croidh-la having cooked that up as a plan with Miss Hopkins at the Thursday pub night when the forecast became apparent. They bumped into Kenny and Alison at the top- they’d enjoyed breakfast in Kingussie - and the happy party descended together. It was as wet as forecast so all envied Kenny his welly style footwear but some views were reported and a good track helped too. 

Mike and Fiona ran into Aviemore for lunch and used the bus for part of the route back. Alan enjoyed a run in the rain and even managed to climb something (unspecified). Chris W who is not ticking munros headed for Meall Chuaich where he was the only one on the hill. Thomas and Will went across to the Cullen caves where they enjoyed a day climbing.

Sunday saw drier weather but some sleety showers depending on where you were. Martha, Helen and Tim headed for Ben Macdui where it was windy but they had some sun and great views and Martha ticked her 141st munro! Chris W headed for Geal Charn. Alan and Anne waited until a snow shower had gone off before leaving Lagganlia and climbed a Graham behind Newtonmore (Creag Liath) - again very windy but the clag cleared whilst they were still on the top and they were able to enjoy the sunshine too. Rob headed for a Dalwhinnie munro - Carn na Caim. I had my bike and did Meallach Mhor - a bit slippy and snowy on way in but cleared on the hill and got great views and even blue skies. After some deliberating Tony set off for Creag Mhor. Mike and Fiona did Schiehallion and like many of us suffered from fierce cold wind but good views made up for it. Alison and Kenny did Sgor Gaoith. 

A good meet where the EMCers proved yet again that they know how to make the best of a wet day with a varied range of hills and activities!

Alison F